The piquette plant was designed by albert kahn, the master architect whose buildings are all over detroit. The packard company was moved to detroit from warren, ohio, in 1903 by a group of investors led by richard p. 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. 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 ford rotunda was built for the 1934 worlds fair and was the fifth most visited site in the u. Designed by renowned architect albert kahn, construction began in 1903. A history of the motor car and the company automobile. How detroit massproduced britains handbuilt powerhouse by terry dunn on feb. Read the facts and study the plant diagrams and photos. Detroit once had a tourist attraction more popular than the statue of liberty. 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.
Packard plant walking tours now offered through pure detroit. Mar 22, 2015 heres a photo compilation of both buildings of the packard plant on the bottom floor. The packard automotive plant is a former automobilemanufacturing factory in detroit. A poetic tour through detroits abandoned, ghostly packard. 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. Several pictures of the interior of the packard factory are of the connor ave. Allan hill walks between the buildings of the packard plant on bellevue st. A view of the north half of the packard motor car companys campus from the administration building, taken in 2009 updated july 19, 2019 by matthew christopher when it opened in 1903, packard s detroit plant was the most advanced auto factory in the world. Before and after the sad story of the packard plant december 4, 2012 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. New owner and big changes coming to detroit s packard plant. To visit his home in detroit s longabandoned packard automotive plant, you pass under the crumbling pedestrian bridge on east grand. The old packard plant on detroit s east side has sat abandoned and neglected for decades, one of the citys icons symbolizing detroit s. One of detroits iconic urban ruins is slowly coming back. Arte express will start phase one of the packard plant redevelopment.
Chrysler broke ground on what would come to be known as the detroit arsenal tank plant, situated in what is now the suburb of warren. The old packard plant on detroits east side has sat abandoned and. Before and after the sad story of the packard plant. 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. Motorcities the rise and fall of packard 2019 story. 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts. In 1956, packard moved out of the city of detroit and merged with the studebaker corporation of south bend, indiana. Willie geist traces the history of the packard automotive plant in detroit, michigan.
The concrete shell of an industry giant remains as a playground for graffiti artists, auto scrappers, and paintball warriors. The packard plant in detroit, michigan can surely be referenced as one of the most talked about car manufacturing plants in america. In 1903, at the behest of a group of investors, the packard automotive company moved its headquarters from warren, ohio to detroit. Update on progress of the packard plant project the old motor. Postpackard history of the site when packard went out of business, a former company manager. On may 16, after years of planning, the largest renovation project in north america will officially break ground in detroit. But more than 60 years after manufacturing its last luxury car, the longabandoned facility has transformed into a symbol for detroit s.
Again production of automobiles ceased at the grand blvd. The packard factory, detroit sometimes interesting. If id had the time, i would have spent days inside. No name streets blank sectors leading to the ice box n other clubsnightlife the packard plant detroit, michigan. 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. Packard plant pedestrian bridge wrapped in 1930s glory for. Hill has been told to vacate the warehouse inside the plant that he has used as a residence. In this clip he is driving through the packard plant on the eastside of detroit. The packard plant on east grand in detroit was an old twostory facility. The packard motor car company built luxury vehicles that set the standard for excellence in styling and engineering in the early 20th century. Historic packard plant bridge collapses in detroit. Learn about the history of detroit through its architecture and complete the experience with a visit to grand circus park and a local brewpub.
Historic photographs of the packard motor car company, detroit mi matthew christophers abandoned america. Finding the connor avenue chrysler plant available, he purchased it to assemble the heavily updated packard. Only the legendary packard could command a book of such scope and expense. There is security at the location now and entering the building is prohibited. Dec 04, 2012 before and after the sad story of the packard plant december 4, 2012 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.
For example, it says packards were built at the plant through 1956, but as packard buffs know packard production. Last packardthe classic american luxury carproduced history. Pure detroit is excited to help highlight the extraordinary history of the packard plant with our partners arte express detroit and the packard plant. People have asked what was made in this or that part of the factory. To visit his home in detroit s longabandoned packard automotive plant, you pass under. The packard plant kindle edition by welsh, theresa, welsh, david, welsh, theresa. The packard plant project is committed to the restoration and revitalization of the abandoned packard. Packard was an american luxury automobile marque built by the packard motor car company of detroit, michigan, united states. The abandoned packard plant located in detroit, michigan rendered in hdr high dynamic range. I photographed the interior of the plant in 1999 for a book i was doing called abandoned america and found it haunting. Three years later, woods miss america i set a longstanding gold cup heat record of 70.
Jan 23, 2019 historic packard plant bridge collapses in detroit. At detroit history sites, packardinfo, coachbuilt, allpar, etc. The winter 2009 edition of the packard cormorant published by the packard automobile club was devoted to the rise and. May 10, 2017 on may 16, after years of planning, the largest renovation project in north america will officially break ground in detroit. Packard plant early days national automotive history collection on october 2, 1902 the business name was formally changed to the packard motor company with james packard as president. History and photos of the abandoned packard automotive plant, in detroit, mi. A history of the motor car and the company automobile quarterly magnificent marque books. I dont know arlans or its history, so im just asking. Automotive historians have said that in early 1903, a decision was made to build a new factory in detroit along with henry joy, who had become packard s. Detroits abandoned packard plant to be auctioned hemmings. Aug 19, 2014 new owner and big changes coming to detroit s packard plant.
Thenpresident of the company, henry joy, looking for a fresh take on factory buildings, enlisted local. Across concord from the school, and straddling grand boulevard, a landmark in american industrial design, the packard automobile plant, was taking shape. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read detroits spectacular ruin. A timeline peter weber a woman walks next to the abandoned packard motor car company building, which ceased production in the 1950s, in detroit on december 18, 2008.
You might also like the abandoned america book series. 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. If we love packard and studebaker and hudson and nash and acd and all the rest of the best, we also should love learning all of their history. May 16, 2017 detroit more than three years after purchasing the packard plant property, with its 43 broken buildings and 45 acres of decayed landscape yet deep automotive history, developer fernando palazuelo on tuesday declared its time to get to work. When it opened in 1903, packards detroit plant was the most advanced auto factory in the world. Detroit the stay for a man wellknown for living among the apocalyptic ruins of the former packard plant has come to an end allan hill, 74, an auto body worker, says he was made aware of his. 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. Mar 19, 2020 soon after, chrysler broke ground on what would come to be known as the detroit arsenal tank plant, situated in what is now the suburb of warren.
My absolute favorite was touring the massive long abandoned packard plant. My dad worked there back in the 1930s and 40s after the war until the plant. Once a symbol of industrial might and now ground zero for rustbelt blight, the packard plant in detroit has become an urban explorers delight, graffiti artists canvas, scrappers cash in a city beleaguered by decay. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading detroit s spectacular ruin. It was a sad day in packard s history because it was estimated that 7,500 plant employees were laid off when packard had stopped production of its 1956 models.
Modern assembly plants were on a single story, and so nance sought such a plant. The packard plant designed by architect albert kahn ran production from 1903 to 1958. While the concept of the automobile was first developed in europe see history 101. Thenpresident of the company, henry joy, looking for a fresh take on factory buildings, enlisted local architect albert kahn to design the companys complex. Packard motor car companyis a chapter in my book, abandoned america. Plant history in 1903, at the behest of a group of investors, the packard automotive company moved its headquarters from warren, ohio to detroit.
Jul 28, 2019 the last packardthe classic american luxury car with the famously enigmatic slogan ask the man who owns onerolls off the production line at packards plant in detroit, michigan on. Jul 19, 2019 a view of the north half of the packard motor car companys campus from the administration building, taken in 2009 updated july 19, 2019 by matthew christopher when it opened in 1903, packard s detroit plant was the most advanced auto factory in the world. He was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge on the auto industry and on detroit as well. This was one of the companies and plant that made detroit a great city and kept hundreds of persons a chance to live, support their families, and maybe have a brighter future for the worker and their families. There have been a number of threads on this website asking about the history of the packard plant on east grand boulevard. The slow death of detroits famous packard automotive plant. Packard s plant in detroit, michigan on this day in yahoo image search results free press photographer brian kaufman matched century scenes from the packard plant with images captured in historic photographs from the national automotive history collection at the rose and robert skillman branch of the detroit public library. 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. The eternal city of the industrial age, a new book of.
Jan 25, 2016 during the first half of the twentieth century, the packard was one of americas premier luxury automobiles. The first packard automobiles were produced in 1899, and the last detroit built packard in 1956, when they built the packard predictor, their last concept car. A year into revival efforts, packard plant cleans up. Mar 07, 2020 my absolute favorite was touring the massive long abandoned packard plant. Apm publishing, and 1 music rights societies show more show less. The historic packard plant bridge collapses architectural. 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. A poetic tour through detroit s abandoned, ghostly packard automotive plant detroit s packard automotive plant was once considered to be the finest in the world, and an emblem of the citys economic and industrial might. Miss detroit iii achieved victory in the 1917 gold cup on the mississippi river at minneapolis. Free press photographer brian kaufman matched 21st century scenes from the packard plant with images captured in historic. The packard motor car company started its journey in the late 1800s with warren packard, james ward packard, and william doud packard. Before and after the sad story of the packard plant the.
He asks what the location is and the passenger says arlans department store. Check them out on amazon or get signed copies here. The last packard the classic american luxury car with the famously enigmatic slogan ask the man who owns onerolls off the production line at packard s plant in detroit. Aug 15, 2011 packard was a premier nameplate in the united states, mentioned in the same breath as duesenberg, cadillac, piercearrow, and lincoln. Aug 03, 2017 pure detroit is excited to help highlight the extraordinary history of the packard plant with our partners arte express detroit and the packard plant project, said kevin borsay, owner, pure.
Jun 05, 20 the packard plant was a great plant design by a famous architect. Packard automotive plant detroit 2020 all you need to. Jan 23, 2019 the packard plant in detroit, michigan can surely be referenced as one of the most talked about car manufacturing plants in america. As of august 2016, no redevelopment had taken place at the historic 40acre site on detroits east side.
The huge complex of albert kahndesigned buildings was a fixture on east grand boulevard, employing as many as 40,000 workers. Packard motor car company detroit, mi falling from favor. The abandoned packard automotive plant in detroit free press photographer brian kaufman matched century scenes from the packard plant with images captured in historic photographs from the national automotive history collection at the rose and robert skillman branch of the detroit public library. Discover packard automotive plant in detroit, michigan. He was a history major in college and really had done his research on the automotive industry in general and on the packard company in particular. New owner and big changes coming to detroits packard plant. I am now planning to use a photo i took of a urinal inside the plant for a photo book im. Licensed to youtube by adrev for a 3rd party, adrev masters admin on behalf of jw apm, ascap. This 42 page, glossy magazine details the complete history of the packard plant. 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. A history of the motor car and the company automobile quarterly magnificent marque books kimes, beverly on. Palazuelo has a track record of renovating historical buildings in. The packard plant was noted as the most modern automobile manufacturing facility in the world.
The first packard automobiles were produced in 1899, and the last in 1958. Workers tear up steel conveyor belt as last packard. Packard automotive plant detroit, michigan atlas obscura. The plant churned out packard cars from 1903 to 1956, and airplane engines.
His videos are filmed in detroit, where he never gets out of his car. Abandoned and in decay, the packard plant an iconic detroit ruin. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read detroit s spectacular ruin. The engine in question was a 1650cubcinch v4 curtiss power plant.
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