50 postcards from the mid-20th century showcase the shopping malls of the United States in a vintage style.

   

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.
 
Here below is a set of vintage postcards that shows what shopping malls of the U.S. looked like in the 1950s and 1960s.
 
 
Alabama. Eastwood Mall, Birmingham

 

 
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

 

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