In 1950 Detroit was the fifth most populous city in the United States with 1.8 million people living within its boundaries. Its downtown streets bustled with activity. Away from the city center, the neighborhoods were vibrant and active. By 1979, however, the Motor City had lost over one third of its residents. Factories, shops, and theaters closed down, businesses moved to the suburbs, neighborhoods began deteriorating, and crime was on the rise. Despite the city’s problems, the bonds of friendship and family along with memories of “the good old days” compelled some Detroiters to remain near their roots and continue life as usual in and around the city.

Historic Photos of Detroit in the 50s, 60s, and 70s documents what a Metro Detroiter would have experienced through those decades, from the commonplace—like bad traffic and bad weather—to the historic—like a visit from John F. Kennedy and a baseball world championship. In this companion volume to Historic Photos of Detroit, Mary J. Wallace gives readers an inside look at the ups and downs of one of the most interesting and relevant cities of the twentieth century.