Jackson Michigan:
A City's Past in Postcards
"Whatever may be the future of architecture, in whatever manner our young architects may one day solve the question of their art, let us, while waiting for new monuments, preserve the ancient monuments. Let us...inspire the nation with a love for national architecture."
Victor Hugo
Everything has a history...
Jackson has a rich history. If you search the internet, you can easily find histories of the city, its government and its industries. Hospitals, libraries, prisons and museums all have a place on the web that tell their stories. There are several books documenting the city's history. In 1984 Brian Deming published "Jackson: An Illustrated History". In 1993 the Ella Sharp Museum published "The History of Business and Industry in Jackson, Michigan." Both are excellent references for learning about Jackson's founding and subsequent growth.
The city's development was propelled by the growth of the railroad and the automobile. Jackson's first rail line arrived in 1841 and by 1871, the city's reputation as a major rail center was established for the next century. Automobile manufacture in the city began in 1903. Although auto assembly eventually disappeared, a diverse parts supplier base was created. Jackson's growth and expansion eventually culminated in what could be described as its "golden age", the 60 years between 1910 and 1970.
Shifts in the nation's economy, starting in the 1960's, gradually reduced the importance of both the railroad and auto industries. Coupled with the redevelopment program commonly known as "urban renewal", Jackson's landscape began to change drastically.
The purpose of this site is to turn back the clock on Jackson's skyline to a time over a century ago. The various "galleries" found here document those places that, collectively, made up a very vibrant city.
There are more than 300 cards located on this site. You may think there is a lot of repetition. However, observe the example below:
Both cards illustrate, essentially, the same scene. Both predominantly show the Elk's Temple and the Post Office. The scene on the left exposes more of the Post Office's southern elevation. The scene on the right helps orient structures from the Athenium and points north along Mechanic Street. By comparing various cards, it's possible to envision just what the city looked like street by street and block by block.
All the cards are set to enlarge when selected for more detail. Many of the galleries contain links
to Mlive articles at the bottom of the page.
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A few galleries contain links to The Historic Marker Database.
For an excellent resource guide to the history of the postcard, follow this link to the site of The Metropolitan Postcard Club of New York City.
