Historic district, Pontiac, since 1848
Franklin Boulevard Historic District
Photographed standing in 2010
- Opened
- 1848
- Style
- Greek Revival
- Standing
- 178 years
Franklin Boulevard Historic District has stood on Roughly bounded by Grand Trunk Western Railroad in Pontiac since 1848, 178 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
More photos of Franklin Boulevard Historic District
What is there now
Standing
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 24, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
In 1848, in the years when roads in from Detroit were plank and mud, Franklin Boulevard Historic District opened in Pontiac.
It was built in the Greek Revival style, and it still reads that way from the sidewalk.
It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Next time you are nearby, stop at Roughly bounded by Grand Trunk Western Railroad, Orchard Lake Ave., Miller and W. Huron Sts and look up.
The Franklin Boulevard Historic District is a primarily residential historic district located in Pontiac, Michigan along Franklin Boulevard between West Huron Street and Orchard Lake Avenue. It also contains structures along Mary Day and Henry Clay Avenues between Franklin and Miller, and some structure along West Huron between Franklin and Williams, and along West Lawrence between Williams and the railroad.
Timeline
- 1848 Built Greek Revival, Italianate
- 1983 Listed on the National Register August 11, 1983
- 2026 Today 178 years and still standing
Where it is
Roughly bounded by Grand Trunk Western Railroad, Orchard Lake Ave., Miller and W. Huron Sts., Pontiac
On this map
- 1 Franklin Boulevard Historic District This place
- 2 Myrick-Palmer House 0.1 mi
- 3 Pontiac Commercial Historic District 0.5 mi
- 4 Casa del Rey Apartments 0.5 mi
- 5 Eagle Theater 0.5 mi
- 6 Pontiac Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase) 0.5 mi
- 7 Gillespie Street-Clinton River Bridge 0.7 mi
- 8 Central School 0.7 mi
- 9 Elmer R. Webster School 0.7 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Around the block
-
Myrick-Palmer House
Built 1855, Italian Villa
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.1 mi
-
Pontiac Commercial Historic District
Historic district, built 1865, Early Commercial, by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.5 mi
-
Casa del Rey Apartments
Building, built 1928, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.5 mi
-
Eagle Theater
Theater, built 1927, Moorish
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.5 mi
- Pontiac Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase) Historic district 0.5 mi
-
Gillespie Street-Clinton River Bridge
Structure, built 1936, Concrete Rigid Frame
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.7 mi
-
Central School
School, built 1893, Richardsonian Romanesque
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.7 mi
-
Elmer R. Webster School
Building, built 1920, Classical Revival
Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
0.7 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- Franklin Boulevard Historic District Pontiac MI-Franklin south of Huron, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Franklin Boulevard Historic District Pontiac MI-Franklin south of Huron, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Franklin Boulevard Historic District Pontiac MI-Franklin and Huron, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Franklin Boulevard Historic District Pontiac MI-Franklin and Huron, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sources
Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.