Detroit was a bustling city in the 1890's with a population of over 200.000 people. There was an assortment of store merchants, bicycles built for two, and ferry boats going from the foot of Woodward to Belle Isle, where you could watch a band concert play. Many historical sites are still located along Woodward Avenue which includes The Detroit Public Library, The Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Detroit Historical Museum. I remember when the department stores, Hudsons, and Kerns and Vernors were located on Woodward Avenue.
In 1909, the stretch of Woodward Avenue, between six mile and seven mile road, became the first mile of road in the world to be paved with concrete. I wanted to highlight images from the past regarding the famous Woodward Avenue from horses and carriages to street cars and automobiles. Woodward Avenue was a route that everyone used. Woodward Avenue holds considerable culture significance and was designated a Michigan Heritage route by the Michigan Department of Transportation Design division in 1999 and as a national scenic by Federal Highway Administration National scenic byways program on June 13, 2002. Today, Woodward Avenue light rail project will begin in 2012 and completed by 2016. A proposed light rail system on Woodward is in works which will run from Hart Plaza to the former Michigan State Fairgrounds near eight mile road. The cost of the project is estimated at about 450 million.
A special thanks to Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher, for donating his story to the MotorCities Story of the Week program. Photographs provided by the National Automotive History Collection.Information Catalog Artwork provided by Robert Tate. For further information contact Robert Tate at btate@motorcities.org
If you have a story that you would like to donate to be featured as a MotorCities Story of the Week, email Lisa Ambriez at: lambriez@motorcities.org