Taverns, saloons, and restaurants have always played an important role in the development of large American cities like Detroit. Historically Detroiters probably regarded their neighborhood watering hole as no more than a place to drink and discuss politics. In fact, these gathering places also served as the backdrop for important social, civic, and economic events that impacted the lives of residents and affected urban development. Detroit's Historic Drinking Establishments traces the evolution of these places from the city's roots as a fur-trapping settlement to Detroit's dominance as a manufacturing giant. Using historical images from a number of sources including the Detroit Public Library's Burton Historical and Virtual Motor City Collections and the Detroit Historical Museum, this book paints a vivid picture of early Detroit as a destination highly prized for its abundant natural resources and its incomparable hospitality. Michigan native Victoria Jennings Ross holds advanced degrees in art history and museum studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. A former board member of the Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Quarter Commission, Ross has dedicated much of the last 20 years to research on Detroit history.