Hippo at Eastland Center, Harper Woods, Detroit 1963
$20.00
Instant royalty-free digital download. No watermark. You will receive a JPG image of between 3000 and 4000 pixels on the longest side. Perfect for prints, books, media, creative projects, and more. The download link will appear in the checkout after successful purchase.
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Description
This authentic 1960s color photograph, captured in 1963, features the iconic Hippo sculpture at Eastland Center in Harper Woods, near Detroit, Michigan. The archival image shows a young child perched atop the smooth, dark granite-like back of the hippopotamus, a popular interactive art piece designed specifically for children to climb and play on. Standing nearby is a woman in a stylish yellow skirt suit and sunglasses, embodying early sixties suburban fashion. In the background, the vibrant neon signage of United Shirt Distributors is visible through the glass storefront, along with the mall’s signature open-air concourse featuring flat-roofed pedestrian canopies and slender support columns. The Hippo was one of several animal sculptures commissioned for Eastland—including the famous Lion and Mouse—to create a welcoming, family-oriented environment. Designed by architect Victor Gruen and opened in 1957, Eastland Center was a sister site to Northland and a pillar of the Detroit retail landscape. While the mall was demolished in 2022 to make way for a modern industrial and logistics park, the beloved Hippo sculpture was fortunately saved and relocated to the Harper Woods Public Library. This factual record preserves the unique blend of high-end commercial architecture and public art that defined the mid-century shopping center experience. 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.
