Traffic Policeman Standing in Intersection with Stop Sign, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1920

Summary

Before traffic lights, policemen used hand-operated devices called semaphores to regulate traffic. Officers blew a warning whistle before changing signals. The officer in this circa 1920 photograph controls traffic near the Pontchartrain Hotel in Detroit, Michigan.

Before traffic lights, policemen used hand-operated devices called semaphores to regulate traffic. Officers blew a warning whistle before changing signals. The officer in this circa 1920 photograph controls traffic near the Pontchartrain Hotel in Detroit, Michigan.

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

circa 1920

Creators

Unknown

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

87.135.1759

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of the Automobile Club of Michigan.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8 in.

Width: 10 in.

Inscriptions

Typed on back of image: Michigan-- Ancient Handwritten in ink on back: Ame. Youth / #1322-57 / Pg 6 & 19

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