Detroiters are known for their immense hometown pride, often boasting about the gems that the city has to offer. Well, it’s our turn now. 

Throughout time, the Motor City has inspired and influenced people across the globe in realms including arts, culture, music, the auto industry, and more. 

Here are some of our favorite gifts that Detroit has given to the world.

Vernors If you’re from Detroit, you know Vernors is considered medicine. Its creator James Vernor was a pharmacist, so it seems even more believable. The ginger ale is actually one of the country’s oldest pops, first served to the public in 1866. Credit: Shutterstock
The Motown sound Motown Records, founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in 1959 as Tamla Records, introduced the world to a new and distinctive sound: a style of soul music with mainstream pop appeal that broke racial boundaries. Artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, The Temptations, Diana Ross, and many others produced hit songs for Motown that helped shape the landscape of popular music. Credit: Shutterstock
Alcohol during prohibition During the 1920s prohibition era, 70% of all the illegal alcohol that entered the United States came through Detroit. So, the city was basically supplying the nation with booze and good times. Credit: Facebook, Grand Traverse Distillery
Phone numbers Detroit was the first city to ever assign phone numbers back in 1879, so you can thank Motown for being able to get your crush’s digits. Credit: Photo via Daily Detroit
Best Visitor Experience: Detroit Institute of Arts 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-7900; dia.org Credit: Courtesy photo
Techno music Detroit is considered the birthplace of techno music, emerging in the early 1980s from the city’s underground electronic music scene. Detroit techno evolved from a blend of funk, electro, and European electronic sounds, creating a distinctive style that influenced electronic music worldwide. Credit: Viola Klocko
Faygo pop Born in Detroit in 1907, Faygo has become an iconic symbol of Detroit’s culture. From classics like Redpop to unique flavors such as Cotton Candy, Faygo has since been served up far beyond its hometown. Credit: Facebook, Faygo Beverages
Detroit Youth Choir The DYC’s time on America’s Got Talent put them on a public stage where they captivated audiences with strong performances and inspiring stories. The recently released Disney+ show Choir, which showed the group’s journey to performing at Carnegie Hall, did the same. In both cases, the DYC not only showcases the talent of Detroit’s youth but also serves as a positive light for the city and a source of inspiration for people everywhere. Credit: Courtesy of Detroit ACE
Four-way traffic lights The very first four-way traffic light was hung at the intersection of Woodward and Fort St. in Detroit. Serving as a safety protocol and a solution to increased traffic, four-way traffic lights quickly gained popularity and became a standard feature in urban areas worldwide. Credit: Credit to 89.1 WEMU
Aretha Franklin Emerging from the gospel scene of Detroit’s New Bethel Baptist Church, the Queen of Soul left an undeniable mark on music history with hits like “Respect,” and “I Say a Little Prayer.” Beyond her music, she championed civil rights and Indigenous communities’ rights, earning 18 Grammy Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Credit: Mark Reinstein /MediaPunch
Modern-day paved roads Detroit played a significant role in the development of paved roads in the United States as one of the first cities to experiment with paving roads using materials like brick, concrete, and asphalt. In 1909, a mile of Woodward Avenue from Six Mile to Seven Mile was converted to concrete, which helped pioneer road construction and paving techniques nationwide. Credit: Photo is public domain, Wikimedia Creative Commons
A whole new era of Detroit rap is making heads nod. While Eminem and 8 Mile are viewed as bringing Motor City hip-hop to the mainstream, there are a slew of newer artists keeping the scene alive, including Snap Dogg, Skilla Baby, Sada Baby, Babyface Ray, Baby Money,BabyTron, Kash Doll, and Peezy, among many others. Plenty of acts that predated Em are still going strong, too, like Slum Village and Esham. Credit: Kahn Santori Davison
Have a Motor City birthday with free local gifts You can get a free car wash at metro Detroit’s Jax Kar Wash, a free coffee at Biggby, and a free four-square pizza at Buddy’s. All you need to do is sign-up for each rewards program to receive the gifts on your special day. Credit: Courtesy photo
Movement Festival Since techno music started in the D, it’s only fitting for the city to host one of the biggest festivals centering on electronic music. The Detroit Electronic Music Festival started in 2000 to celebrate Detroit’s techno heritage and after coming under producers Paxahau, the city’s Memorial Day weekend electronic music festival became known as the Movement Music Festival. The annual event attracts electronic music enthusiasts from around the world. Credit: Doug Wojciechowski
Urban freeways The Davison Freeway in Detroit is often cited as one of the earliest urban freeways in the world. Completed in 1942, the freeway was a pioneering project in urban transportation planning and engineering. Its construction marked a shift in urban transportation infrastructure, setting a precedent for the development of urban freeways in cities across the United States and around the world. Credit: KelleyCook, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Detroit vs. Everybody Originating as a clothing brand in 2012 created by Tommey Walker, “Detroit vs. Everybody” has since gained global recognition. The phrase’s message of resilience and unity expanded its appeal, leading to it being adopted in various contexts worldwide. Inspired by Detroit, festivals, cities, and other communities now often put their own twist on the slogan. Credit: Randiah Camille Green
Detroit rock ’n’ roll Thanks in part to the influential Creem magazine, Detroit became a capital of rock ’n’ roll music in the ’60s and ’70s, with influential acts like the MC5, Iggy and the Stooges, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, Death, Rodriguez, and more hailing from here. Credit: Photo viaYouTube screengrab
Detroit Riverfront Detroit’s revitalized riverfront, which was named the best in the nation by USA Today for three consecutive years, serves as a model for urban waterfront revitalization projects worldwide. Credit: Courtesy photo
J Dilla Renowned as a groundbreaking figure in hip-hop production, J Dilla, born James Dewitt Yancey, spent much of his life in Detroit. His innovative off-kilter beats influenced an entire era of hip-hop, collaborating with icons such as Slum Village, the Pharcyde, Erykah Badu, and Common. Credit: Courtesy photo
The Assembly Line Henry Ford’s use of assembly lines revolutionized manufacturing, making mass production of automobiles more efficient and affordable. This approach transformed not only the automotive industry but also influenced manufacturing methods across various sectors globally. Credit: Virtual Motor City
John Witherspoon Beloved comedian and actor John Witherspoon, who passed away in 2019, was originally from Detroit. His career spanned decades and made a worldwide impact through productions like Friday and The Boondocks. Credit: Shutterstock
The Model T The Ford Model T, produced by the Ford Motor Company, became the first affordable automobile accessible to the middle class. Its mass production techniques and standardized parts set a precedent for modern automotive manufacturing and transformed the way people traveled and lived. Credit: Photo via Ford
Eminem Rising from the underground Detroit rap scene, Eminem shattered stereotypes and challenged societal norms with his provocative and often controversial content. His rapid-fire delivery, complex rhyme schemes, and clever wordplay set a new standard for technical skill in hip-hop. While now a bit of a recluse, he remains one of the most influential and celebrated figures in hip-hop history. Credit: Screenshot via YouTube
State fairs The second-ever state fair was held in Detroit in 1849. The Detroit State Fair served as a model for other state fairs across the United States, successfully showcasing agricultural, industrial, and cultural achievements and inspiring other cities and states to establish their own state fairs. Over time, state fairs became an integral part of American culture across the country. While the last Detroit State Fair was held in 2009, since 2013, a Michigan State Fair has been held in Novi. Credit: Courtesy photo
Some great movies There have been numerous big and small movies that many may not know were filmed in and around Detroit, such as the Transformers popcorn flicks and the low-budget horror fave It Follows, among others. See here for the full list. Credit: Run Shia, Run (photo via Flickr)

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Layla McMurtrie is the digital editor of Detroit Metro Times. She's passionate about art, music, food, and Detroit's culture and community. Her work has been featured in the Detroit Free Press, Between...