You can’t visit Detroit and not notice it’s beautifully constructed architecture. Someone familiar with the area probably can’t even imagine the city without landmarks such as the Renaissance Center, the Ambassador Bridge, the Fisher Building, or Cobo Hall. It probably isn’t very often that people truly think about the process of constructing these buildings or the men and women who had a hand in creating the skyline of the city we know and love.

Fortunately for us, the MetroTimes has created a collection of 30 images highlighting some of Detroit’s most iconic landmarks during construction. Grab a mug of coffee and enjoy this fascinating blast from the past and homage to the construction industry.