Rare Prints and Photographs of the Forbidden City Now on Display in the Second Drafting Room
Now on display in the Second Drafting Room of the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio is an exhibit of prints and photographs from three rare portfolios entitled The Decoration of the Palace Buildings of Peking and Photographs of the Palace Buildings of Peking. The portfolios are part of the Archives collection of large format […]
Tunnel Tours at the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio
Have you ever wanted to explore and discover a hidden underground passageway? “The Tunnel” is just one of the many captivating and enchanting surprises of the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio. This private area is rarely opened for viewing, but for the months of February, March, and April, Saturday “Tunnel Tours” will include a […]
Movie Sundays at the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio
Showtimes: February 4th @ 1pm in-person at the Alden B. Dow Home Theater (315 Post Street – House Entrance) February 18th @ 1pm via Zoom March 10th @ 1pm in-person at the Alden B. Dow Home Theater (315 Post Street – House Entrance) March 24th @ 1pm via Zoom Seating is limited — reservations required. […]
New First National Bank and Trust by Alden B. Dow
Many undated design development sketches exist for the New First National Bank and Trust, located at the intersection of Eastman and Saginaw Roads in Midland, Michigan. There are no specifications, contracts, correspondence, or other job-related files for this project. Working drawings, however, are dated March 22, 1968, and show a remarkably atypical design for a […]
Midland National Bank by Alden B. Dow
An enterprising group of businessmen first began discussing plans to establish the Midland National Bank, a locally owned banking institution, in 1945. Following federal approval of their application the following year, they proceeded to acquire the Chemical City Restaurant building at 133 E. Main Street for the location of the new bank. A contract was […]
Church and Guisewite Advertising Building by Alden B. Dow
Alden B. Dow Associates converted an existing building in downtown Midland into offices for Church and Guisewite Advertising in 1966. Working drawings and specifications were completed in January, and Branson Builders of Midland was selected as general contractor. Construction began in February and was substantially completed by the end of September 1966. The final cost […]
Alden B. Dow’s Display Cases for the Dow Chemical Company’s 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition Exhibit in San Francisco, California
Alden B. Dow enjoyed exploring the design possibilities of plastics and other new products the Dow Chemical Company was on the forefront of developing in the 1930s. His 1937 drawing entitled “1940 House” illustrated the potential use of Dow’s Ethocel in forming 12-inch square building blocks. His design of the 1937 addition to the company’s […]
Nease Memorial Church of the Nazarene by Alden B. Dow
On January 29, 1961, the Nease Memorial Church of the Nazarene was organized with 40 charter members. The congregation chose a flat, barren 4.5 acre site on the western edge of Midland, Michigan for its first church and purchased the land for the sum of $10,850. Upon the recommendation of its building committee, the firm […]
The Jesse Kreger Residence by Alden B. Dow
Most of the usual documentation that tells the story of the design of an Alden B. Dow home does not exist for the Jesse Kreger residence on Grosse Ile, a picturesque island south of Detroit. There are specifications, just a few working drawings, and a color pencil presentation drawing, but no contract, no correspondence, and […]
The Midland, Michigan Farmers Market by Alden B. Dow
The first discussion about the design of a structure to cover farmers selling their produce in the open parking lot at the foot of Ashman Street took place in March 1973. Those meeting notes describe a simple roof structure, 160 feet long by 30 feet wide, to be supported by telephone poles donated by the […]