Heritage Hill Historic District, Grand Rapids, Michigan, One of the Largest Urban Historic Districts in the Country

Heritage Hill was the first "neighborhood'' of the city of Grand Rapids. The original neighborhood appeared adjacent to the downtown area, and is bounded by Michigan Avenue on the north, Pleasant Street on the south, Union Avenue on the east, and Clarendon Place and Jefferson Avenue on the west.

The district features more than 1,300 homes that date from 1848 and later, forming one of the largest urban historic districts in the United States. Among the homes of early lumber barons, city leaders, judges, teachers and others can be found more than 60 architectural styles, matching the diversity of ownership.

That diversity continues into the present, as the historic district is home to many races, backgrounds and income levels - from professionals to trades people, from students to artisans, from singles to familes, from renters to homeowners.

Today, the historic district is a treasured, preserved piece of history, but that was not always the case. In the 1960s and 70s, the area was being razed, house-by-house, as city leaders and developers sought urban renewal. But many of the residents and neighbors became organized and put forth a heroic effort to save the district, and, in so doing, preserved the legacy of many of Grand Rapids' professional and business pioneers.

In 1971, after extensive study, federal officials added the entire Heritage Hill area to the National Register of Historic Places. Since then, it has grown stronger and become a source of pride to residents and an attraction to visitors. The district hosts its annual home tour the first weekend in October, and self-guided walking tour brochures are available courtesy of the Visitor Information Center in downtown Grand Rapids.

On such tours, visitors get a glimpse at some of the finest homes from the Victorian Era, along with the varied architecture of the day. Visitors can see a number of design styles and decorative treatments, such as beaded spindles, curved muntins (the strips of wood or metal that hold panes of glass in windows), Doric columns, carved brackets, and creative entryways.

The public houses available for viewing include:

Meyer May House, 450 Madison SE, is a "prairie-style'' house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1908 for the founder of May's of Michigan clothing store. It's open free to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sundays from 1-5 p.m.

Voigt House Victorian Museum, 115 College SE, is a French Chateau built in 1895 for Carl Voigt of the Voigt Milling Company. The home has been carefully preserved and is a fine example of the gracious elegance of the Victorian era. It is open to the public on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month from 1-3 p.m. and every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In addition, a few select small businesses and food emporiums have found their way into the district. But for the most part, the historic district is a serene slice of a bygone era amid urban city life.