History The island was settled by French colonists in the 18th century, who named it Île aux Cochons (Hog Island). The Island was once the estate of General Alexander Macomb, Jr., whose monument stands in the Washington Boulevard Historic District in downtown Detroit. On July 4, 1845, a historic picnic party was held on the island to change the name to “Belle Isle” in honor of Miss Isabelle Cass, the daughter of then Governor (General) Lewis Cass. Belle Isle literally means "beautiful island" in French. It is misspelled according to contemporary French rules, however, and should be Belle Île. Prominent urban park designer Frederick Law Olmsted created a design for the island in the 1880s however, only some elements of his design were completed. The 1908 Belle Isle Casino building is not an actual gambling facility but rather, is used for occasional public events. A highlight of Belle Isle is a beautiful botanical garden and the Belle Isle Conservatory (1904). Both the conservatory and the adjacent aquarium were designed by Detroit architect Albert Kahn, who designed city landmarks such as Cadillac Place and the Ford Rouge Factory. Interior waterways in the park as they appeared soon after the park's creation The old Belle Isle Casino, designed by Mason & Rice and built in 1884. It was demolished in 1908 On one night in 1908 Byron Carter of Cartercar stopped to help a stranded motorist on Belle Isle. When he cranked her Cadillac, it kicked back and broke his jaw. Complications from the injury turned into pneumonia and he died. The incident motivated Henry Leland, founder of Cadillac Motors to state that "The Cadillac car will kill no more men if we can help it" and to hire Charles Kettering, who established Delco and developed the electric self-starter that was soon standard on all automobiles.[3] The island park served as a staging ground by the U.S. military during World War II for a re- enactment of a Pacific island invasion by the Navy and Marine Corps. The island was temporarily renamed Bella Jima, and Detroiters were treated to the sight of an island invasion without the bloodshed. It was conducted after the invasion of Iwo Jima.[4] Architect Cass Gilbert designed Belle Isle's James Scott Memorial Fountain. Gilbert's other works include the United States Supreme Court Building in Washington, DC.[5] William Livingstone Memorial Light, the only marble lighthouse in the United States, is on the east end of the island, with sumptuous materials and architecture. It was named for the president of the Lakes Carriers Association who advocated safety and navigational improvements in Great Lakes shipping.[6][7] Additional recreational options include a nature center, wheelchair accessible nature trail, fishing piers, playgrounds, picnic shelters, and handball, tennis and basketball courts, baseball fields, and cricket pitch. At one time, the island housed a canoe concession, which provided rental canoes and stored private ones. Canoe riders often stopped at the nearby Remick Band Shell which hosted regular concerts from 1950 to 1980. The band shell replaced an earlier facility and provided more amenities for performers and audience members. It was constructed at a cost of $150,000 and was named for resident Jerome H. Remick, who owned the world's largest music publishing house at the time.[8] Nicholas Kerschen and his family, immigrants from Luxembourg, operated a farm on Belle Isle from 1895 until the early 1900s according to Kerschen family history.[9] The Detroit Boat Club moved rented facilities on the island from 1902 until 1996. The marina and building are currently closed and only rowing activities still occur at that location. The Belle Isle Golf Course opened in 1922. The Detroit Yacht Club building dates to 1923 and still houses an active private sailing club also offers swimming and other country club amenities. The Scott Fountain was finished in 1925. The Activities Building was the site of a restaurant. The Flynn Pavilion (1949) was designed by Eero Saarinen and used for ice skating rental. A ferry service to the island existed from 1840–1957, although the bridge was completed to the island in 1923. Riding stables were housed in an 1863 market building that was relocated from Detroit to the island in the 1890s. The building was disassembled and stored by Greenfield Village in the 2000s. The park headquarters and police station are each located in 1860s-era houses. Many fallow deer including the "white" variety were formerly widespread on the island The island was home to a large herd of European fallow deer since the 1890s. However, this isolated population fell prey to disease at the close of the 20th century as a result of cyclic inbreeding. In 2004, the last of the 300 animals were captured and moved to the Detroit Zoo and nature center, located on Belle Isle. The children's zoo on the island and the aquarium closed due to budget constraints. The Belle Isle Aquarium reopened on August 18, 2012 and is now run by the Belle Isle Conservancy. It originally opened on August 18, 1904, and was the oldest continually operating public aquarium in North America when it closed on April 3, 2005. The aquarium was operated by the Detroit Zoological Society prior to the 2005 closure. It reopened in 2012 and is currently operated by the Belle Isle Conservancy. It is open to the public from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm every Saturday and Sunday, free of charge. The 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) historic building features a single large gallery with an arched ceiling covered in green glass tile to evoke an underwater feeling. In 2013, the city of Detroit declared bankruptcy and a State Emergency Manager was appointed by the state government to oversee the city's finances. As part of the process, the state proposed taking over Belle Isle and converting it into a state park. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed a lease on October 1, 2013 to lease the park from the city for 30 years; while the city council rejected that offer in mid-October, the Michigan Emergency Loan Board opted for the state's proposal on November 12. It set a 90-day transition period beginning on December 1 to turn the park operations over to the state. As a state park, admittance by car or motorcycle is no longer free, but requires a user to either pay the standard state park user entrance fee or to have a Michigan Recreational Passport sticker on their license plate. There is no charge for those who walk, bicycle or jog to the park.[10] The state has promised to make up to $20 million in improvements to the park over the next three years.[11] Belle Isle formally became a state park on February 10, 2014. Belle Isle, was the top visited state park in Michigan, and logged more than 4 million visitors in 2016, and has seen $32 million in investments since it came under state control in 2014. [12] The park is one of the terminus's for the cross-state Iron Belle Trail which consists of separate hiking and biking trails.[13] Events Auto racing Main article: Chevrolet Dual in Detroit In 1992, a temporary street race circuit was constructed on the isle for CART races. The island hosted ten events at Belle Isle from 1992–2001, and racing resumed in 2007 as part of the IndyCar Series and American Le Mans Series. On December 18, 2008, the scheduled race for 2009 was canceled. The automotive economic crisis, and its impact on the Detroit-area was the primary reason. Roger Penske did not rule out a return in the future.[14][15] On September 20, 2011, race organizers gained approval from Detroit City Council to use the updated track and support area on Belle Isle.[16] On October 11, 2011, it was announced that the race would return in 2012.[17] The race continues to be held annually, as of June, 2016. The race weekend will features IndyCar as well as Tudor United SportsCar Championship and Pirelli World Challenge races. Attractions James Scott Memorial Fountain Main article: James Scott Memorial Fountain The James Scott Memorial Fountain is a monument located in Belle Isle Park, in Detroit, Michigan. Designed by architect Cass Gilbert and sculptor Herbert Adams, the fountain was completed in 1925 at a cost of $500,000. The lower bowl has a diameter of 510 ft (160 m) and the central spray reaches 125 ft (38 m). The fountain honors the controversial James Scott, who left $200,000 to the City of Detroit for a fountain in tribute to himself. Belle Isle Aquarium Main article: Belle Isle Aquarium Exterior of the Belle Isle Aquarium The Belle Isle Aquarium is a public aquarium located in Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan. Designed by noted architect Albert Kahn, it opened on August 18, 1904, and was the oldest continually operating public aquarium in North America when it closed on April 3, 2005. The aquarium reopened to the public on August 18, 2012, and is now run by the Belle Isle Conservancy. The 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) historic building features a single large gallery with an arched ceiling covered in green glass tile to evoke an underwater feeling. The aquarium was operated by the Detroit Zoological Society prior to the 2005 closure. It is currently operated by the Belle Isle Conservancy. Belle Isle Conservatory Main article: Belle Isle Conservatory Whitcomb Conservatory on Detroit's Belle Isle The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (commonly and locally known as the Belle Isle Conservatory) is a greenhouse and botanical garden which opened in 1904.