On May 22, 1973, ground was broken for the construction of the Renaissance Center. The initial ceremonial shovel-fulls of earth were turned by area school children and other VIPs (including Mayor Roman Gribbs, in the top photo at the left). In the bottom photo, Henry Ford II--the project’s chief proponent--addresses the crowd, flanked by representatives of 47 of the eventual 52 corporate partners who helped fund the endeavor. Note the umbrellas held by members of the crowd. Despite the dreary weather, members of the Cass Tech band kept spirits high with a performance of the 5th Dimension’s “Up, Up and Away,” appropriately accompanying a balloon launch. Additional photos from the ceremony can be found as part of our online collection.
Click here to read the Detroit Historical Society’s recent guest post for the GMRENCEN’s blog, in which we trace the early development of the project, as well as some of the major renovations it underwent in the 40 years since its completion.
