Museums, galleries & stages / Grosse Pointe Farms
The War Memorial
Lakefront Alger estate in Grosse Pointe Farms: WWII memorial, community arts hub and a 600-guest ballroom on Lake St. Clair.
01 / The story of this place
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Charles A. Platt designed this Italian Renaissance-style lakefront house, The Moorings, for Russell A. Alger Jr. in 1910. From 1936 to 1948 it was a branch of the Detroit Institute of Arts, and in 1949 it was dedicated as a memorial to the 3,500 Grosse Pointers who served and 126 who died in World War II, and as a community cultural center. The Fred M. Alger Center, opened in 2022, adds a 600-guest ballroom facing the lake, and the grounds hold the only official reproduction of Omaha Beach's Les Braves sculpture.
- 1910 Alger estate on the lake
- World War II memorial
- 600-guest lakefront ballroom
- Official Les Braves replica
Photos were taken at different times; images are resized and cropped on cards.
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Sources & fact check · Checked: 2026-10-01
An independently written bilingual guide. This collection is not an attendance-based ranking.
03 / Events
Events at this place
Published events automatically linked from our event guide. Times are local to the venue.
Oct 6, 2026, 12:00 PMAmerican Red Cross Blood Drive
American Red Cross blood drive on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from noon to 6 p.m. in the Grosse Pointe War Memorial Ballroom in Grosse Pointe Farms. All blood types needed; one donation can save up to three lives—register to donate.
Oct 7, 2026, 5:30 PMCommunity Joiner Fair – In Conversation with Priya Parker
The Grosse Pointe War Memorial hosts a community evening on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms: meet local clubs and nonprofits, plus a 6–7 p.m. keynote with Priya Parker and moderator Ann Delisi. If community-building is your thing, this is for you; separate registration required for the keynote.
Oct 8, 2026, 8:00 AMVet-To-Vet: Coffee, Conversation & Community
Grosse Pointe War Memorial hosts a veterans’ morning meetup on Thursday, October 8, at 8 a.m. at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. A relaxed way to connect with local veterans. Free to attend; registration encouraged.
Oct 8, 2026, 10:00 AMWar Memorial History Tour
Grosse Pointe War Memorial leads a 90-minute history tour of the elegant Alger House on Thursday, October 8, at 10 a.m. at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. Intimate, limited to 20, wheelchair accessible, and free with Pay What You Wish.
Oct 13, 2026, 6:00 PMSilent Book Club at The War Memorial
Grosse Pointe War Memorial hosts its Silent Book Club on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 6 p.m. at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. Bring your current read for a quiet hour; complimentary coffee and tea, with wine and cheese-and-cracker boxes for purchase. Monthly registration; members are pre-registered.
Oct 18, 2026, 10:00 AMYoung Athletes Showcase
Special Olympics Michigan hosts the Young Athletes Showcase on Sunday, October 18, at 10 a.m. at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms—a free, inclusive sports sampler for kids ages 2–7 and their families.
Oct 23, 2026, 5:00 PMFold & Relax Origami
Artist Andrew Sigman leads a guided origami workshop on Friday, October 23, at 5 p.m. at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. Step-by-step, all ages, calming and focused. Registration required.
Oct 25, 2026, 12:00 PM4th Annual Halloween Spooktacular
Grosse Pointe War Memorial hosts the 4th Annual Halloween Spooktacular on Sunday, October 25, at 12 p.m., at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. Expect indoor trick-or-treating in the historic Alger House plus live stage shows. Tickets are $10 per person.
Nov 5, 2026, 6:30 PMVetConnect Seminar Series: Great Lakes National Cemetery
Rodney Heard Jr. and Eric Crawford from Great Lakes National Cemetery lead a free veterans seminar on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. Topic: burial and cemetery benefits in Michigan.
Nov 10, 2026, 6:00 PMSilent Book Club at The War Memorial
Grosse Pointe War Memorial teams up with Friends of the Grosse Pointe Public Library for a Silent Book Club on Tuesday, November 10, at 6 p.m. at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. Bring your current read for an hour of quiet reading; complimentary coffee and tea are included. Monthly registration; all are welcome.
Nov 11, 2026, 8:00 AMVeterans Day Breakfast
Grosse Pointe War Memorial hosts its Veterans Day Breakfast on Wednesday, November 11, at 8 a.m. in Grosse Pointe Farms, with Medal of Honor recipient Terry Richardson as keynote speaker. Reservations required; free for veterans, $20 for guests.
Nov 12, 2026, 10:00 AMWar Memorial History Tour
Grosse Pointe War Memorial’s History Tour starts Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 10 a.m. at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. Explore the elegant Alger House on a 90-minute walk; it’s free with a Pay What You Wish option, capped at 20 guests.
Nov 13, 2026, 7:00 PMBingo & Beats
Grosse Pointe War Memorial throws a music bingo night on Friday, November 13, at 7 p.m. at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. Six themed rounds—Motown & Disco, Movies + TV, and more—with halftime and grand prizes; $15 admission includes a bingo card for each round.
Nov 15, 2026, 12:00 PMGingerbread House Decorating Competition
Grosse Pointe War Memorial hosts a Gingerbread House building competition on Sunday, November 15, at 12 p.m. in Grosse Pointe Farms. You get three hours to build solo or in a small team; kits are provided, and the winner earns a table for four at Breakfast with Santa. Registration is $35 per team.
Nov 20, 2026, 7:00 PMArias After Dark
Detroit Opera’s 2026–27 Resident Artists—Madison Montambault, Grace Ryan, Travis Leon Williams, and Aurélien Mangwa—bring Arias After Dark to The War Memorial ballroom in Grosse Pointe Farms on Friday, November 20, at 7 p.m. Candlelit opera evening; tickets $50, or $70 with wine pairings.
Nov 22, 2026, 4:00 PMTree Lighting Ceremony
Grosse Pointe War Memorial kicks off the season with its Tree Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, November 22, at 4 p.m. in Grosse Pointe Farms. A 20-foot decorated tree, live ice sculpting, and a vintage holiday market set the mood; the main event is free with registration. Santa visits in the ballroom are $5 per child.
Dec 6, 2026, 4:00 PMBedtime Stories with Santa — Sunday
Grosse Pointe War Memorial hosts Bedtime Stories with Santa on Sunday, December 6, at 4 p.m. at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. Fireside stories, songs, milk and cookies, plus a professional family photo.
Dec 9, 2026, 6:00 PMVet-To-Vet
Grosse Pointe War Memorial hosts Vet-To-Vet on Wednesday, December 9, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. A relaxed way for veterans to connect over coffee; free to attend, registration encouraged.
Dec 10, 2026, 10:00 AMWar Memorial History Tour
Grosse Pointe War Memorial’s History Tour is Thursday, December 10, at 10 a.m. at The War Memorial’s Alger House in Grosse Pointe Farms. A 90‑minute, small-group look at the mansion’s architecture and stories; free with Pay What You Wish.
Dec 10, 2026, 4:00 PMBedtime Stories with Santa — Thursday
Grosse Pointe War Memorial hosts Bedtime Stories with Santa on Thursday, December 10, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. Kids come in PJs for fireside stories, songs, and milk-and-cookies with Santa.
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