See Belle Isle in the 1970s with these vintage photos

By on Wed, Jun 14, 2023 at 11:29 am


While Belle Isle's conservatory is under renovation, we figured a walk down memory lane would be justified. And what better decade to revisit than the 1970s?

We dug through Detroit Historical Society's digital archives and grabbed a few of the photos that best captured Belle Isle in the 1970s, along with captions provided by the historical society. From picnics to pony cart rides to elderly Detroiters getting a dance lesson, they charmingly illustrate what the state park was like five decades ago.
Scroll down to view images
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"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting a Good Humor Ice Cream trailer on Belle Isle, with a worker wearing a money changer standing in front. Labels on the trailer read, 'Chocolate Fudge Cake 30¢', 'Caution Children', and 'Fruit Stix, Raspberry 15¢'."
Robert W. Cleveland via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting a Good Humor Ice Cream trailer on Belle Isle, with a worker wearing a money changer standing in front. Labels on the trailer read, 'Chocolate Fudge Cake 30¢', 'Caution Children', and 'Fruit Stix, Raspberry 15¢'."
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"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting an African American family of five at a picnic table on Belle Isle. Parked cars and the Detroit River are visible in the background." Circa 1973.
William Sadovsky via the Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting an African American family of five at a picnic table on Belle Isle. Parked cars and the Detroit River are visible in the background." Circa 1973.
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"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting a couple lying on a blanket by the shore on Belle Isle. Several benches visible in picture." Circa 1973.
Robert W. Cleveland via Detroit Historical Society
"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting a couple lying on a blanket by the shore on Belle Isle. Several benches visible in picture." Circa 1973.
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"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting two Asian women and young girls sitting on blankets in the grass on Belle Isle. Dated October 1973."
Carla Anderson via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting two Asian women and young girls sitting on blankets in the grass on Belle Isle. Dated October 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print depicting three older men playing cards at a table in the Belle Isle Casino. Dated November 1973."
Carla Anderson via Detroit Historical Society
"Black and white photographic print depicting three older men playing cards at a table in the Belle Isle Casino. Dated November 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print depicting senior citizens dancing inside the Belle Isle Casino. A woman stands behind a marble counter, holding a cigarette. Dated November 1973."
Carla Anderson via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print depicting senior citizens dancing inside the Belle Isle Casino. A woman stands behind a marble counter, holding a cigarette. Dated November 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting a dance lesson for senior citizens at the Belle Isle Casino."
Carla Anderson via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting a dance lesson for senior citizens at the Belle Isle Casino."
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"Black and white photographic print on board depicting four senior citizens seated in chairs inside the Belle Isle Casino. A sconce with four candles hangs on the wall just above them. Dated November 1973."
Carla Anderson via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print on board depicting four senior citizens seated in chairs inside the Belle Isle Casino. A sconce with four candles hangs on the wall just above them. Dated November 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting a man photographing another in the formal gardens at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. Dated October 1973."
Carla Anderson via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting a man photographing another in the formal gardens at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. Dated October 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print depicting three young African American men in and around a pony cart on Belle Isle, with the stable and Conservatory in the background. Dated October 1973."
Stephen J. Sandt via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print depicting three young African American men in and around a pony cart on Belle Isle, with the stable and Conservatory in the background. Dated October 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print depicting a man and woman paddling a canoe on a Belle Isle canal with a young child riding in the middle. The Casino, a parking lot filled with cars, and several people can be seen in the background. Stencil on canoe reads "Belle Isle 7305". In verso "WABX Kite-In." Dated April 15, 1973."
Gloria H. Gomah via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print depicting a man and woman paddling a canoe on a Belle Isle canal with a young child riding in the middle. The Casino, a parking lot filled with cars, and several people can be seen in the background. Stencil on canoe reads "Belle Isle 7305". In verso "WABX Kite-In." Dated April 15, 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print depicting an African American man standing with two large black dogs on Belle Isle. Dated November 1973."
Terry Yank via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print depicting an African American man standing with two large black dogs on Belle Isle. Dated November 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print depicting a man sitting on the ground with his back against a rock, flying a kite on Belle Isle. In the background are parked cars. In verso "WABX Kite-In". Dated April 15, 1973."
Gloria H. Gomah via the Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print depicting a man sitting on the ground with his back against a rock, flying a kite on Belle Isle. In the background are parked cars. In verso "WABX Kite-In". Dated April 15, 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print depicting a seated African American man with a dog sitting at his feet near a lake on Belle Isle. The man is holding the dog's chain with one hand and fishing rods with the other. A metal bucket with pieces of wood is visible. Dated November 1973."
Terry Yank via the Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print depicting a seated African American man with a dog sitting at his feet near a lake on Belle Isle. The man is holding the dog's chain with one hand and fishing rods with the other. A metal bucket with pieces of wood is visible. Dated November 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting older African-American woman sitting in a metal folding chair by a willow tree on Belle Isle. A large fishing net, fishing rods on newspaper and a plastic bucket lay in the grass around her. A concession stand and parked cars are visible in the background. A sign on the concession stand reads 'Pepsi Refreshments'."
Robert W. Cleveland via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting older African-American woman sitting in a metal folding chair by a willow tree on Belle Isle. A large fishing net, fishing rods on newspaper and a plastic bucket lay in the grass around her. A concession stand and parked cars are visible in the background. A sign on the concession stand reads 'Pepsi Refreshments'."
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Black and white photographic print depicting African American man on Belle Isle holding fishing gear and accompanied by a dog. A metal folding chair and duffel bag are visible in background. Wood in a metal bucket is visible in the foreground. Dated October 1973.
Bryce R. Denison via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print depicting African American man on Belle Isle holding fishing gear and accompanied by a dog. A metal folding chair and duffel bag are visible in background. Wood in a metal bucket is visible in the foreground. Dated October 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print depicting a picnic shelter on Belle Isle, with picnic tables and trash cans in front. In the background is the Detroit Boat Club. Dated December, 1973."
Michael Monahan via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print depicting a picnic shelter on Belle Isle, with picnic tables and trash cans in front. In the background is the Detroit Boat Club. Dated December, 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print depicting the Major General Alpheus Starkey Williams memorial on Belle Isle standing in the intersection of Central and Inselruhe Avenues. The statue depicts Williams sitting astride his horse studying a map of a battlefield during a storm. An inscription on the front base reads "Major General/ Alpheus Starky Williams/ 1810-1878/ [south side of base], Hero of two wars. Judge, editor, postmaster, diplomat member of Congress. An untiring servant of the People, an honor to the City Of Detroit." Visible in the background are street signs reading Central Ave. and Inselruhe Ave. and the stables."
Robert Seiden via the Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print depicting the Major General Alpheus Starkey Williams memorial on Belle Isle standing in the intersection of Central and Inselruhe Avenues. The statue depicts Williams sitting astride his horse studying a map of a battlefield during a storm. An inscription on the front base reads "Major General/ Alpheus Starky Williams/ 1810-1878/ [south side of base], Hero of two wars. Judge, editor, postmaster, diplomat member of Congress. An untiring servant of the People, an honor to the City Of Detroit." Visible in the background are street signs reading Central Ave. and Inselruhe Ave. and the stables."
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"Black and white photographic print depicting two people paddling a canoe through a canal on Belle Isle, with the Canoe Livery, trash cans, and radio towers in the background. Dated October 1973."
Stephen J. Sandt via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print depicting two people paddling a canoe through a canal on Belle Isle, with the Canoe Livery, trash cans, and radio towers in the background. Dated October 1973."
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"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting people gathered at the benches on the Belle Isle shore. Fishing poles are propped up along the edge of the shore."
Dave Jordano via Detroit Historical Society

"Black and white photographic print mounted on board depicting people gathered at the benches on the Belle Isle shore. Fishing poles are propped up along the edge of the shore."
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