Kalamazoo Mall, Michigan 1967

This authentic 1960s color photograph, captured in 1967, depicts the groundbreaking Kalamazoo Mall in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Designed by the renowned architect Victor Gruen—who also designed the country’s first enclosed shopping mall—this site opened in 1959 as the first permanent outdoor pedestrian shopping mall in the United States. The archival image showcases the mid-century “car-free” urban design, featuring expansive concrete walkways, manicured lawn medians, and beds of pink tulips. A white neoclassical statue stands prominently in the center of the plaza. Identifiable downtown landmarks include The First National Bank & Trust Company with its iconic “Time to Bank” digital clock and temperature sign, and the Schiff Shoes storefront. Other visible businesses include Maloney’s and Balsam Travel. The mall was a pioneering attempt to revitalize the downtown core by creating a park-like atmosphere for shoppers. While the mall is still standing today and remains a hub for retail and dining, parts of the street were modified in the late 1990s to reintroduce limited, slow-speed vehicular traffic. This factual record captures the mall during its peak era as a model for modern American urban planning. 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.