I've written about downtown Grand Rapids rebirth many times, looking back through the lens of many historical photos. It is always amazing to look back at where we were then, and where we are now.

One of the earliest photos I can find through Grand City Archives is from 1865, Grab Corners. Huh? Grab Corners?

GRAND RAPIDS 1865

Grand Rapids City Archives
Grand Rapids City Archives
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That what this Grand Rapids famous intersection was called back then. Ten years later this busy intersection of Grab Corners changed a again.

GRAND RAPIDS 1875

Grand Rapids City Archives
Grand Rapids City Archives
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The intersection of Grab Corners in downtown Grand Rapids near the intersection of Pearl and Canal, we know now as Monroe. Also, we know the intersection as Campau Square. Notice the Sweet's Hotel, First National Bank, Perry Brothers, and other downtown businesses.

However, all of this changed 50 years later. This photo from 1926 is looking down Monroe, downtown, with the Pantlind Hotel in the far haze of a background. The Pantlind replaced the Sweet's Hotel in the early 1900s, and now, of course, it has become the Amway Grand Plaza.

GRAND RAPIDS 1926

Grand Rapids City Archives
Grand Rapids City Archives
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In the 1930s Monroe was evolving even more.

GRAND RAPIDS 1930

Grand Rapids City Archives
Grand Rapids City Archives
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This view is across the street from the Pantlind Hotel looking down Monroe to Michigan Street. Today, DeVos Performance Hall and DeVos Place convention center take up almost the entire city block.

DEVOS PLACE/DEVOS PERFORMANCE HALL

Google Street View
Google Street View
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As Grand Rapids was growing to become Michigan's second largest city, streets were changed or eliminated, new buildings were springing up everywhere, and old buildings were being rehabilitated.

Check the 1953 map of downtown before things really moved around.

GRAND RAPIDS 1953

Grand Rapids City Archives
Grand Rapids City Archives
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What a rich history Grand Rapids has, and how lucky are we to have such forward thinking community leaders to keep Grand Rapid developing and growing as a leading city in America.

 

LOOK: Food history from the year you were born

From product innovations to major recalls, Stacker researched what happened in food history every year since 1921, according to news and government sources.
 

Gallery Credit: Joni Sweet

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