The Oldest Building In Detroit Celebrates 200 Years: 1826-2026

As far as the keepers of Detroit know, this is the oldest, still-standing building in the entire city: it’s the Charles C. Trowbridge House, located at 1380 East Jefferson Avenue.

At least, it’s the oldest documented building in the city, so unless some historian discovers an older one that may be hidden among all the concrete and steel, this one will have to do. The Trowbridge House was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974 and a couple of years later landed a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Back in the 1820s, the land where the house sits was a farm owned by a man named Mullett. Trowbridge built his house in 1826 that set him back an unheard of $2500 – which would be around $85,000 today, and a bargain at that!

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Around 1850, Trowbridge put an addition in back of the house along with a stable which is still there.

Trowbridge died in 1883 after living in that house for a good 56 years. In 1889, parts of the house were removed so an apartment building could be built.

The rest of the Trowbridge family retained ownership and turned it into a boarding house in 1936. The family finally sold off in 1942 to Marie Cavanaugh who used it simply for her and her family.

In the 2020s, the building is used as an office space for Trowbridge Law Firm, Marketplace Homes, Trowbridge Realty, Dickson & Associates, and occasional others.

This year – 2026 - the Trowbridge House celebrates 200 years.
Still the oldest building in Detroit.