Welcome to the
Historic District Commission
Homepage

The Pontiac Historic District Commission is a mayor-appointed body of volunteers responsible for upholding the U.S. Department of the Interior’s standards preserving historically designated properties--individually designated structures and those occupying city historic districts. Equal to the commission’s role in upholding regulatory guidelines its mission is to educate individuals (through free workshops, written source materials, and other means) in the restoration of their historic commercial and residential properties. Pride in our heritage, pride in our future--the PHDC works toward preserving and enhancing the city’s unique architectural characteristics that reflect the legacy of a major automobile and manufacturing center.

Check out our page of historical images plus some shots of Pontiac as it looked long ago and today. Click on the image to the right to view.

Click here for the Then & Now Photo Album
Click here to view the 1957 panorama of the city (941Kb)
Click here to view the 1957 panorama of the city (346Kb)
Click here to view the 1930s panorama of the city taken from Hill Street (now city hall) (504Kb)
Click here to view the 1905 laying of the Courthouse Cornerstone. Thanks to Officer Brian Lee for this donation.
Click here to view the June 1901 Auction Ad for Lots on Franklin Boulevard

Walking Tours

Take one of these walking tours into Pontiac's past. Assembled from postcards and old photographs, get a feel of what it was like walking through downtown Pontiac 100 years ago. (new page will open)

1909 Walking tour of Huron Street starting at the Presbyterian Church and ending at the High School.

1890-1900 Walking tour of Saginaw Street starting at Whittemore and finishing at Huron.

Membership: Seven Members, who shall reside in the City of Pontiac, appointed by the Mayor, subject to approval by City Council, as follows: two (2) members from a list of citizens submitted by a duly organized and existing preservation society or societies; one (1) architect, duly registered in the State of Michigan, if an architect resides, works or has offices in the City of Pontiac and is available for appointment; Three (3) members who are property owners within the historic district(s).

Historic Districts:
Commercial Historic District
Franklin Boulevard Historic District
Fairgrove Historic District
Modern Housing Historic District
Seminole Hills Historic District

Historic Sites:
Central School
Cook Nelson American Legion Post No. 20
First United Methodist Church of Pontiac
Horatio N. Howard House
Oak Hill Cemetery
St. Vincent de Paul Church
Wisner House