Considered the symbol of Detroit, the 26-foot Spirit of Detroit statue sculpted by Marshall Fredericks in the 1950s depicts a seated man holding a sphere in one hand and a family group in the other. Located by the City-County Building (a.k.a. The Coleman A. Young Municipal Center) at the base of Woodward, the statue's plaque reads, "Through the spirit of man is manifested in the family, the noblest human relationship."
Turns out the Jolly Green Giant has a Sense of Humor - or an Active Libido
Rusting green over the years, the bronze statue eventually developed the alias "Jolly Green Giant." With the new moniker, the statue seemed to come to life. For instance, one night around St. Patrick's Day, or thereabouts depending on the account, the Green Giant apparently paid a visit across Woodward Avenue to the Nude ballet dancer depicted in Manzu's Step of the Dance sculpture. While no one actually saw the Jolly Green Giant during his night-time escapades, green footprints were found on the pavement the next morning linking the two statues.
Red Wing's Fan
The Jolly Green Giant was caught in the act, however, when he sported a Red Wing's jersey in celebration of the team's Stanley Cup win in 1997. It's now a tradition for the bronzed man to wear the jersey whenever the Red Wings are victorious.
