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. It's located in the city's Cultural Center Historic District. This museum shows you everything from old cobblestone streets and 19th-century shops to the exciting auto assembly line. You can also see toy trains and learn about fur trading from the 1700s. It's a journey through time for the Detroit area!
History of the Museum
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The idea for the Detroit Historical Museum started with a lawyer and history lover named Clarence M. Burton. In 1914, he gave his huge collection of historical items to the Detroit Public Library. This gift helped kick off the museum's creation.
In 1921, Mr. Burton gathered 19 important local historians. Together, they formed the Detroit Historical Society. This group wanted to save and share Detroit's amazing history.
The first museum opened on November 19, 1928. It was just one 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 Kapp designed the building we see today. On July 24, 1951, the new museum building was officially opened. This was a big celebration! It marked 250 years since Detroit was founded by Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac. Many important people attended, including the governor and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
The museum also used to operate the J. T. Wing, one of the last commercial sailing ships on the Great Lakes. It was a museum ship from 1949 to 1956. Later, a new museum called the Dossin Great Lakes Museum opened in 1961. It focuses on maritime history and is a branch of the Historical Museum.
Another place the museum used to manage was Fort Wayne. This old military fort was built in 1845. Parts of the fort became a museum after World War II. The city took over the fort completely by 1976. In 2006, another city department began running the fort.
The Detroit Historical Society
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The Detroit Historical Society (DHS) was created 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. But in 1927, they decided to do more. Under the leadership of J. Bell Moran, the Society founded the Detroit Historical Museum (DHM).
Since the first museum opened, many people have helped it grow. Important Detroiters and the public have added to its collection. Today, the museum has over 200,000 items!
In the late 1930s, the Society became more of a social club. But in 1941, a newspaper writer named George Stark joined. He helped change things. George Stark started a big campaign in 1942 to raise money for a new museum building.
After a public vote in 1946, the City of Detroit Historical Commission was formed. This group now manages the Detroit Historical Museum. The Detroit Historical Society gave its collection and building funds to the city. Now, the Society is the main financial supporter of the museum from outside the city government.
What's New at the Museum
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The museum has seen many exciting changes over the years. In the 1990s, it became very popular. In 1993, the Detroit Historical Society raised almost $4 million. This money helped create new exhibits and educational programs.
A cool new exhibit opened in 1995 called "The Motor City Exhibition." It shows how Detroit became the "Automobile Capital of the World." You can even see a working assembly line! It has a two-story "body drop" from a real General Motors factory. In 1998, another exhibit opened: "Frontiers to Factories: Detroiters at Work 1701–1901." This exhibit covers the city's first 200 years. It shows how Detroit grew from a small fur trading post to a big industrial city.
In 2006, the Detroit Historical Society took over running the museum again. The museum closed for a "Museum Makeover" and reopened in September 2006. It had six new exhibits, better lighting, and other upgrades.
The museum closed again for renovations from May to November 2012. Many new and exciting exhibits were added:
- The Allesee Gallery of Culture shows different parts of Detroit's culture.
- Detroit: Arsenal of Democracy explores the city's important role in World War II.
- You can see a sign from the old Tiger Stadium.
- The Kid Rock Music Lab was created with a gift from the performer Kid Rock.
- The Gallery of Innovation highlights Detroit's inventions.
- Doorway to Freedom: Detroit and the Underground Railroad lets you experience the journey of runaway slaves. They traveled through Detroit to find freedom in Canada.
In October 2019, the museum announced it would start charging admission again. This was to help with its costs. Adults pay $10, and there are lower prices for kids, seniors, and military members.
Like many places, the museum closed in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened in July 2020 with new safety rules for everyone.
See also
- Michigan History magazine
