In spite of its infrastructure and landmarks, a city is not immortal. These vintage Detroit photos serve as a reminder of that.
In spite of its infrastructure, landmarks, and cultural significance, the city is not immortal. Detroit is no exception. While rebounding in some areas, for the most part, 21st-century Detroit remains a mere shadow of its former self.
Once known for powering most of the country, Detroit lost its steam and 70% of its population in the last 60 years and had to declare bankruptcy in 2013 to stay afloat.
Children run through Pingree Park. Hazen S. Pingree was a local politician who expanded public welfare programs and created many new parks and schools. Source: Detroit Metro Times
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During World War II, many wartime factories were located in Detroit. Source: Slate
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28-ton tanks called “General Grants” were mass produced by the Chrysler Corporation’s tank arsenal in 1942. Source: Vintage Everyday
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In 1945, gasoline in Detroit cost just 17 cents per gallon. Source: Vintage Everyday
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Employees work on cars at Detroit’s Packard Motor Car Company. Source: PennLive
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A peek at the 1960 National Auto Show held at Cobo Hall. Source: Huffington Post
These Pictures Of Vintage Detroit Will Surprise You
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A testament to globalization's impacts, it's hard to imagine that this overwhelming mass of abandoned buildings and empty streets was once considered the Silicon Valley of America.
But for now, forget about the slums, high crime rates and urban graveyards and think back to the days when Detroit symbolized the indomitable power of American industry and labor.
Kiri Picone holds a B.A. in English and creative writing from Pepperdine University and has been writing for various digital publishers for more than 10 years.
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.
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Picone, Kiri. "These Pictures Of Vintage Detroit Will Surprise You." AllThatsInteresting.com, March 12, 2015, https://allthatsinteresting.com/vintage-detroit. Accessed August 18, 2025.
