Detroit Campus Martius, Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Elks Monument, 1910

The year is 1910, and we're in Detroit. 

This vivid image shows Campus Martius, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Elks Monument, Wayne County Building, and Pontchartrain all in one Detroit view. The city is bustling with motor cars and a few horses. You can even get "Chop Suey"! 

In the early 20th century, Detroit's advantages - proximity to key mining centers and accessibility by land and water - set the stage for industrial growth. However, it was Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Company that propelled the city into prominence. Ford's innovative assembly line and the introduction of the Model T in 1908 revolutionized the industry. His five-dollar day policy in 1914 attracted a diverse workforce, making Detroit one of the most racially and ethnically diverse cities in America. Ford's recruitment efforts drew skilled artisans from Scotland and England, blue-collar workers from the Midwest, individuals from Mexico and Lebanon, and African Americans from the city's growing population of southern migrants. By 1940, Ford stood as one of the largest private employers of African Americans in the country.