Say the word “Hudson’s” and most Detroiters will be able to share a story about visiting the elegant downtown department store or shopping at one of its suburban locations. Hudson’s Holidays will bring back the memories and magic of Hudson’s in a pop-up exhibit in the Allesee Gallery of Culture, just in time for the holiday season!
Explore beautifully recreated window displays and themed sections that bring the Hudson’s story to life, including:
Parade Beginnings – See rare artifacts from the early days of the Hudson’s Thanksgiving Parade and learn how it became a Detroit tradition.
Life at Hudson’s – Discover wartime-era treasures, from Hudsonian magazine covers and elegant fashion to unique in-store fixtures like a children’s barber chair and brass drinking fountain.
Toy Town & Dining Delights – Experience the joy of Toy Town alongside fine china, silverware, and dining pieces that evoke Hudson’s golden age of hospitality.
Fashion Through the Decades – Marvel at men’s and women’s styles that once filled Hudson’s grand floors, from everyday elegance to holiday glamour.
Founded as a humble clothier for men and boys in 1881, J.L. Hudson Company reportedly racked up an average of 100,000 sales per day by the 1950s, and its 25-story building was the world’s tallest department store until 1961. Its huge selection of merchandise and full-service approach went beyond in-store restaurants, salons and alterations departments to offer amenities like a circulating library, a writing lounge and an in-house dry cleaner.
Learn more about Hudson's in our online encyclopedia
