Bus terminal, Northland Center, Detroit 1963

This authentic 1960s color photograph, captured in 1963, provides a sweeping view of the multi-level transportation infrastructure at Northland Center in Southfield, near Detroit, Michigan. The archival image focuses on the elevated bus terminal situated directly outside the massive J.L. Hudson Co. (Hudson’s) department store, which dominates the background with its signature red brick and white-pillared facade. Two vintage green and white Detroit city buses are stationed at the terminal, alongside a red Speedway Messenger & Cartage delivery truck. Below the terminal ramp, the expansive asphalt parking lot is filled with period-correct American automobiles, including a 1962 Ford Country Sedan station wagon in the foreground and various Chevrolet and Oldsmobile models. A prominent “Caution Service Tunnel Only” sign marks the entrance to the mall’s innovative underground delivery network. Designed by Victor Gruen and opened in 1954, Northland was a pioneer in integrating public transit and sophisticated logistics into the suburban shopping experience. While the mall was eventually enclosed and later closed permanently in 2015, the site is currently being transformed into the Northland City Center mixed-use development. This factual record preserves the functional brilliance and automotive culture of the world’s first regional shopping center during its mid-century prime. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.