Nickels Arcade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Nickels Arcade
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| Location | 326-330 S. State St., Ann Arbor, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1915 |
| Built by | A.R. Cole & Co. |
| Architect | Herman Pipp |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001180 |
| Added to NRHP | July 9, 1987 |
Nickels Arcade is a special building in Ann Arbor, Michigan. You can find it at 326-330 South State Street. It's like a covered shopping street inside a building. In 1987, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical place in the United States. Nickels Arcade is unique because it might be the only building like it left in Michigan. It's similar to the famous Cleveland Arcade.
The Story of Nickels Arcade
The land where Nickels Arcade stands used to belong to John H. Nickels. He ran a meat market there. Later, his grandson, Tom E. Nickels, took over some of the property. Tom bought more land from his family.
In 1915, Tom Nickels decided to build something new. He hired a local architect named Hermann Pipp to design the building. A company called A.R. Cole & Co. started building it. The first business, the Farmers and Mechanics bank, opened that same year.
However, the whole building wasn't finished until 1918. This was partly because of delays from World War I. Tom Nickels owned the Arcade until he passed away in 1932. Then, his children, James and Nora, became the owners.
What Nickels Arcade Looks Like
Nickels Arcade is a long hallway, about 261 feet long. It connects State Street on one side to Maynard Street on the other. The main entrance is on State Street. This side has three stories and a wide-open porch area. It's covered with a fancy, buff-colored material called terra cotta.
The Maynard Street side looks similar but is mostly made of yellow brick. It also has some beautiful terra cotta decorations. The long hallway between the two streets has a special roof. It's a skylight made of metal and glass panels. This lets lots of natural light into the arcade.
Inside the arcade, you'll find shops on both sides. These shops are on the ground floor and face the covered walkway. Some even have a second level inside called a mezzanine. There are also office windows on the upper floors that look out onto the arcade. The floor of the arcade is made of square red tiles with black borders.
The arcade is split into three parts. The section closest to State Street has the same terra cotta decorations as the outside. A curved archway separates this part from the middle section. Another archway near the other end leads to an entrance area.
