A Detroit Classic: The Woodward Dream Cruise Through the Years

Woodward Avenue is one of America's most storied thoroughfares. Its 27 miles form the spine of Detroit, where the American car culture was born. This broad and majestic avenue cuts a line straight as an arrow from Pontiac down to the Detroit River. Since 1995, this historic road has hosted the Woodward Dream Cruise, which has grown from a small fundraiser into the world's largest single-day automotive event.

The Woodward Dream Cruise started in 1995. A small group of volunteers, mostly homeowners from nearby neighborhoods, wanted to find a way to raise money to renovate the Nelson House soccer field. The organizers wanted to recapture the magic of the 1950s and 1960s when classic cars cruised Woodward Avenue from one drive-in to another. Organizers expected between 25,000 and 35,000 people to show up for the inaugural event, but more than 250,000 people attended.

Within a few years of its founding, the Woodward Dream Cruise became the favorite venue of the "Big Three" (GM, Ford, and Chrysler) to showcase their latest models and concept cars. The event grew from drawing a crowd of mostly locals to attracting people from all over the world. Coinciding with the rebirth of iconic muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro, the event helped bridge the generational gap between gearheads of all ages.

Today, the Woodward Dream Cruise is a staple of the automotive industry—a place for American car companies to show off their newest models alongside nearly 40,000 classic cars from all over the world. As autonomous vehicles enter mass production, events like the Woodward Dream Cruise will become even more special by showcasing the craftsmanship, engineering, and flair that made Detroit the epicenter of the automotive universe.

Robertson Homes hasn't been around quite as long as Woodward Avenue, but since 1945, we've played a part in developing many of the communities that have sprung up around it. Through the generations, we've worked with aspiring homeowners to build the perfect home. To see how we can help you, view our gallery of recent projects, browse our available homes in Detroit's most desirable neighborhoods, or call us at (248) 657-4968.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.