Greek Ann Arbor

Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti was named by Judge Woodrow of Detroit in 1829 who was very impressed by Dimitri Ypsilantis, a hero in the Greek War of Independence (1821-32). The city’s name reflected the national sentiment during the early 19th century which aligned with Greece’s democratic values and spirit of freedom. When entering the from the West one can see the water tower, which is built on the highest point in Ypsilanti, where Greek and American flags fly in unison. Ypsilantis’ bust was dedicated by the American Hellenic Education Progressive Association (AHEPA) in 1928 (Mann 2003:17).