1940 Map of Detroit

About this map

Detroit serves as a dense industrial and civic hub on the eve of the Second World War, showing the intricate relationship between the Michigan shoreline and the neighboring Canadian communities of Windsor, Walkerville, and Sandwich. The waterfront is a complex network of transit, featuring the Ambassador Bridge, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and various R R Ferry crossings that facilitate heavy cross-border traffic. Notable civic landmarks such as Wayne University, Briggs Stadium, and the Institute of Art are surrounded by a nearly solid grid of residential streets punctuated by dozens of neighborhood schools like Northeastern High Sch and Eastern High Sch. To the south, the industrial character of the region is evident at Zug Island and the Short Cut Canal, while the recreational expanse of Belle Isle Park provides a sharp contrast to the rail yards and depots like Union Depot that dominate the riverbank.