Historic Detroit

Every building in Detroit has a story — we're here to share it

Nels Michelson Mansion

Designed by John W. Case for Nels Michelson and built 1916-1917.

Nels Michelson, born in Denmark in 1840, immigrated to America in 1866 and became a successful lumberman. He married Margrethe Jenson in 1870 and had six children.

Michelson established the Grayling Lumber Company in 1906 and later ventured into real estate with the Michelson Land and Home Company.

He retired in 1917 and lived in a home at 918 West Boston until the 1920s, where later notable figures such as Leonard A. Young, owner of the L. A. Young Spring & Wire Company, and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. resided.