Few cities are more closely tied to the labor movement than Detroit. From the beginning, Labor Day in Detroit was about worker demonstration, which took the form of a parade. The city's first Labor Day celebration was held on August 16, 1884 in Recreation Park, where 50,000 spectators turned out for the celebration. Here is the earliest Labor Day Parade image from the Reuther's collection, showing Randolph Street in downtown Detroit circa 1890s.