Vintage Kodachrome - Downtown Detroit. October 1955 to June 1963

**Dent** · January-13-12, 08:32 PM

Found photos from the 50's and 60's. First up:

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October, 1955

Larger view here: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7035/6...5933de45_o.jpg

**One Shot** · January-13-12, 08:38 PM

Awesome pic! Strange to see the skyline without the Ren Cen.
These already sound good. Post away!

**Dent** · January-13-12, 09:05 PM

Next up:

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Old Barn. John R. & Warren. 1957.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6697569603_386d6226a1_o.jpg

**townonenorth** · January-13-12, 09:56 PM

That's a really nice picture. I bet that was one of the older firehouses at one time.

The garage pic I mean

**Dent** · January-13-12, 09:44 PM

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Downtown Detroit, Aug. 1961.

Larger view here: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6...8af3ba4c_o.jpg

**p69rrh51** · January-14-12, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by Dent

Downtown Detroit, Aug. 1961.

The ANR building still under construction! Fabulous pic!

**dtowncitylover** · January-30-12, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Dent

Downtown Detroit, Aug. 1961.

Larger view here: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6...8af3ba4c_o.jpg

Do you Dent or anyone else know what the small building on the top right, with the large advertisement, was? And would I assume correctly that is the Cadillac Tower next to it?

**gazhekwe** · January-13-12, 09:57 PM

These are great! I want X-ray vision to see into them more.

**Dent** · January-13-12, 09:59 PM

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Campus Martius. July 3, 1959

Larger view here: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7156/6...978528b7_o.jpg

**Cincinnati_Kid** · January-14-12, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by Dent

Campus Martius. July 3, 1959

You don't see traffic like that now.

**Dent** · January-14-12, 01:14 PM

This was the night of the annual fireworks, Kid. I don't know what the event was called back in '59, the 'Hudson's Fireworks' ? Perhaps someone here remembers.

**Ray1936** · January-14-12, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by Dent

This was the night of the annual fireworks, Kid. I don't know what the event was called back in '59, the 'Hudson's Fireworks' ? Perhaps someone here remembers.

The Internation Freedom Festival, in conjunction with Canada Day, July 1 - 4.

**Dent** · January-14-12, 04:28 PM

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Detroit, west of Penobscot. July 3 1959.

Larger view here: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6...79c077c6_o.jpg

**Dent** · January-14-12, 04:30 PM

Thank you Ray. I was not sure if the fireworks was still called The Internation Freedom Festival back in the 50's.

**Dent** · January-14-12, 01:21 PM

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`

Downtown Detroit. More construction. April 1958.

Larger view here: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6...6b74e39f_o.jpg

**East Detroit** · January-16-12, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

You don't see traffic like that now.

Actually, you often do.

Many people think wow... look at the 5M people in the pictures walking, but dont think that pictures then were taken more often for special occasions when more people were there. Holidays, etc. Not to say there is no difference, but perspective is nice.

**DownriverGRap** · January-16-12, 12:36 PM

Man, you do not even see traffic like that on game day and this was decades before the stadiums were right downtown. What a vibrant nightlife!

**stasu1213** · January-14-12, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by Dent

Campus Martius. July 3, 1959

I remember that island in front of the Kerns building., Was it still there until 1998 when the Hudson's building was imploded?

**mikefmich** · January-13-12, 10:01 PM

Cool! I see the skeleton of One Woodward going up.

MORE!

**Dent** · January-13-12, 10:02 PM

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Campus Martius. July 3, 1959.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7156/6...04d5fc59_o.jpg

**313WX** · January-14-12, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by Dent

Campus Martius. July 3, 1959.

Now THAT'S a city!!!

**stromberg2** · January-14-12, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by Dent

Campus Martius. July 3, 1959.

Wow, I'm so envious of that time in Detroit! So vibrant!'

Stromberg2

**Danny** · January-14-12, 04:05 PM

That was the REAL Downtown Detroit in color! Mom and pop shops in every corner along with Kerns', Crowleys, Hudson's, Sanders, Hughes and Hatcher, S.S. Kresge's, Woolworths, American Airlines Travel Center, Heimelhoch's, United Artists Theatre, Michigan Theatre, Fine Arts Theatre, Telenews building, Wilkelmans, Meyer Jewelers, Book Cadillac Hotel, Pontchartrian Hotel, Sams, National Theatre building, Paramount Theatre, Madison Theatre, Germantown, Greektown, Bricktown, Henry the Hatter, Baltimore Lunch and many more.