As winter blankets Detroit in a glistening layer of snow, there's a timeless tradition that has always brought joy and warmth to the hearts of residents and visitors alike – ice skating. Journey through the history of ice skating in Detroit and explore how this winter pastime has become an integral part of the city's holiday festivities.
Early Skaters
Color postcard depicting an elevated view of a crowd watching a figure skater on Belle Isle, postmarked Dec 10, 1908. Detroit Historical Society collection.
Looking first to the 1908 postcard above, which features a Skating Exhibition on Belle Isle, ice skating is a time-honored tradition. On Belle Isle, ice skating meant competitions, exhibitions, and family fun. By 1910, ice skating had become so popular that the official Detroit Skating Club was formed.
Black and white photo of ice skaters on one of Belle Isle's frozen canals, c. 1915. Detroit Historical Society collection.
Following the construction and opening of Olympia Stadium in October of 1927, the "Detroit Skating Club" became the "Olympia Skating Club." The Olympia Skating Club was the training home for several Olympic Skaters, including Gary Visconti and Tim Wood (60s), Melissa Militano and Johnny Johns (70s), and many more.
c. 1927 photograph of Olympia Stadium. Detroit Historical Society collection.
Nicknamed the “Old Red Barn,” Olympia Stadium stood at the corner of Grand River and McGraw Avenues in Detroit for nearly 60 years before its demolition in 1986. When it opened, the five-level stadium featured the largest indoor skating rink in the United States, at 242 feet by 110 feet. Designed by noted architect C. Howard Crane, the stadium’s cornerstone was laid on March 8, 1927 and the first hockey game was played on November 22, 1927 by the then-named Detroit Cougars. The team became the Falcons in 1930, and adopted their permanent moniker, the Detroit Red Wings, in 1932.
Modern Traditions
Silent color 16mm film containing silent b-roll of people ice skating in Hart Plaza's amphitheater, c. 1981. Detroit Historical Society collection.
Over the decades, ice skating has remained an integral part of Detroiters’ winter celebrations. Generations of Detroiters enjoyed skating at Palmer Park and Hart Plaza, both of which are represented in our collection. And today, the annual Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony at Campus Martius Park marks the official start of the holiday season, with ice skating playing a central role in the festivities.
Ice skating in Campus Martius Park began in 2004. The park has had a long history, with many different uses and levels of popularity throughout the years. In September 1999, Detroit mayor Dennis Archer and the Detroit 300 Conservancy established a task force to revitalize the space. Since then, it has become central to Detroiters’ winter traditions as a family friendly gathering place in the heart of downtown.
