Location:  This 'hidden gem' in Detroit, MI, is at the intersection of Centre Street and East Grand River Ave (which, incidentally, are two of the shortest streets you're likely to find hanging out together ... see Clue Me! Map).  It is well suited to be our final Weekly Gem of Black History Month, a bookend for Weekly Gems #57 and #58 that are less than a mile away (on the Riverwalk). 

The 'trumpet north of the eighth' (can you find it in the photo?) is part of a mosaic that portrays Detroit's long and rich music history, which was hugely impacted by black musicians and visionaries.   

Trumpet greats Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie may have inspired this particular portion of the mosaic.  Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others played near here (although many historic venues having been replaced by freeways and stadiums). 

Motown records, a couple miles to the northwest, was instrumental in sharing the talents of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Gladys Knight, and many, many more.  The Motown visionary was Berry Gordy, who started out on the Lincoln - Mercury assembly line, and extrapolated from there to create a process of assembling talent, music, lyrics, and quality control to produce great records.

Finally, the trumpet north of the eighth is located in the lobby of the Carr Center, which helps share this history while nurturing current and upcoming artists in the African and African-American cultural arts traditions.  It is these artists who are the history in the making, and it will be fun to watch it unfold.  


Clue
The trumpet is north of the eighth

Description
A trumpet player is hidden in the music mosaic

Why It's Interesting
This mosaic was created by several artists from Detroit, and a couple from Chicago. They invited passersby to add tiles to make it more of a community arts project.

Sponsor
The Carr Center for the Arts in Detroit

Location:  This 'hidden gem' is on North Harbor Drive in San Diego, CA, just across from Waterfront Park (see Clue Me! Map).  The USS Dolphin was a research submarine specializing in deep dives.  She routinely dove more than 3,000 feet under the surface where the pressure exceeds 1350 psi. 

This equates to over 960,000 tons pressing in from all directions ... well beyond the crush depths of most subs, and the comfort levels of most people. 

How, you may ask, was this ship so strong under pressure?  Here's one reason, from the Welcome Aboard brochure for visitors: 

"Another feature which we hope has not inconvenienced you too much is the access into the ship.  Because we go so deep, where the pressures are so great, it is best to keep any irregularities in the hull, such as hatches, to a minimum.  Consequently, we only have one hatch - but you are welcome down it anytime."

Clue
Deep Diver

Description
The USS Dolphin Submarine

Why It's Interesting
If you stand on the dock and look down the length of the sub, you get a real sense of how small it is, and how much like a sardine you might feel if part of the crew. Imagine packing up to 30 people into this small space for a few weeks or months.

Sponsor
Pickpockets fail… Travelers smile… 130°® satchels are here to protect your good stuff!

Location:  This 'hidden gem' is on the east edge of Hart Plaza, in Detroit, MI (see Clue Me! Map).  This church has always been a haven for mariners, and was built for them.  But the words "forever free" in its charter turned out to have a broader meaning than 'free pews.'  For many years, the church had an underground railroad station in its basement.  It was the last stop on the underground railroad line to Windsor, Canada.   

In reference to Weekly Gem #57, we described how slaves were picked up at the waterfront and ferried across the river at night.  How did they get to the river without being seen?  Many got there through a secret tunnel that ran several hundred feet from the church to the river.  The underground railroad tunnel was rediscovered when the church was picked up and moved from its original location near the center of Hart Plaza to where it now rests.

You can walk the approximate route of a slave heading for freedom. 

Option 1.  In March or April, go to Atlanta.  Walk to Detroit, traveling at night, resting during the day.  When you get to Detroit, go to the spot where the Mariners' Church formerly stood.  There is a large round monument to organized labor there now.  You're now standing approximately where the underground railroad tunnel began. 

Option 2.  Find a more direct route to the original church location in Hart Plaza.

However you got here, you're here ... now walk to the underground railroad statue on the Riverwalk, but imagine you're taking that walk through a dirt tunnel, maybe with your friends and family who are also slaves, and you're walking the last little distance from slavery to freedom. 

That would have been a special walk.


Clue
All sailors are welcome here

Description
The Old Mariners' Church

Why It's Interesting
When this church was built, mariners passing through Detroit were often relegated to the rear of a church because they weren't 'members.' The Mariners' Church was built specifically so those sailors would always have a place to worship, and which was 'theirs,' so they could always have favored pews, front and center.

Sponsor
Pickpockets fail… Travelers smile… 130°® satchels are here to protect your good stuff!