It’s always a gas to show some old vintage photos of Michigan’s towns, villages, communities, hamlets…and big cities. This time around, it’s another gallery of old images of Detroit. But before we delve into the photos, here are fifteen trivia facts about the city (thanks to Friedman Real Estate):

Detroit is the only city in the United States where you can look south and see Canada.

During prohibition, smugglers would drive their vehicles across the frozen Detroit River, bringing illegal alcohol.

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Richard Davis created the bulletproof vest after being robbed while doing pizza delivery.

Woodward Avenue became the first mile of concrete highway in the world in 1909.

Detroit’s Vernors ginger ale is the oldest surviving ginger ale in America.

Charles Lindbergh was born in Detroit in 1902.

In 1879, Detroit became the first city to assign its residents phone numbers.

Hudson’s in Detroit became America’s first department store to implement air conditioning in 1924.

Legendary characters The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet originated in Michigan, debuting on WXYZ radio.

Saddam Hussein was given the key to the city in 1980.

The Detroit Lions were originally the Spartans from Portsmouth, Ohio, coming to Detroit in 1934.

Detroit residents eat more potato chips than anyone else in the world.

Detroit’s 139 square miles could squeeze in all three cities of Boston, Manhattan, and San Francisco.

Detroit has more bowlers than anywhere in the United States.

Martin Luther King Jr. first gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech here. It wasn’t until two months later he made the same speech in Washington D.C., which soon became the most-remembered.

Did you know all those?
Some maybe?

With that being said, let’s proceed to the photo gallery with some old Detroit scenarios, photos, and images going back over 100 years…

More Vintage Detroit: 1890s-1960s

MORE VINTAGE DETROIT:

Memories of the Fox Theatre, Detroit

The First Black Player To Play For The Detroit Tigers

The Defunct Grand Riviera Theatre, Detroit, 1925-1952

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