Town and City Scenes--Detroit

Black and white photograph from 1951 showing Warren Avenue E, just north of the Chrysler plant, looking east to Connor Street in Detroit, Michigan. The men walking appear to be automotive workers leaving or going to work at the Chrysler plant.

Color postcard from circa 1912-1920 of a night scene showing the Detroit City Hall (1871), Dime Building (1912 - Burnham) and Majestic Building (1896 - Burnham), looking west in Detroit, Michigan.

Black and white reproduction of a photograph from approximately 1900 showing the Russell House and the Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument on Woodward Avenue and Cadillac Square in Detroit, Michigan. This image was reproduced in a 1950 calendar published for the Detroit Trust Company. The Russell House was built in 1857 and then rebuilt in 1881. It was replaced by the Pontchartrain Hotel in 1907.

Black and white photograph from circa 1950-1960 of Woodward Avenue at Campus Martius, looking north, in Detroit, Michigan. The Majestic Building (1896 - Daniel Burnham) is on the left.

Color postcard from circa 1910-1920 showing crowds gathered along the banks of the Grand Canal and in boats on the canal on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan. The image is taken from the bandstand bridge, which is why there is no band in the frame. Belle Isle is an island park in the Detroit River, home to an aquarium, conservatory, museums, golf course and park areas.

Color postcard from circa 1917-1923 of Washington Boulevard, looking north from Michigan Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. On the left is the Book Building (1917), prior to the tower being added in 1926. In the background on the left is the Statler Hotel (1915), and on the right the David Whitney Building (1915). On the far right of the image, in the foreground, is the old Cadillac Hotel, which was demolished in 1923 to make room for the Book-Cadillac Hotel. The statue in the foreground is the General Alexander Macomb Monument, by Adolph Alexander Weinman.

Color postcard from approximately 1912 of Gladwin Park in Detroit, Michigan. The park was renamed Gladwin Park from Water Works Park in 1912, but residents never took to the name, and it continued to be known as Water Works Park. The park was created for both utilitarian and recreational purposes. The primary purpose of the area was a water pumping system to provide water to the city of Detroit, but the area also included tennis courts, baseball fields, swimming and picnic sites for the public. The large standpipe and the floral water-powered clock (on the right in the image) were popular attractions at the park.

Black and white photograph from circa 1906-1910 of the Pardridge and Blackwell department store building on the corner of Farmer and Monroe Streets in Detroit, Michigan. The building, built in 1906, was designed by the architecture firm Smith, Hinchman Grylls. In 1907, an economic downturn forced Pardridge and Blackwell into insolvency, which is when Crowley and Milner took over, transforming (and expanding) the department store.

Color postcard from circa 1909-1911 showing the view south down Griswold Street from Capitol Square Park in Detroit, Michigan. On the left is the Chamber of Commerce Building (also known as the Detroit Savings Bank Building and more recently the United Way Community Services Building), built in 1895. In the background, the white building is the Ford Building (1909 - Daniel Burnham) and to the right of it the original Penobscot Building (1905 - Donaldson and Meier).

Color postcard from circa 1928-1930 showing a view down Washington Boulevard from Grand Circus Park in Detroit, Michigan. The building in the foreground on the left is the David Whitney Building, built in 1915 and designed by Daniel Burnham. On the right is the Statler Hotel, also built in 1915, and designed by George B. Post. The skyscraper in the background is the Book-Cadillac Hotel, built in 1924 and designed by Louis Kamper.

Black and white photograph from approximately 1955 of the ferry docks on the Detroit River at Detroit, Michigan. On the left is the Ford Auditorium (built 1955, demolished 2011), behind the parking lots for the ferries. These ferries took passengers to vacation spots such as Bob-Lo Park.

Color postcard from circa 1910-1913 showing the view south from just north of Fort Street on Campus Martius down Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. On the left is the Pontchartrain Hotel, built in 1907 (demolished in 1920). The red building on the right is the Hammond Building, built in 1890 (demolished in 1955). It was Detroit's first skyscraper.

Black and white photograph from 1981 of the east side of Chene Street at Adele Street, in the former Poletown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. In 1981, a large portion of this predominantly Polish neighborhood was razed amid much controversy to make way for the General Motors Cadillac Assembly Plant.

Black and white postcard from circa 1907-1915 of the Majestic Building (1896 - Burnham), a corner of the old Detroit City Hall (1871) and the Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1872) on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan.

Color postcard from 1932 showing the Penobscot Building and neighboring buildings on Griswold Street in Detroit, Michigan. The Greater Penobscot Building (the tower) was built in 1928, designed by Wirt C. Rowland for Smith, Hinchman and Grylls. It is connected to the original Penobscot Building (1905) and on the same block as the Penobscot addition (1916). The tower, at 47 stories, was the eighth tallest building in the world when it was completed, and the largest outside New York and Chicago. To the left of the Penobscot Building is the Ford Building, built in 1909. On the right is the Dime Building, built in 1912. Both the Ford and the Dime Buildings were designed by Daniel Burnham.

Black and white photograph from 1930 showing the office building on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Lafayette Street in downtown Detroit, Michigan. The First State Bank Building (1925 - Albert Kahn) and the Dime Building (1912 - Daniel Burnham) are visible on the left.

Black and white photograph from circa 1970-1980 of school children at a cross walk with the unidentified school and church in the background.

Black and white photograph from circa 1902-1912 of Campus Martius, looking north from Fort Street, in Detroit, Michigan. On the left is the Majestic Building (1896 - Daniel Burnham), and on the right opposite is the old Detroit Opera House (1869) with the Merrill Fountain in front of it (opened 1902).

Black and white copy print of an image showing a ferry docking at the Detroit, Michigan docks at the foot of Woodward Avenue.

Color postcard from approximately 1925 from Detroit, Michigan showing a skyline view of the city. The message reads, "Here I am at Detroit, Mich. Enjoying its sights and its cheer, everything's great; I'm feeling first rate, But oh, how I wish you were here."

Black and white stereograph from approximately 1866 showing merchants and laborers seated on barrels outside a store on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan.

Black and white photograph from 1987 of 3242 Junction Street (Bozek Bros. Funeral Home) in Detroit, Michigan. Part of the J. William Gorski Collection

Black and white copy print of a circa 1890-1900 photograph of the northeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Griswold Stree in Detroit, Michigan. On the left is the corner of the Garrick Theatre, at the time named Whitney's Grand Opera House (as indicated by the sign advertising Sadie Hasson in "A Kentucky Girl"). That theater is where Harry Houdini played his final performance, before dying of peritontis a week later at Detroit Grace Hospital.

Black and white photograph taken May 6, 1981 of Chene Street, between East Grand River Boulevard and East Milwaukee Avenue in the former Poletown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. In 1981, a large portion of this predominantly Polish neighborhood was razed amid much controversy to make way for the General Motors Cadillac Assembly Plant.

Black and white stereograph from circa 1898-1905 of Woodward Avenue, looking north from Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The Detroit City Hall (1871) can be seen in the background.

Color postcard from circa 1915-1925 showing the floral flag carpet bed and cedar mound at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan.

Black and white copy print of a circa 1890-1900 photograph of Campus Martius in Detroit, Michigan. On the far side of the square is the old Detroit Opera House (built 1869), with the J. L. Hudson department store on the ground floor (before it had its own grand building on Woodward Avenue).

Black and white copy print of a photograph from approximately 1890 showing the base of Woodward Avenue at the Detroit River in Detroit, Michigan. The base of Woodward Avenue is where the ferry landing for Detroit was located, bringing people across the river to Canada and to vacation spots.

Black and white copy print of a sketch based on General Alexander Macomb's watercolor "Detroit as Seen from the Canadian Shore," from Silas Farmer's "The History of Detroit and Michigan or The Metropolis Illustrated," Detroit: Silas Farmer Co., 1884.

Black and white copy print of a photograph showing an early paved road in Detroit.

Black and white reproduction of a photograph of the Belle Isle Bridge spanning the Detroit River and connecting Detroit, Michigan to Belle Isle. This image was reproduced in a 1950 calendar published for the Detroit Trust Company. The bridge in the image is the old Belle Isle Bridge, which was destroyed by fire in 1915. The description from the calendar: "Belle Isle Bridge, as it looked when Detroit Trust Company was organized in 1900."

Color postcard from circa 1907-1910 of the northeast corner of Griswold St. and Michigan Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. From the back of the postcard: "Reading from right to left stands the Majestic Home Bank, Whitney and the Hodges Buildings, with the Chamber of Commerce towering in the distance."

Black and white copy print of a photograph from circa 1880-1890 showing the future location of Tiger Stadium (also known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) on the corner of Trumbull and Michigan Avenues in the Corktown district of Detroit, Michigan.

Color postcard from circa 1927-1929 of the Hudson Motor Car Company facilities in Detroit, Michigan. This postcard is from the souvenir fold-out pack "Detroit's Largest Industries and Hotels."

Black and white photograph taken from the west showing the Dime (1912), Greater Penobscot (1928), Penobscot Annex (1916), Buhl (1925) and Guardian Buildings (1929).

Color postcard from circa 1927-1929 of the Hupp Motor Car Corporation plant in Detroit, Michigan. Hupp was one of the more successful of smaller automobile manufacturers, and produced cars between 1909 and 1940, most notably the Hupmobile. This postcard is from the souvenir fold-out pack "Detroit's Largest Industries and Hotels."

Black and white photograph from circa 1928-1935 of children playing while adults watch in playground area of the Fisher Building (built 1928 by Albert Kahn).

Black and white photograph from 1962 of the Detroit, Michigan financial district skyline from Cobo Hall. Skyscrapers in this image include (left to right): Greater Penobscot Building (1928), Penobscot Building Annex (1916), Buhl Building (1925), Guardian Building (1929) and One Woodward Avenue (1963).

Black and white photograph from 1987 of 3400 Vinewood Street at the corner of W. Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan. Ladder Company No. 4, Engine Company No. 10 fire station. Part of the J. William Gorski Collection

Color postcard from circa 1910-1920 showing the Belle Isle Casino, on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan. Right on the lagoon, the original Belle Isle Casino was built in 1884, designed by Donaldson and Meier. In 1908, it was replaced by the structure in this photograph. The Belle Isle Casino was more of a recreation facility than a gambling hall.

Color postcard from approximately 1910 of the fountain in Cass Park in Detroit, Michigan.

Color postcard from circa 1907-1911 showing a bird's eye view of Gratiot Avenue, looking north east from just east of Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The red building on the left is the J. L. Hudson department store building (designed by the architecture firm Smith, Hinchman Grylls). The white building with the "P sign" is Partridge and Blackwell store, which would become the Crowley Milner Co. department store (also designed by Smith, Hinchman Grylls). Both department stores were founded in Detroit. The building in the foreground is the Puritan Building.

Black and white postcard from 1904 of people along the canal and in canoes listening to a band concert being performed on the bridge on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan.

Black and white photograph from circa 1965-1975 of the Detroit, Michigan skyline taken from across the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario. Buildings in this image include (from left to right): Cobo Center and Arena (1960), Greater Penobscot Building (1928 - Wirt C. Rowland for Smith, Hinchman Grylls), Buhl Building (1925 - Wirt C. Rowland for Smith, Hinchman Grylls), UAW-Ford National Programs Center (originally Veterans Memorial Building; 1951 - Harley, Ellington Day), Guardian Building (1929 - Wirt C. Rowland for Smith, Hinchman Grylls), One Woodward Avenue (originally Michigan Consolodated Gas Company Building; 1963 - Minoru Yamasaki), Ford Auditorium (1955).