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1947 Map of Detroit

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Detroit
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1947
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1947

About this map

The industrial and civic heart of the City of Detroit is captured here just after the war, revealing a dense grid of schools, hospitals, and heavy infrastructure. The Detroit River serves as the central artery, separating the city from Ontario settlements like Windsor and Sandwich. Major landmarks of the era are clearly visible, including Briggs Stadium, Wayne University, and the Ford Hospital.

Transport networks define the landscape, from the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit Windsor Tunnel to the rail hubs at Union Depot and the Grand Trunk Sta. To the southwest, the industrial character of the waterfront is anchored by Zug Island and the Short Cut Canal, reflecting a period of intense manufacturing activity. This 1938 survey, published in 1947, provides a street-level view of the city's golden age of expansion before the widespread insertion of the modern freeway system.