WOODWARD AVENUE…from the beginning

“From the birth of Detroit only ‘One Avenue’ has stood up to the call of time.”

   Woodward began as a trail frequented by American Indians, and later, early settlers trading, conducting business and living about Detroit. Woodward is the oldest road in Michigan. Making it rich with history and great stories, which were passed on for the last two centuries.

As a young boy I remember my grandfather constantly talking about his business in downtown Detroit, riding the streetcars, buses and eventually driving down Woodward Avenue to check on the business, or to enjoy a pleasant weekend throughout the city. Detroit was booming and Woodward Avenue was the major thoroughfare in the city. Woodward Avenue’s rich history continued and changed with time. It is the nation’s first concrete highway, which was initially poured in 1908. As more traffic grew, the remaining lengths of Woodward were paved or added by 1916. Woodward Avenue now stretched twenty-eight miles from Detroit to Pontiac. Three years later, the first red, amber and green traffic light was in operation on Woodward, and in America.

Woodward Avenue was the “Main Street” of it’s time, and still so today. However, this was not any ordinary street, this was Woodward Avenue, that had towering building, churches, mansions, restaurants, and theaters that harbored both sides of the street. If only Judge Augustus Woodward would have known in 1806 what his plans for a broaden avenue were to become. As prosperity grew in Detroit, so did the traffic on Woodward Avenue. This led to widening the avenue several more times, transforming it into the “First Super Highway” in America.

WOODWARD AVENUE

“CRUISIN’ WOODWARD U.S.A.”

Where and when did the first “cruise” on Woodward take place…

More than likely it originated on a long Thursday through Sunday weekend. Maybe the origins can be found on a fine Friday or Saturday night, or a Sunday afternoon. Possibly as far back as in the 1800’s, when the clopping of horse hooves stomping on the road occurred, or a casual stroll in a horse-drawn carriage was common.

Or, was it during the 1940’s, 1950’s or 1960’s, the ‘second birth’ or ‘hey days’, that put Woodward Avenue on new wheels, that were smoking hot! Whatever the case, Woodward Avenue is still alive and well…Today!

THE EVENT

The Cruise has been established and organized as the world’s largest one-day car event, ever! The event of classic cars is held annually on the third Saturday of August (in reality, it actually starts at least a week prior to the event). The classic car cruise has evolved into an enormous festival showcasing classic cars, power cars, muscle cars, fashion, food and music. All of these festivities are combined into a huge event that attracts close to two million visitors and more than 40,000 classics, muscle cars, collectors, street and custom cars. The event involves nine cities, starting from Ferndale to Pontiac, a distance of approximately 17 miles, which includes the communities of Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge and Royal Oak.