Downtown Detroit in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
L.B. King and Company Building
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 3, 2021
1. L. B. King and Company Building Marker
L. B. King and Company headquartered here from 1911 to 1932, and Annis Furs occupied the building from 1932 to 1983. Constructed in 1911 to the designs of James S. Rogers and Walter MacFarlane, it exemplifies the Chicago commercial style popular in the early twentieth century. The building features a steel frame, terra-cotta skin, three-part vertical division and banks of Chicago windows. It incorporates classical decorative elements in the cornice and the window details
Erected 1989 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1376.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 42° 20.076′ N, 83° 2.842′ W. Marker is in Detroit, Michigan, in Wayne County. It is in Downtown Detroit. It is at the intersection of Library Street and Grand River Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Library Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1274 Library St, Detroit MI
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Statue of Abraham Lincoln (within shouting distance of this marker); Parker's Alley (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry the Hatter (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Kresge Korner (about 400 feet away); The Kern Clock (about 500 feet away); Vernor's Ginger Ale (about 500 feet away); Germantown / The Harmonie Club (about 600 feet away); Beatrice Buck's Paradise Valley Park (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Detroit.
Also see . . .
1. L. B. King and Company Building. Exerpt:
After graduation, King joined his father's crockery and glassware firm, which had been founded in 1849. He rose through(Submitted on May 12, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)the ranks to become president of the company in 1907, by which time the company was specializing as a china wholesaler.Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 3, 20212. L. B. King and Company Building MarkerAdded to National Register of Historic Places June 12, 1987
2. L.B. King Building. More information about the King Building, Louis King, Annis Furs, and Newton Annis as well as occupants of the building after 1984 on the Historic Detroit website. The site also features outside and inside photos of the building. (Submitted on June 30, 2026, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
3. King, L. B. and Co. Building. The King Building was entered into the National of Register of Historic Places in 1988. An excerpt from the registration form:
The L. B. King & Company Building is one of a small number of fine, terra-cotta-clad, commercial buildings in downtown Detroit designed by leading Detroit architects in the 1905-1920 period. It housed two firms, L. B. King & Company, china wholesalers and retailers, and Annis Furs Company, furriers, prominent in the commercial history of Detroit. Founded in 1849 by Robert W. King and reorganized in 1894 as L. B. King & Company, the company, under(Submitted on June 30, 2026, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)the direction of Louis Buhl King, became the largest wholesale and retail china dealer in Detroit and Michigan, occupying this building from 1911 to 1932. Annis Furs, founded by Newton Annis in 1887, was housed here from 1932 to 1983. The firm, which at one time employed 100 to 130 furriers, were the leading designers, manufacturers, and retailers of first-class furs in Detroit.Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 3, 20213. L. B. King and Company Building MarkerView from Library Street
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 3, 2021
4. L. B. King and Company Building Marker
NRHP marker located at entrance seen from Grand River Avenue
Photographed by Craig Doda, October 16, 2022
5. L.B. King and Company Building and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 12, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 720 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 12, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 5. submitted on October 18, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
