The piquette plant was designed by albert kahn, the master architect whose buildings are all over detroit. The packard automotive plant is a former automobilemanufacturing factory in detroit, michigan where luxury cars were made by the packard motor car company and later by the studebakerpackard corporation. Haunting and beautiful before and after pictures of detroit. The packard automotive plant is a former automobilemanufacturing factory in detroit, michigan, where luxury cars were made by the packard motor car company and later by the studebakerpackard corporation. The packard plant in detroit, michigan can surely be referenced as one of the most talked about car manufacturing plants in america.
Tour guides jacob jones, center, and julian desandy, explains the history of packard between the at during pure detroits packard plant tour, sunday, september 24, 2017 in. Detroit now is sad, rotting hellhole of less than 700 000 people that the rest of the world made jokes about. Aug 19, 2014 new owner and big changes coming to detroit s packard plant. Fewer still can share credit for the rescue of an entire nation. While some look at the packard plant and see decay and ruin, we see an opportunity to revive a great name and be a part of the revival of americas greatest city. The winter 2009 edition of the packard cormorant published by the packard automobile club was devoted to the rise and fall of 1580 east grand boulevard. The 1943 detroit race riots michigan history the detroit news. The location chosen for this new undertaking was 2231 dalzelle street, which itself is located in the neighborhood of corktown. The summer of 1941 saw an epidemic of street corner fights involving blacks and polish youths who were terrorizing black neighborhoods in detroit and hamtramck. Packard plant 1560 e grand blvd detroit, mi historical places. Jul 19, 20 the 3,500,000squarefoot packard motor car co.
It still stands today, a symbol of detroits long, slow decline. Since that time stabilization efforts, structural testing, planning, and permitting have been ongoing. Visit pure detroit for more information and to sign up. Jan 25, 2016 in 1903, packard constructed a modern automobile manufacturing plant in detroit. David barr and sergio degiusti, transcending, hart plaza, detroit, 2003. The classic text on ruins is edward gibbons the decline and fall of the roman empire, completed during the last decades of the 18th century, when the english were cultivating a special interest in historical empires that their own advancing empire might. The crown jewel for packard was the packard factory, a 3. The packard plant was one of the most important early auto facilities in detroit s history. The company moved into its first new and modern albert kahn designed, reinforced concrete building on east grand blvd.
History and photos of the abandoned packard automotive plant, in detroit, mi. Historic photographs of the packard motor car company, detroit mi matthew christophers abandoned america. Want to book the packard plant for a video shoot or photography access. A lot of great stories, technical specifications, production figures almost everything. Packard had their international meet in detroit in 1972, and on saturday show day we drove in a convoy through the plant and over the bridge and down the assembly line. Starting august 12, pure detroit will lead walking tours of the iconic site, which is currently undergoing its first phase of. The packard motor car company plant, in detroit, michigan, seen above was for a long time, one of the grandest examples of an automobile factory in the world. Dec 02, 2012 artist eric millikin created this image by fading a photo from the packard plant s past into a photo of the plant today. The plant was located on a staggering 35 acres of land and boasted over 3. Cadillac produced many more cars on clark street than packard ever did on east grand blvd and when the time came to raze the place it was taken. The packard motor car company was founded by two brothers, james and willam packard, with a tidy sum of money they made producing arc lamps in the 1890s.
The packard automotive plant is a former automobilemanufacturing factory in detroit, michigan, where luxury cars were made by the packard motor car company and later by the studebaker packard corporation. Tours of the plant are now offered through pure detroit on saturdays and sundays. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts. I photographed the interior of the plant in 1999 for a book i was doing called abandoned america and found it haunting. Packard motor car companyis a chapter in my book, abandoned america. The year is 1926, and the city of detroit is a need of a book depository. Sep 26, 2017 tour guides jacob jones, center, and julian desandy, explains the history of packard between the at during pure detroit s packard plant tour, sunday, september 24, 2017 in detroit. Early in june 1943, 25,000 packard plant workers, who produced engines for bombers and pt boats, stopped work in protest of the promotion of three blacks. The first packard automobiles were produced in 1899, and the last in 1958. Discover packard automotive plant in detroit, michigan.
Modern assembly plants were on a single story, and so nance sought such a plant. The company began in warren ohio in 1899, where the brothers produced a onecylinder model a, which had twelve horsepower and a top speed of 30 mph. Hello all so, i am a graduate student at the university of oregon, and am writing a paper about the kahn trussed bar system used in the packard plant no. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund.
The packard plant on east grand in detroit was an old twostory facility. Historian looking for former packard employees detroit news. Jul 23, 2018 the packard plant on east grand in detroit was an old twostory facility. An antiquecar historian is looking for former employees of the packard motor car co. Post packard history of the site when packard went out of business, a former. Packard plant at risk of foreclosure again hemmings daily. Before and after the sad story of the packard plant. The winter 2009 edition of the packard cormorant published by the packard automobile club was devoted to the rise and fall of 1580 east. Plant history in 1903, at the behest of a group of investors, the packard automotive company moved its headquarters from warren, ohio to detroit. It was first used in 1919 and in use by general motors until 1984, one of many auto plants located in this area because of the railroad line that went through here. Jan 01, 2005 excellent book not only for packard enthusiasts. In 1903, packard constructed a modern automobile manufacturing plant in detroit.
The abandoned packard plant already has its inherent risks robberies, assaults and vandalized cars. Packard plant project the packard plant project is committed to the restoration and revitalization of the abandoned packard plant in detroit, michigan. Buy it on amazon or get signed copies here subscribe to our mailing list for news and. Developer fernando palazuelo acquired the packard plant. Packard plant is certainly an interesting place to visit. There have been a number of threads on this website asking about the history of the packard plant on east grand boulevard. This might seem like a silly question, but is the actual building no. New packard plant owner cracks down on trespassers by. By 1957 packards were no longer assembled at the detroit plant. People have asked what was made in this or that part of the factory. The packard automotive plant is a former automobilemanufacturing factory in detroit.
A description of an ebook about the abandoned packard plant in detroit. Detroit packard plant, face book page to be used by fans of the plant to connect and exchange information about the plant and detroit. See more ideas about detroit, detroit history and abandoned detroit. In the years following world war ii, the packard motor car company struggled to keep pace with the larger automakers that had purchased. A lot of great stories, technical specifications, production figures almost everything, you want to know about cars and company. We last checked in on progress at the packard plant project in detroit, michigan on may 12, 2015. On july 18, 20, detroit filed for chapter 9 bankruptcy and was the largest bankruptcy filing in the u. The packard plant was one of the most important early auto facilities in detroits history. For example, it says packards were built at the plant through 1956, but as packard buffs know packard production was moved to a facility on connor ave. Between wwi and wwii, packard was considered americas premier maker of luxury cars. Few engines throughout history have achieved a near mythical status among its admirers. Jul 19, 2019 when it opened in 1903, packard s detroit plant was the most advanced auto factory in the world. The packard motor car company started its journey in the late 1800s with warren packard, james ward packard, and william doud packard.
Detroit public schools book depository and its anatomy. The warm fall and early winter weather allowed work to begin on the environmental cleanup of the former administrative office building of the packard motor car company. This 42 page, glossy magazine details the complete history of the packard plant. Few factories transformed the industrial landscape as did the packard plant, which rose from a cow pasture on the east side of detroit in 1903 to become the worlds largest auto factory. Detroit, mi to see what remains of the cadillac motor car division factory nothing remains to see what should have been done with the packard plant decades ago. When it opened in 1903, packards detroit plant was the most advanced auto factory in the world. Packard automotive plant history the packard motor car company was founded by two brothers, james and willam packard, with a tidy sum of money they made producing arc lamps in the 1890s. The first concrete auto factory journal of the society of. The task of designing this new structure was granted to albert kahn. Learn about the history of detroit through its architecture and complete the experience with a visit to grand circus park and a local brewpub. The packard club is dedicated to the enjoyment, maintenance, and accurate restoration and preservation of the products and history of the packard motor car company of detroit, michigan, a manufacturer of one of the greatest marques in world history. See all 2 packard automotive plant tours on tripadvisor. In 1903, at the behest of a group of investors, the packard automotive company moved its headquarters from warren, ohio to detroit. Packard was a premier nameplate in the united states, mentioned in the same breath as duesenberg, cadillac, piercearrow, and lincoln.
Update on progress of the packard plant project the old motor. The packard plant project is committed to the restoration and revitalization of the abandoned packard. Packard motor car company detroit, mi falling from favor. Her grandfather, oscar piche, is pictured at top left packard factory entrance circa 1940s packard factory entrance circa 2009 entrance to the packard factory. Packard plant walking tours now offered through pure detroit. Packard automotive plant detroit, michigan atlas obscura. The culmination of a series of white supremacist wildcat strikes in the first half of 1943, the packard hate strike shows both the tenuousness of the white working class commitment. It still stands today, a symbol of detroit s long, slow decline. One of detroits iconic urban ruins is slowly coming back. On the left is a photo from the national automotive history collection at.
Thenpresident of the company, henry joy, looking for a fresh take on factory buildings, enlisted local architect albert kahn to design the companys complex. The concrete shell of an industry giant remains as a playground for graffiti artists, auto scrappers, and paintball warriors. Aug 15, 2011 inside the packard plant, building a car circa 1930s. The historic packard plant bridge collapses architectural afterlife. See more ideas about abandoned detroit, detroit and abandoned places. Feb 10, 1999 the summer of 1941 saw an epidemic of street corner fights involving blacks and polish youths who were terrorizing black neighborhoods in detroit and hamtramck. Starting next week, ticket holders can explore facilities of the packard plant on a tour about the past and learn about future developments. The 3,500,000squarefoot 325,000 m 2, designed by albert kahn associates using trussed concrete steel company products. One can find here detailed packard history and a lot more the book tells about the people and the times they lived. Roughly 40,000 people worked at the facility in detroit at its peak.
While some look at the packard plant and see decay and ruin, we see an opportunity to revive a great name and be a. Update on progress of the packard plant project the old. On june 6, 1943, nearly 30 leaders of the packard hate strike in a united auto workersorganized plant in detroit were suspended from their jobs. The former packard motor company plant in detroit is one of the most recognizable symbols of the decline of the citys once vibrant auto industry. It also was the first industrial site in detroit to use reinforced. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read detroits spectacular ruin. How detroit massproduced britains handbuilt powerhouse by terry dunn on feb. Packard automotive plant detroit 2020 all you need to. We drove our 1934 standard 8 club sedan through the plant on the way to the old test track, owned by ford at the time, and we could do as many laps as we wanted.
As of august 2016, no redevelopment had taken place at the historic 40 acre site on detroits east side. Detroit, mi photos of the packard plant on east grand boulevard below are photos and artists renditions of the huge packard complex in detroit over the years. In 1905, when the cadillac and packard plants were built, kahn was well. Park your ride on the sprawling auto plant and you may find it on the back of a tow truck, leaving you without wheels in a dicey neighborhood. Its an important part of the citys history so if you come with a car, ill recommend it. We recommend booking packard automotive plant tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Thenpresident of the company, henry joy, looking for a fresh take on factory buildings, enlisted local. Designed by renowned architect albert kahn, construction began in 1903. Dwight heinmuller is asking anyone who worked at the detroit plant or knows someone who did or has photos. Packard produced luxury automobiles not only for the american market, but also for foreign markets. Of all the former great and classic automobile plants, this grand dame of a by gone era still stands as a memory of a past and forgotten age. Perhaps only the rollsroyce merlin engine can claim both distinctions. Free press photographer brian kaufman matched 21st century scenes.
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