Detroit Historical Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1928 |
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| Location | 5401 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, United States |
The Detroit Historical Museum is a cool place to learn about the history of Detroit, Michigan. You can find it on Woodward Avenue in a special area called the Cultural Center Historic District. The museum shows you what Detroit was like long ago, from old cobblestone streets and 18th-century fur trading to 19th-century stores and the exciting auto assembly line. It's a journey through time!
Contents
How the Museum Started
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The idea for the Detroit Historical Museum began with a lawyer and historian named Clarence M. Burton. In 1914, he gave his amazing collections to the Detroit Public Library. This gift helped start the museum.
In 1921, Mr. Burton gathered 19 important local historians. They formed the Detroit Historical Society. This group wanted to save and share Detroit's history.
The first museum opened on November 19, 1928. It was a small room on the 23rd floor of the Barlum Tower. People even called it the "highest museum in the world" because of its location!
A famous architect named William Edward Kapp helped design the museum building.
On July 24, 1951, a big celebration happened. It was Detroit's 250th birthday! The new museum building was officially opened. Many important people attended, like Governor G. Mennen Williams and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph Bunche.
Other Museum Locations
The Detroit Historical Museum once had other special locations.
- The J. T. Wing Ship: In 1949, the museum got an old sailing ship called the J. T. Wing. It was one of the last commercial sailing ships on the Great Lakes. The museum used it as a floating exhibit until 1956.
- Dossin Great Lakes Museum: On July 24, 1961, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum opened. It's on Belle Isle Park and focuses on Detroit's history with boats and the Great Lakes. It became a branch of the Historical Museum.
- Fort Wayne: From 1949 to 2006, the museum also managed Fort Wayne. This old military fort was built in 1845 near the Detroit River. After World War II, parts of the fort became a museum.
The museum also created the Tavy Stone Fashion Library in 1985. This library holds many historical costumes and designs.
The Detroit Historical Society
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The Detroit Historical Society (DHS) was founded in December 1921. Clarence M. Burton was its first president. At first, the Society was a group that studied and talked about Detroit's past.
In 1927, the Society decided to open the Detroit Historical Museum. Since then, many people have given items to the museum's collection. Today, it has over 200,000 items!
In 1941, a newspaper writer named George Stark joined the Society. He helped lead a big effort to build a new museum in 1942.
The museum later moved to the former Homer Williams home on Merrick Street. This house was where future Michigan Governor G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams grew up.
In 1946, the City of Detroit created the Detroit Historical Commission. This group took over managing the museum. The Detroit Historical Society then focused on raising money to support the museum.
Newer Exhibits and Changes
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The museum has added many exciting exhibits over the years.
- The Motor City Exhibition: Opened in 1995, this exhibit shows how Detroit became the "Automobile Capital of the World." It even has a working assembly line!
- Frontiers to Factories: This exhibit, opened in 1998, tells the story of Detroit's first 200 years. It shows how the city grew from a small fur trading post to a big industrial center.
In March 2006, the Detroit Historical Society took over running the museum again. The museum then closed for a "Museum Makeover." It reopened on September 29, 2006, with six new exhibits and better lighting.
The museum closed again from May to November 2012 for more updates. When it reopened, it had several new and interesting exhibits:
- Allesee Gallery of Culture: This gallery explores different parts of Detroit's culture.
- Detroit: Arsenal of Democracy: This exhibit shows Detroit's important role in World War II.
- Kid Rock Music Lab: Created with a gift from performer Kid Rock, this lab explores music history.
- Gallery of Innovation: This gallery highlights Detroit's inventions and ideas.
- Doorway to Freedom: Detroit and the Underground Railroad: This exhibit lets visitors experience what it was like for runaway slaves traveling through Detroit to Canada.
In October 2019, the museum announced it would start charging admission again. This was to help with its costs.
Like many places, the museum closed temporarily in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened in July 2020 with new safety rules for visitors and staff.
See also
- Michigan History magazine
- List of historical societies in Michigan
