Historic Detroit

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

Old Wayne County Building - Historic photos

Old Wayne County Building

Fourth floor in 1981, before the restoration

Fourth floor in 1981, before the restoration

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives.

Fourth floor in 1981, before the restoration
Fourth floor in 1981, before the restoration
An ornate old courtroom being used for storage in the early 1980s
The Old Wayne County Building
While the Old Wayne County Building hasn't changed in its last 100 years, the area around it is almost unrecognizable today. This photo is from 1955.
Side entrance in 1952
In 1952, a sign on the steps directs visitors to use an elevator instead of the main doors.
The Old Wayne County Building gets a scrub down in 1947.
In 1935, the ROTC assembles in front of the Old Wayne County Building
The Old Wayne County Building in 1921
The Old Wayne County Building in 1919
The Old Wayne County Building in 1906
The Old Wayne County Building in 1904, two years after opening
The tower of the Old Wayne County Building towers over a Detroit of years past.
The Old Wayne County Building