This imposing structure stood near Campau Square in the center of Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the intersection of Pearl and Monroe Ave.

There is no description on the back of this card. A search found the photograph that served as the source material for this artist’s rendition. The artist faithfully reproduced the cars and almost all the people seen on the small park in the foreground. This business is still there as part of the merger which formed the Michigan National Bank.
This card likely dates from the 1930s.

This image features the Gothic Revival structure that houses the congregation of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. As a result of organizational changes and mergers within the Methodist Church in the United States, its name is now the United Methodist Church, but the congregation is continuous.

The description states:
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Fulton at Barclay
“In the Heart of Grand Rapids”
Welcomes You
Sunday School . . . . 9:30 A.M.
Morning Worship . . . . 10:40 A.M.
Young People’s Hour. . . . 6:30 P.M.
Evening Worship. . . . 7:30 P.M.
George Harlan McClung, D.D., Pastor.
265 Madison Ave. S.E.  Phone: 69-310
–The worship service times have changed over the years, and the Young People’s Hour was renamed the Methodist Youth Fellowship. Evening worship has long been discontinued. The car displayed in this image indicates the card likely dates from the 1930s.

This artist’s rendition is of a typical lakeside motel from the mid-20th century, with accommodations and features focussed on the water activities.

The description states:
18 Modern Units, Ceramic Tiled Baths — 800 feet Private Sandy Lake Michigan Beach — 2 Picnic Areas — Playground Equipment — TV in Office Lounge — 2 Restaurants Nearby — Close to all Activities.
Families Welcome
Rt. 3, Box 231 — Benton Harbor, Mich.
Phone Walnut 5-1419
R.B. Hornack, Owner-Mgr.
–This motel was a reconstruction of an earlier establishment on the same location that had free standing cabins. The motel no longer exists. The illustration shows a car that dates this card from the 1950s.

This image is composed in the typical tourist fashion: by leaning out of the passenger side window during the drive across the bridge. An empty ore freighter is clearly visible about to pass under the bridge.

The description states:
THE MACKINAC BRIDGE
In Michigan — The Water Wonderland
A view on the Mackinac Bridge from car with window rolled down. This is typical of bridge view taken by motorists who are fortunate enough to have someone else at the driver’s seat. The every steady stream of freighters passing underneath add to the spectacular beauty to be seen from the bridge. Such an experience is one of ‘life’s little extras.”
–The transcription is correct. The errors are in the original. This card, as indicated by the visible cars, dates from the 1950s.

This image shows the Mackinac Bridge illuminated along the roadway and cabling in a night setting. The streaks of light below are an effect of the lights reflecting off the water of Lake Michigan during a long exposure.

The description states:
THE MACKINAC BRIDGE
State of Michigan
Gaily lighted during the hours of darkness. The roadway lights are a sparkling blue-green color, the bale lights a deep amber, the navigation lights on top of towers are red and flash constantly. Two green lights mark the midpoint of the center span, and two red lights near the towers of the center span mark the channel for the lake boat traffic. On evenings when the water is calm, beautiful reflections are the joy of camera enthusiasts. This multi-million dollar bridge, dedicated in June of 1958, spans the Straits of Mackinac, joining the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan.
–This card dates from the 1950s.

This image is taken closer to the roadway approach to the bridge, still from the Michigan shore, showing how much of the bridge is truss and how much is suspension.

The description is a collection of fact about the bridge:
MACKINAC BRIDGE
Longest Suspension Bridge, anchorage to anchorage, in the World — connecting Michigan’s two peninsulas — opened to traffic Nov. 1, 1957.
FACTS:
Total Length of Superstructure — 19,205 ft.
Total Length of Suspension Bridge — 8614 ft.
Length of Main Span — 3,800 ft.
Length of Bridge and Approaches — 26,444 ft.
Height of Towers above Water — 552 ft.
Depth of Tower Piers Below Water — 206 ft.
Clearance for Ships at Center — 148 ft.
Width of Roadway – 48 ft.
Main Cables — 2, Diameter — 24 1/2 in.
Estimated Weight of Superstructure — 76,300 tons
Cost — $96,4000.033.33
DESIGNER: DR. D. B STEINMAN
FATHER OF THE BRIDGE: FORMER SEN. P. M. BROWN
–This card dates from the 1950s.

This image shows a  view of the Mackinac Bridge from a beach nearby. The people in the photo are using the public telescopes that are mounted on stands and required a small payment for a short time of viewing. These devices were common throughout the country in this era, and some still remain in various popular sightseeing locations.

The description states:
33 — MACKINAC BIRDGE AS SEEN FROM
SHORES OF LAKE MICHIGAN
MACKINAW CITY, MICHIGAN
–This image dates from the 1950s.

This image shows the truss beam section of the Mackinaw Bridge, under construction with the main suspension towers in the background.

The description states:
MACINAC BRIDGE
(Pronounced Mackinaw)
Showing approaches and Center Span under construction. The Mackinac Bridge is a structure across the Straits of Mackinac, connecting Michigan’s two Peninsulas at Mackinaw City in the Lower and St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula. The Length overall will be more than five miles and will take about ten minutes to cross. The Towers are 752 feet high, 552 feet of which are above water. Clearance at the center will be 150 feet. Bridge will carry four lanes of traffic. Construction was started in May, 1954 and is scheduled to be open for traffic in November 1957. Engineered to withstand many times any possible weight, ice pressure or wind velocity, this masterpiece of overwater structurer was disjoined by Dr. D. B. Steinman.
–As indicated in the description, this card dates from the 1950s, during the construction.

This second image shows the same motel, the Grand Motel, a few years later, as indicated by the later model cars in the image.

The description states:
GRAND MOTEL
Overlooking St. Mary’s River & Canada
1100 East Portage Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Phone MElrose 2-2141
“Enjoy Your Vacation — See Us First”
Located a few blocks from Famous “Soo” Locks. 23 completely modern, spacious units. Ceramic tile baths – tub & shower combinations. Completely carpeted – individually controlled Electric Heat. Accommodates from 2 to 7 guests. 7 of the 23 units are equipped for housekeeping.
Owners — Harold and Pat Finnerty
–The last two lines are of special note: ‘equipped for housekeeping’ meant that there was a place to cook and wash dishes, what is now more commonly termed a kitchenette. The original owners names printed on the card have been printed over and the new owners names added below. Otherwise, the description on this card and the previous one is identical.
This motel has closed in recent years. This card dates to the 1960s.