Historic Detroit

Every building in Detroit has a story — we're here to share it

Federal Building - Old photos

This photo shows the addition added to the building in 1915.

Renovation work continues in 1915

The interior of the Post Office during the 1915 renovation

Workers wrap up an addition to the building on Aug. 1, 1915.

A decorative stone shield that flanked the main entrance.

The main entrance

The building's entrance

The main entrance

The main entrance

The building's opening in 1897

Mail trucks line up at one of the docks

The lobby of the post office in 1915

This aerial view shows the Federal Building in the center. The Dime Building can be seen to the north.

Part of the post office section of the building

The mailroom about 1915

The mailroom about 1915, after some modernizations.

The mailroom

The interior of the Federal Building under construction

Three of the postal windows inside the Federal Building

The interior of the Federal Building

The interior of the Federal Building

The interior of the Federal Building under construction

Work continues on the State Savings Bank in 1900 with the Federal Building in the background.

The Federal Building in 1900. The building under construction is the State Savings Bank.

Looking east toward the Federal Building. This photo shows how much of that part of downtown was still residential.

The tower provided Detroiters unparalleled views of the river and the city.

The Federal Building looking east. The top of Old City Hall can be seen in the distance.

Everything in this photo is gone.

A worker lowers the flag on the tiled roof.

The Federal Building, looking northeast.

A view looking northwest

The Federal Building in 1906.

A detailed look at the Shelby Street side of the building in the 1920s. In the background is the Book-Cadillac Hotel.

This photo shows the Book-Cadillac, then a new building, in the 1920s.

A view east along Fort Street toward the Federal Building.

A view of the western side of the building. The building in the back left is the Majestic Building.

The Federal Building around 1920.

A view of the Federal Building in 1913.

The tower towered over everything else in the city for several decades.

The Federal Building in 1897.

An old photo of the Federal Building.

Looking west along Fort Street at the Federal Building.

The Federal Building shortly after it opened.

The Federal Building shorly before the clock was installed.

The finishing touches are put on the Federal Building's tower in 1897.

Workers labor on the tower in 1897, seven years after building started. Construction of such a building was a big undertaking.

The entrance of the Federal Building in 1897, shortly before it opened.

Construction on the Federal Building

Construction on the Federal Building continues.

Construction continues in 1897.

Construction on the Federal Building

The Post Office under construction on May 1, 1894, showing the Fort Street side. The tower is starting to take shape.

The Post Office under construction on May 1, 1894, showing the Lafayette Boulevard side.

Workers toil on the Federal Building in 1897.

The building under construction in July 1892.

The foundation is dedicated sometime in late 1890.

Excavation in 1890. In the era before heavy machinery, the work was done by hand and by horse.