Pontiac Commercial Historic District

Pontiac's downtown expanded significantly during the industrial and population boom from 1900 to 1930. The architectural styles and quality materials of the buildings in this area reflect the prosperity of the city during that period. The district contains a mix of commercial, religious, and public buildings, with architectural styles highlighting the city's history and cultural evolution.

The Pontiac Commercial Historic District amendment area comprises nearly the entire historic core of downtown Pontiac. The amendment area includes parts of sixteen blocks and contains a cohesive collection of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century commercial, public, and religious buildings. The present Pontiac Commercial Historic District occupies a single block near the southwest corner of the amendment area. Included in the amendment area are fifty-three contributing buildings and thirty-one non-contributing ones. The district is defined by Huron and Saginaw Streets as primary axes, with Wide Track Drive marking the edges. Many buildings date from the 1900-1930 period, reflecting the industrial and population boom. Notable architectural styles include Neo-Classical Revival, Renaissance Revival, Adamesque, Romanesque, Gothic, and Art Deco. The district's most unique building is the former Federal Department Store, a large Moderne building constructed in 1949.