Historic Preservation in Michigan

In honor of Michigan Month in May, Michigan Memories is highlighting the challenge of historic preservation with photographs from the rich collections of our state's cultural institutions. Please see our Facebook page for updates.

"Every year in May, local preservation groups, state historical societies, and business and civic organizations across the country celebrate Preservation Month through events that promote historic places and heritage tourism, and that demonstrate the social and economic benefits of historic preservation.

"Preservation Month began as National Preservation Week in 1973. In 2005, the National Trust extended the celebration to the entire month of May and declared it Preservation Month to provide an even greater opportunity to celebrate the diverse and unique heritage of our country’s cities and states."

National Trust for Historic Preservation

For information about efforts in our state, see the Michigan Historic Preservation Network.

J. L. Hudson Building

Possible research questions:

What did Hudson's department store mean for people in Detroit from the early 1900s until the 1970s?
What happened to the building after the Hudson's store closed in 1983?

Year: Unknown

Source: The Detroit News Photograph Collection, The Virtual Motor City Collection at the Walter P Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University: https://digital.library.wayne.edu/item/wayne:vmc75537

Casino at Belle Isle

Description: One postcard entitled "Casino at Belle Isle, Detroit, Mich." The postcard shows a black and white photographic image of the front of the old Casino building on Belle Isle. A roadway and planted floral displays can be seen in the foreground."

Possible research questions:

What are some of the reasons why the Belle Isle Casino was torn down in 1908?
What historic buildings survive today on Belle Isle? How were they saved?

Year: 1905

Source: Detroit Historical Society: https://detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/archive/AE58A8EA-C2DF-4EDB-890D-740680289701

The old Temple Beth El on Woodward and Erskine, Detroit

Possible research questions:

What was the original purpose of this building?
What is it used for now?

Year: Unknown

Detroit Engine Company No. 9

Description: Sepia-toned photograph of Detroit Engine Company No. 9 exiting a fire station with a horse-drawn Amoskeag steam engine. A team of three horses pull the equipment, driven by a fireman, a second fireman is seated beside him, while a third fireman is standing on the rear of the engine behind the water tank. Engine Company #9 was located at the northwest corner of East Larned and Riopelle Streets. (The building was razed in 1961 for urban renewal.)

Possible research questions:

What is different about this fire engine compared to the ones you see today? How do you think the firefighters used this equipment? Why was this a good tool in 1901 but now we use something different?
This fire station was torn down many years ago. Why might a city remove a building like a fire station?

Year: c. 1901

Source: Detroit Historical Society: https://detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/photo/05BA7DB7-D8AB-4D30-9C8F-550722210436

The old Presque Isle Lighthouse

Possible research questions:

What happened to the tower and keeper's house after the old lighthouse was decommissioned in 1871?
Why would an old lighthouse need to be replaced by a new one? What might that tell you about the location where a lighthouse is built?

Year: 1947

Vandalism on the William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse on Belle Isle

Possible research questions:

Why would someone vandalize a historic structure?
What can be done to protect historic structures from vandalism?

Year: 1940

Judge Samuel Dexter House (Dexter, Michigan) during renovation

Possible research questions:

Why would a person's home be considered historic? What things would we want to preserve in such a home?
What kinds of discoveries might be made when renovating a very old home?

Year: 1951

Source: Emil Lorch Papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhl/x-hs8628/hs8628

No More Gentrification button

Possible research questions:

What do you think gentrification means? How can you find out if you don’t know?
After you’ve looked it up, why do you think people would want to stop gentrification? What do you think is lost when a neighborhood is gentrified?

Year: Unknown

Source: Pinback Buttons, Joseph A. Labadie Collection, University of Michigan Library: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lbc1ic/x-lbc.0113/lbc0113.tif

Canfield Housing Project

Description: Beulah Groehn Croxford, historic preservation activist poses for a photograph in her office at 627 West Canfield (Canfield and Second Avenue).

Possible research questions: