email: roadarch@outlook.com

Michigan Mid-Century Modern Buildings (page 1)

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Alpena:
Besser Museum of Northeast Michigan

Ann Arbor:
Island Park Picnic Shelter

Public Library
Benton Harbor, MI
This Public Library was built from 1966-1968. In 2009, plans to renovate the building were announced. When these photos were taken in 2011, nothing had happened yet. [map]

Chelsea:
Schumm's Restaurant & Lounge [gone]

Dearborn:
Dearborn Chiropractic Life Center
Donutville USA

former Stanley Hong's Mannia Cafe
Detroit, MI
Stanley Hong's Mannia Cafe, a Chinese restaurant, opened in 1971. It later became a series of churches and a hip hop club. The building has been vacant since 2013. In 2021, plans were announced to turn the building into a music venue. However, nothing has happened. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

former Federal Department Store
Detroit, MI
This former Federal Department Store was repurposed as a Mammoth Mart. The building has been abandoned for years now. It was probably built in the 1940s or 1950s. There was a twin building in Ferndale, MI and there may have been others in the Detroit area. I believe the Federal chain closed in the 1970s and Mammoth Mart in the late 1970s. For more, see this website. [map]

More Detroit:
former Bowlerama
former Children's Zoo

Holiday Bowl [gone]
Escanaba, MI
The Holiday Bowl had been closed for many years. It appeared to be from the 1950s or 1960s. These photos are from 2011. The placed had been demolished by 2015.

Farmington Hills:
Arthur Beckwith House

Van Dyke Photographers
Flint, MI
T&S Fashions
Grand Rapids, MI
The Van Dyke Photographers storefront appears to be a 1960s or 1970s addition to the front of a house. [map]

The T&S Fashions building appears to be from the 1960s. Does anyone know what was here originally? The building now houses a cannabis shop. The building and rocks have been painted black. [map]

More Grand Rapids:
former Ronda Tire Shop

Hillside Lanes
Hillsdale, MI
The Hillside Lanes bowling alley was probably built in the 1960s. [map]

U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum
Ishpeming, MI
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1954. The museum moved to this building in 1992. It features a ski jump shaped roof. [map]

Public Library
Kalamazoo, MI
This Public Library was built in 1959. In 1998, it was adapted and expanded. The round portion of the building is entirely new. [map]

Bald Mountain Recreation Area
Lake Orion, MI
The Bald Mountain Recreation Area buildings were designed by Gunnar Birkerts and built in 1964. [map]