Detroit Historical Museum

American museum in Michigan

Detroit Historical Museum

Established| 1928
Location| 5401 Woodward Avenue,
Detroit, Michigan,
United States
Director| Elana Rugh
Website| www.detroithistorical.org

The Detroit Historical Museum is located at 5401 Woodward Avenue in the city's Cultural Center Historic District in Midtown Detroit. It chronicles the history of the Detroit area from cobblestone streets, 19th century stores, the auto assembly line, toy trains, fur trading from the 18th century, and much more.[1]

## History

[edit]

The Streets of Old Detroit exhibit

Attorney and historian Clarence M. Burton donated his collections to the Detroit Public Library in 1914, leading to the development of the Detroit Historical Museum. In December 1921, Burton brought together 19 prominent local historians to found the Detroit Historical Society, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the city's history. In 1927, membership offices were leased and Society treasurer J. Bell Moran was appointed to set up a museum. A curator was hired and on November 19, 1928, the "highest museum in the world" opened in a one-room suite on the 23rd floor of the Barlum Tower, now the Cadillac Tower.

William Edward Kapp, architect for the firm of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls designed the building.[2]

On July 24, 1951, the 250th anniversary of Detroit's founding by Antoine Laumet de la Mothe Cadillac, the new museum was dedicated in an elaborate ceremony. In attendance were such dignitaries as Governor G. Mennen Williams, Mayor Albert E. Cobo, U.S. Senator Homer S. Ferguson, the French and British ambassadors and Detroit native and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Ralph Bunche of the United Nations.

In 1949, the Detroit Historical Museum acquired one of the last commercial sailing vessels on the Great Lakes, the J. T. Wing. It operated the ship as a museum until 1956 when it shuttered because of its deteriorating condition. On July 24, 1961, it was replaced by the Dossin Great Lakes Museum which opened on Belle Isle Park as a branch of the Historical Museum devoted to maritime history.

From 1949 through 2006, the museum also operated Fort Wayne, a former military installation constructed in 1845 on the banks of the Detroit River approximately 4 mi (6.4 km) southwest of the city's downtown area. Portions of the fort were deactivated after World War II and the barracks and fortification were turned over to the City of Detroit to operate as a museum. The remaining parts of the installation were ceded by the army to the city through 1976. In 2006, operation of the fort was given to the Detroit Recreation Department.

Shortly after the death of The Detroit News style columnist Charlotte "Tavy" Stone in 1985, the museum established the Tavy Stone Fashion Library. The library and costume gallery consolidate the museum's holdings on historical costumes and design in space on the second floor.[3]

## Detroit Historical Society

[edit]

America's Motor City: Body Drop exhibit

The Detroit Historical Society (DHS) was founded in December 1921 with prominent Detroit historian Clarence M. Burton, its first president. Initially, a literary society bent on studying and discussing Detroit history, its direction changed in 1927 when under the leadership of one of the DHS directors, J. Bell Moran, the Society founded the Detroit Historical Museum (DHM).

Since the first museum opened in the Barlum Tower as "Detroit's best kept secret," prominent Detroiters as trustees of the Society and the public have added to the collection. As of today, it has over 200,000 items.[4]

However, by the late 1930s the Society had become more of a social club than a Historical Society. In 1941, the Society recruited The Detroit News columnist George Stark into membership. It was later said the DHS was seeking mention in Stark's daily column, but "what they got was George instead." With J. Bell Moran being called into government service due to the war, George Stark took over the leadership of the DHS and instituted a building campaign in 1942.

By this time, the Museum was in the former Homer Wiliams home on Merrick Street across from what is now the Cass Avenue entrance to the Detroit Public Library. The Williams home, where future Michigan Governor G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams grew up, has been replaced by part of the Wayne State University Campus.

After a 1946 referendum spearheaded by the DHS and the City of Detroit, the City of Detroit Historical Commission was created to manage the Detroit Historical Museum. The Detroit Historical Society turned its collection and sizable building fund over to the city and assumed the role of being the principal outside financial backer to the museum.

## Recent history

[edit]

Allesee Gallery of Culture

By the 1990s, the Museum rode a wave of success. In 1993, the Detroit Historical Society raised nearly $4 million for exhibits, educational programs and an endowment fund for the Museum. A new permanent exhibit, made possible by the success of the campaign, opened in 1995 – The Motor City Exhibition. This exhibit traces Detroit's development into the Automobile Capital of the World and includes an operating assembly line with a two-story body drop from the General Motors Cadillac Division Clark Street Plant. In 1998, the Museum opened another permanent exhibition, Frontiers to Factories: Detroiters at Work 1701–1901. This exhibit depicts the city's first two hundred years, as it grew from a French fur trading post to a major industrial center.

In March 2006, the Detroit Historical Society once again assumed operational responsibility for the Museum, after signing a formal agreement with the City of Detroit. Four months later, the Museum closed for an extensive "Museum Makeover" reopening on September 29, 2006, with six new exhibits, a facility with improved lighting, signage and building upgrades.[5]

The museum closed again May 21 through November 22, 2012 for renovation. Several new exhibits were installed including the Allesee Gallery of Culture; Detroit: Arsenal of Democracy that explores the city's role in World War II; a sign from Tiger Stadium; the Kid Rock Music Lab, created through a $250,000 gift from performer Kid Rock, and the Gallery of Innovation and Doorway to Freedom: Detroit and the Underground Railroad that allows visitors to simulate the journey of a runaway slave traveling through Detroit to Canada.[6][7]

In October 2019, the museum announced it would resume charging admission November 1, due to a deficit of $297,000 the prior year. The museum established admission for adults at $10 with reduced rates for children, seniors, active military and some other groups.[8]

On March 13, 2020, the museum along with other institutions in Michigan announced it would close through April 5 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.[9] The closure was later extended into June. On June 25, several museums in the city announced they would reopen July 10, 2020, after devising a coordinated plan that included requirements and protocols to keep staff and visitors safe.[10]

## See also

[edit]

* Michigan portal

* Michigan History magazine

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Rzucidlo, Jason (October 17, 2007). "New Exhibits open at Detroit Historical Museum". The South End. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
2. ^ Witsil, Frank (June 15, 2021). "Downton Abbey fame leads to Meadow Brook Hall architect getting credit he deserves". Detroit Free Press.(subscription required)
3. ^ "Charlotte 'Tavy' Stone". Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
4. ^ "Collections". Detroit Historical Society. Archived from the original on September 20, 2010. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
5. ^ "Detroit Historical Society Completes a 10-week 'Museum Makeover' at the Detroit Historical Museum" (PDF) (Press release). Detroit Historical Society. September 15, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2010. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
6. ^ Lacy, Eric (November 21, 2012). "Detroit Historical Museum to celebrate re-opening, Kid Rock Music Lab with free weekend admission". Ann Arbor News. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
7. ^ Stryker, Mark (23 November 2012). "After renovations, Detroit Historical Museum opens to excited crowds". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
8. ^ Hodges, Michael H.; Chambers, Jennifer (October 22, 2019). "Detroit Historical Museum to reinstate admission fee after losing $297K". The Detroit News.
9. ^ "Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Historical Society, Dossin Great Lakes Museum close amid coronavirus concerns". WDIV News. March 13, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
10. ^ Welch, Sherri (June 25, 2020). "DIA, Charles H. Wright, other Midtown Detroit cultural sites to reopen July 10". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved July 9, 2020.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Bak, Richard (2001). Detroit Across Three Centuries. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN 978-1585360017.
* Poremba, David Lee (2003). Detroit: A Motor City History. Making of America. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0738524351.
* Poremba, David Lee (2001). Detroit in Its World Setting: A Three-Hundred-Year Chronology, 1701–2001. Detroit: Wayne State University. ISBN 978-0814328705.
* Woodford, Arthur M. (2001). This is Detroit 1701–2001. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0814329146.

## External links

[edit]

* Official Detroit Historical Museum website
* Expotv.com: Video review of the Detroit Historical Museum — with on-site footage.

* v
* t
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Midtown Detroit

Areas|

* Brush Park
* Cass Farm Multiple Property Submission
* Cass Corridor
* Cass-Davenport Historic District
* Cass Park Historic District
* Cultural Center Historic District
* East Ferry Avenue Historic District

Education|

* Wayne State University (More information)
* Detroit Public Library Main Library
* Detroit Public Schools
* Cass Tech
* UPA Middle and UPSM Middle
* Jefferson Intermediate School
* Detroit Institute of Technology (closed)

| Former K–12 school buildings|

* Clay School
* Saints Peter and Paul Academy

|

Hospitals|

* Detroit Medical Center
* Children's Hospital of Michigan
* Detroit Receiving Hospital
* Harper University Hospital
* Hutzel Women's Hospital

Museums|

* Detroit Historical Museum
* Detroit Institute of Arts
* Michigan Science Center
* Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Clubs|

* Detroit Masonic Temple
* Scarab Club

Residences|

| Single family houses|

* William C. Boydell House
* Charles Lang Freer House
* Bernard Ginsburg House
* Robert M. and Matilda (Kitch) Grindley House
* Col. Frank J. Hecker House
* Hudson-Evans House
* Mulford T. Hunter House
* Inn at 97 Winder
* Albert Kahn House
* George W. Loomer House
* Perry McAdow House
* Samuel L. Smith House
* Thomas S. Sprague House
* Herman Strasburg House
* Elisha Taylor House
* David Whitney House

|

Multifamily houses|

* 2643 Park Avenue
* Belcrest Apartments
* Chatsworth Apartments
* Coronado Apartments
* Eddystone
* Garfield Lofts
* Lancaster and Waumbek Apartments
* League of Catholic Women Building
* Milner Arms Apartments
* Helen Newberry Nurses Home
* The Park Shelton
* Santa Fe Apartments
* Stuberstone Lofts
* Thompson Home
* Verona Apartments

Religion|

* Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church
* Cathedral Church of St. Paul
* Chapel of St. Theresa-the Little Flower
* First Congregational Church
* First Presbyterian Church
* First Unitarian Church of Detroit
* Saint Andrew's Memorial Episcopal Church
* Temple Beth-El

Utility buildings|

* Willis Avenue Station

Commercial buildings|

* Architects Building
* Cass Motor Sales
* Detroit-Columbia Central Office Building
* Graybar Electric Company Building
* Russell Industrial Center

Public facilities|

* Dunbar Hospital
* Majestic Theater
* Garden Bowl
* Orchestra Hall
* Little Caesars Arena

This list is incomplete.

* v
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City of Detroit

* Architecture
* Culture
* Detroit River
* Economy
* Fire & rescue
* Freeways
* Government
* History
* timeline
* Historic places
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* Metro Detroit
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* v
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Architecture of metropolitan Detroit

Skyscrapers|

| 10 tallest|

* Renaissance Center
* One Detroit Center
* Penobscot
* RenCen Towers 100-400
* Guardian
* Book Tower
* 150 West Jefferson

|

20 tallest|

* Fisher
* Cadillac Tower
* Stott
* One Woodward Avenue
* McNamara Federal
* DTE Energy
* Broderick
* 211 West Fort
* Buhl
* Westin Book Cadillac Hotel
* Hollywood Casino

30 tallest|

* First National
* Cadillac Centre
* RenCen Towers 500-600
* 1001 Woodward
* Millender Center
* AT&T
* Chrysler House
* Jeffersonian
* Blue Cross Blue Shield
* Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

40 tallest|

* Penobscot Annex
* Lafayette East
* Riverfront Tower 300
* Riverfront Tower 200
* Whitney
* Washington Square
* Riverfront Tower 100
* Water Board
* Washington Boulevard

50 tallest|

* Riverside Hotel
* Fort Shelby Hotel
* Industrial-Stevens
* Ford
* Leland
* Fyfe
* Grand Park Centre
* Compuware
* United Artists Theatre
* Michigan Central Station
* Cadillac Place

60 tallest|

* MGM Grand Detroit
* MotorCity Casino Hotel
* The Qube
* Maccabees
* Fort Washington Plaza
* One Kennedy Square
* Detroit Free Press
* Metropolitan
* Wardell

70–195 tallest|

* Kales
* Masonic Temple
* Town Apartments
* Michigan Building
* Park Avenue House
* Penobscot Building (1905)
* 1212 Griswold
* Belcrest
* Griswold Building
* Harvard Square
* Professional Plaza Tower
* Vinton
* Detroit Building
* Fox Theatre
* Lawyers Building
* Levin United States Courthouse
* Marquette

New Center|

* Fisher
* Cadillac Place
* Argonaut Building
* Henry Ford Hospital
* New Center Building

East side

* Lafayette Park
* Jeffersonian
* Detroit Towers
* The Kean
* The Whittier
* Harbortown Apartments

Suburban|

* Southfield Town Center
* American Center
* Top of Troy
* Tower Plaza
* Adoba Hotel
* Parklane Towers
* Chrysler Headquarters

Low rise
under 10 stories
selected|

| Downtown|

* 411
* Bankers Trust
* Cass Building
* Detroit Athletic Club
* Detroit Club
* Detroit Cornice and Slate
* Fillmore
* Harmonie Centre
* Harmonie Club
* L. B. King
* Opera House
* Music Hall
* Merchants
* One Griswold Street
* Wayne County Building
* Wright-Kay
* Savoyard Centre

|

Midtown|

* Orchestra Hall
* Metropolitan Center
* Phoenix Group
* Old Main
* Rackham Building
* McGregor Memorial Conference Center
* Verona
* Wayne State University Buildings
* Clay Office

North|

* University of Detroit Mercy
* Detroit Golf Club

East side|

* Alden Park Towers
* Brewery Park
* Coronado
* El Tovar
* Garden Court
* Milner Arms
* Riverwalk Hotel
* Pasadena

Suburban|

* Country Club of Detroit
* The Dearborn Inn
* GM Technical Center
* Royal Park Hotel
* Inn at St. John's
* Townsend Hotel

Parks and gardens|

* Belle Isle
* Cranbrook
* Campus Martius
* Grand Circus
* Metroparks
* Matthaei Botanical Gardens
* Riverfront parks
* Detroit Zoo

Museums and libraries|

* Cranbrook Educational Community
* Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
* Detroit Historical Museum
* Detroit Institute of Arts
* Detroit Public Library
* Detroit Science Center
* Edsel and Eleanor Ford House
* Fair Lane
* Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
* The Henry Ford
* Meadowbrook Hall
* Pewabic Pottery
* Southfield Public Library
* University of Michigan Museum of Art

Religious landmarks|

* Religious landmarks

Performance centers|

* Theatres and performing arts venues

Neighborhood
Historic Districts|

| Residential|

* Arden Park-East Boston
* Atkinson Avenue
* Beverly Road
* Boston-Edison
* Brush Park
* Canton Township MPS
* Corktown
* East Ferry
* East Grand Boulevard
* East Jefferson Avenue
* Grosse Pointe
* Highland Heights-Stevens' Sub.
* Indian Village
* Layafette Park
* Northville
* Palmer Park Apartments
* Palmer Park Blvd.
* Palmer Woods
* Park Avenue
* Rosedale Gardens
* Rosedale Park
* Sherwood Forest
* Virginia Park
* Warren-Prentis
* West Canfield
* West Village
* Willis-Selden
* Woodbridge
* Woodward East
* (See also: Historic homes)

|

Mixed-use|

* Adams Street
* Broadway Avenue
* Capitol Park
* Cass Park
* Cass-Davenport
* Congress Street
* Cultural Center
* Eastern Market
* Eastside Cemetery
* Financial District
* Grand Boulevard
* Grand Circus
* Grand River Avenue
* Gratiot Avenue
* Griswold Street
* Greektown
* West Jefferson Avenue
* Jefferson Chalmers
* Larned Street
* Michigan Avenue
* Monroe Avenue
* New Amsterdam
* New Center
* Piquette Avenue
* Randolph Street
* Shelby Street
* State Street
* Sugar Hill
* University–Cultural Center
* Washington Boulevard
* Wayne State University
* West Vernor-Junction
* West Vernor-Lawndale
* West Vernor-Springwells
* Lower Woodward
* Midtown Woodward
* Woodward Avenue

See also: List of tallest buildings in Detroit

* v
* t
* e

Michigan historical societies

* Byron Area Historic Museum (Byron Center)
* The Canton Historical Society and Museum (Canton)
* Detroit Historical Museum (Detroit)
* Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum (Rogers City)
* Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum (Whitefish Township)
* Keweenaw National Historical Park (Calumet)
* Lake Odessa Area Historical Society (Lake Odessa)
* Leelanau Historical Society and Museum (Leland)
* Marquette Maritime Museum (Marquette)
* Mason County Historical Society (Ludington)
* Michigan Maritime Museum (South Haven)
* Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society (Hart)
* Swift Lathers Museum (Golden Township)
* Tecumseh Area Historical Museum
* Ypsilanti Historical Society (Ypsilanti)

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

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