My name is Eric Hergenreder, and I’m a writer and photographer based in Detroit.

You can call me Red.

Since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed taking photographs of historical places and things.

I have a degree in Communication Studies from the University of Michigan and currently work as a writer. I run a site called MiRoadtrip that helps road trippers plan their journey around Michigan. My YouTube channel, This Building Matters, is an extension of the research on this website.

Historic Preservation CV

• May 2026 - Statewide Historic Preservation Conference — Michigan Historic Preservation Network

  • I attended the Statewide Historic Preservation Conference in 2026 at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House. In addition to spending time at an incredibly historic and well-maintained property, I enjoyed the conversations on inclusive design and the Main Street projects that have taken the state of Michigan by storm.

• March 2026 - Michigan in Perspective: Local History Conference — Historical Society of Michigan

  • I attended the Michigan in Perspective: Local History Conference at Oakland University in 2026. My favorite discussions were those on Arab and Chaldean history in Metro Detroit, the Ossian Sweet trials, and the 1962 Port Huron Statement.

• November 2025 - Community Historian Award — Preservation Detroit

  • I was awarded the Community Historian Award at Preservation Detroit's 50th Anniversary Gala. To be celebrated by an organization that's done so much for preservation in Detroit was an incredible honor!

• April 2024 - Historic Designation Advisory Board — City of Detroit

  • I have been on the Historic Designation Advisory Board for the City of Detroit since April 2024. While a part of this board, I have contributed to local and National Register of Historic Places nominations, participated in historic district studies, and helped document and preserve Detroit's historic resources.

You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Want to chat or hire me? Fill out the form below.