Vintage Postcards Capture Shopping Malls of the U.S. in the Mid-20th Century

Alabama. Eastwood Mall, Birmingham

The first shopping mall was technically an outdoor shopping plaza that opened in 1922 in Kansas City. However, the first indoor shopping mall that mirrored how we think of malls today was opened in 1956 in Edina, Minnesota. Malls were often anchored by a large department store with a cluster of other stores around it.

The mall was envisioned as a cultural and social center where people could come together and not only do their shopping but also make an activity of it. By 1960, there were more than 4,500 malls accounting for 14% of all retail sales.

h/t: vintag.es

Arizona. Chris-Town Shopping Centre, Phoenix

Arizona. Court Of Birds, Chris-Town Shopping Center, Phoenix

Arizona. Thomas Mall, Phoenix

Arizona. West Mall, Chris-Twown Shopping Center, Phoenix

California. Eastland Shopping Center, West Covina

California. Escondido Village

California. Rain Fountain, Topanga Plaza, Canoga Park

California. Riverside Plaza, Riverside

Colorado. Cinderella City, Shopping Center, Englewood

Colorado. Kiddie Shop, Cinderella City, Shamrock Mall, Englewood

Connecticut. Shopping Center At Hamden

Florida. Altamonte Mall, Orlando

Florida. Edison Mall, Fort Myers

Florida. Illuminated Waterfall, Palm Beach Mall

Florida. Northgate Shopping Center, Winter Haven

Florida. Pompano Fashion Square Mall, Pompano Beach

Florida. Regency Square Shopping Center, Jacksonville

Florida. Southgate Shopping Center, Lakeland

Florida. West Shore Shopping Plaza, Tampa

Florida. Winter Park Mall

Hawaii. Ala Moana Shopping Center, Honolulu

Hawaii. Fort Street Mall, Honolulu

Illinois. Dixie Square Wonderfall, Mall, Harvey

Maine. Shopping Center, Bangor

Maryland. 64th Street Shopping Center, Ocean City

Michigan. Eastland Center, Harper Woods

Michigan. Northland Center, Detroit

Michigan. West Court, Westland Center, Wayne

Michigan. Westland Center, Wayne

Michigan. Woodland Mall, Grand Rapids

Minnesota. Shopping Center, Minneapolis

Mississippi. Edgewater Plaza Shopping City, Biloxi

Missouri. The Landing Shopping Center, Kansas City

New York. “Clock of the Nations”, Midtown Plaza Mall, Rochester

New York. Delaware Plaza Shopping Center, Albany

New York. Fountains & Bridge, The Mall, Horseheads

New York. Midtown Plaza Mall, Rochester

New York. Midtown Plaza Mall, Rochester

New York. Midtown Plaza Mall, Rochester

New York. Summit Park Mall, Niagara Falls

New York. The Mall, Horseheads

Oregon. Regional Center, “Climate-Controlled Mall”, Portland

Oregon. The Lloyd Center, Portland

Pennsylvania. King of Prussia Plaza

Pennsylvania. McKnight Village Shopping Center, Pittsburgh

Texas. Beaumont Village Shopping Center, Beaumont

Texas. Northpark Shopping Center, Dallas

Washington. Federal Shopping Way

Washington. Valley North Shopping Center, Wenatchee