From the Underground Railroad to the Model T, the Cultural Center to Motown, Historic Photos of Detroit is a photographic history collected from the areas top archives. With around 200 photographs, many of which have never been published, this beautiful coffee table book shows the historical growth from the mid 1800's to the late 1900's of ""the Motor City"" in stunning black and white photography. The book follows life, government, events and people important to Detroit and the building of this unique city. Spanning over two centuries and two hundred photographs, this is a must have for any long-time resident or history lover of Detroit!
The 1950s, 60s, and 70s saw some of the most defining moments in our nation's history, and Detroit remained at the forefront during these decades of change. A companion book to Historic Photos of Detroit, Historic Photos of Detroit in the 50s, 60s, and 70s follows life, government, and events throughout Motor City's history, from its booming population, pro-sports reputation, and thriving automobile industry in the 50s; to the birth of Motown Records and the Detroit riot in the 60s; to a declining population, oil crisis, and expanding music scene in the 70s. This book illustrates the participants, riots, triumphs, and tragedies of this period through the lens of hundreds of historic photographs, published in striking black and white.
Famous the world over for automobile manufacture and the distinctive sounds of Motown music, Detroit, the Motor City, celebrated its 300th birthday in 2001. "Detroit Then and Now" is a fascinating look at this city's great history, taking historic photographs from the dawn of the camera age and comparing them with full-color photographs of the same scenes today.
In Detroit's Historic Places of Worship, authors Marla O. Collum, Barbara E. Krueger, and Dorothy Kostuch profile 37 architecturally and historically significant houses of worship that represent 8 denominations and nearly 150 years of history. The authors focus on Detroit's most prolific era of church building, the 1850s to the 1930s, in chapters that are arranged chronologically. Entries begin with each building's founding congregation and trace developments and changes to the present day. Full-color photos by Dirk Bakker bring the interiors and exteriors of these amazing buildings to life, as the authors provide thorough architectural descriptions, pointing out notable carvings, sculptures, stained glass, and other decorative and structural features. Nearly twenty years in the making, this volume includes many of Detroit's most well known churches, like Sainte Anne in Corktown, the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Boston-Edison, Saint Florian in Hamtramck, Mariners' Church on the riverfront, Saint Mary's in Greektown, and Central United Methodist Church downtown. But the authors also provide glimpses into stunning buildings that are less easily accessible or whose uses have changed-such as the original Temple Beth-El (now the Bonstelle Theater), First Presbyterian Church (now Ecumenical Theological Seminary), and Saint Albertus (now maintained by the Polish American Historical Site Association)-or whose future is uncertain, like Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church (most recently Abyssinian Interdenominational Center, now closed). Appendices contain information on hundreds of architects, artisans, and crafts-people involved in the construction of the churches, and a map pinpoints their locations around the city of Detroit. Anyone interested in Detroit's architecture or religious history will be delighted by Detroit's Historic Places of Worship.
Michigan's historic Fort Wayne, located on the narrowest point of the Detroit River, is named for Revolutionary War hero Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne. The fort was built in the 1840s to protect Detroit from British invasion following the strife of the 1838 Patriot War in Canada. Originally constructed of earth and wood, the fortifications were rebuilt in masonry during the Civil War, but the fort has never mounted cannons, as peace came to the international border and remains to this day. Fort Wayne has served the military as a training center, home to infantry regiments, supply depot, prisoner of war camp, and major induction center. It was a source of work for the unemployed during the Great Depression, a place of confinement during the Red Scare of 1920, and home for those displaced by civil unrest in Detroit during the 1960s. The fort continues to invite people to its riverfront view, not as soldiers but as guests, to enjoy community events on its broad parade fields and to learn about those who lived, drilled, and worked there.
Palmer Park is Detroit's underappreciated architectural jewel. Located around the intersection of McNichols Road (Six Mile) and Woodward Avenue, it embraces every style of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. United States senator Thomas Palmer originally developed the property as farmland and donated it to the city in the 1890s. Between 1924 and 1964, its character changed with some of the best examples of modern apartment living from top local architects, including one of just five buildings credited to the world-renowned Albert Kahn. Author Gregory C. Piazza showcases the exceptional story of building Palmer Park.
Historic photos of Louisville captures the remarkable journey of this city and her people, with still photography from the finest archives of city, state and private collections. From the Civil War through the end of the nineteenth centrury, the rise of industry, two world wars and into the modern era, Louisville has remained a unique and prosperous city. With hundreds of archival photos reproduced in stunning black and white on heavy art paper, this book is the perfect addition to any historian's collection.
We found these pictures and documents abandoned on the streets of Detroit. We did not take the pictures or write the words. We do not know who did. Certain names, addresses and phone numbers have been redacted in an attempt to protect people's identities. If you have information about the pictures, please contact us
Step Inside a Detroit You've Never Seen. The Motor City. The City on the Strait. The Arsenal of Democracy. Detroit is the city that put the world on wheels. Once the fourth largest in the country, its streets were filled with bustling crowds and lined with breathtaking landmarks. Over the years, many of Detroit's most beautiful buildings-packed with marble, ornate metalwork, painted ceilings and glitz and glamour-have been reduced to dust. From the hallowed halls of Old City Hall to the floating majesty of steamships to the birthplace of the automotive industry, Dan Austin, author of Lost Detroit and creator of HistoricDetroit.org, recaptures stories and memories of a forgotten Detroit, giving readers a glimpse into some of the most stunning buildings this city has ever known. Book jacket.
In 1950 Detroit was the fifth most populous city in the United States with 1.8 million people living within its boundaries. Its downtown streets bustled with activity. Away from the city center, the neighborhoods were vibrant and active. By 1979, however, the Motor City had lost over one third of its residents. Factories, shops, and theaters closed down, businesses moved to the suburbs, neighborhoods began deteriorating, and crime was on the rise. Despite the city’s problems, the bonds of friendship and family along with memories of “the good old days” compelled some Detroiters to remain near their roots and continue life as usual in and around the city. Historic Photos of Detroit in the 50s, 60s, and 70s documents what a Metro Detroiter would have experienced through those decades, from the commonplace—like bad traffic and bad weather—to the historic—like a visit from John F. Kennedy and a baseball world championship. In this companion volume to Historic Photos of Detroit, Mary J. Wallace gives readers an inside look at the ups and downs of one of the most interesting and relevant cities of the twentieth century.
