Belle Isle - Vance Patrick Historic Photo Collection
Belle Isle
A stable hand looks at half-empty stalls on Oct. 27, 1963, after A.L. Knack announced he was closing his horse ride business on the island. The decision left only ponies available for riders.
The old ferry landing on Belle Isle
The Belle Isle children's playground in July 1953
The old drinking fountain on Belle Isle
A pagoda on Belle Isle seen in September 1967
The rustic bridge over one of the canals in 1935
Canoeists circa 1910
A floral flag on Belle Isle in 1935
Canoeists in September 1969
Beachcombers on the Belle Isle beach in August 1964
A canoeist in August 1981
Canoeing in one of Belle isle's canals in May 1951
Canoeists on Belle Isle in August 1952
Canoeing on Belle Isle in July 1958
The rustic bridge over a Belle Isle canal
The Red Cross offers a canoe safety class in April 1958, with the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon in the background.
Belle Isle on a beautiful winter's day in 1937
A wintry scene on Belle Isle in 1971
A wintry scene on Belle Isle in December 1977
The Cedar Mound on Belle Isle
The Cedar Mound on Belle Isle
A canoeist floats past the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
A Belle Isle ferry landing
A floral flag on the Cedar Mound at Belle Isle
The Belle Isle Park sign on East Jefferson, in March 1981
A wintry season in January 1948 with the Detroit Boat Club in the distance
Detroit Police harbormaster's boat helps retrieve a car that Anthony G. Simms drove into the water after speeding on Riverbank Road on Belle Isle on May 18, 1964. The car was attached to a line by the harbormaster and pulled out by a police tow truck.
Christine Spry, 7, gets a slice of birthday cake on Sept. 23, 1979, as part of the celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the City of Detroit buying Belle Isle to turn it into a public park.
Picnicking on Belle Isle in 1898 were, standing, from left, Alice Heal, Emma Penniman, Edith and Nellie Roe. Seated, from left: Phoebe Roe, Mrs. Forbes, Emma Wreford, Flo Roe and Ellen Roe.
The sign that stood above the tunnel leading to the bridge, as seen on July 1, 1964
Traffic backs up on East Grand Boulevard to get onto Belle Isle on April 16, 1973
Cars leave Belle Isle at East Grand Boulevard and East Jefferson Avenue on Aug. 13, 1955.
Some unidentified young swimmers head home after a day at the Belle Isle beach on Aug. 12, 1964
The Belle Isle sign above the underpass on East Grand Boulevard and auto station in August 1955
No booze, no food, no dogs, no fun at the Belle Isle beach on June 30, 1965
The Nike missile site located on Belle Isle's eastern end on Dec. 1, 1966
The Nike missile site located on Belle Isle, as seen from the air on Nov. 26, 1966
Belle Isle as seen from the air in this undated photo
The Belle Isle auto station, where cars would pick up and drop off parkgoers, in 1909. It was located between Jefferson Avenue and the Belle Isle Bridge.
The Belle Isle Bridge approach around 1900
Passengers hop aboard the Belle Isle ferry Mascot on July 20, 1931. The Detroit Parks & Boulevards Commission contracted with Neuman to operate Mascot between West Grand Boulevard and Belle Isle from July 16, 1931, to Aug. 1, 1931, with an option to extend to Sept. 15, 1931. The Mascot made six trips daily, and cost 15 cents for adults and a dime for children. The short-lived service provided to be less popular than people driving themselves over the bridge and was not brought back for the 1932 season. The Mascot returned to service in Ohio.
The Belle Isle passenger ferry Garland at dock and ready to take another load of parkgoers to the island.
The eastern end of Belle Isle on Aug. 30, 1930
The Belle Isle shoreline is lined with spectators in November 1931 for the Harmsworth Regatta.
Ice-skating on Belle Isle circa 1915