🔨⚠️🧰 Please pardon our dust! We're in the midst of a major project to replace the 65-75 year-old original windows in the Detroit Historical Museum's 3rd floor office spaces, entrance areas, and main stairwell with modern, energy-efficient windows that will maintain the building's historic character.

On May 19, 1919, a large crowd was pictured gathered at Campus Martius to celebrate the return of the 32nd Infantry Division from World War I. Browse more of our collection items related to WWI at: bit.ly/3G5LqAV

#OTD in 1916, TR traveled to Detroit to deliver "Righteous Peace Through National Preparedness." He was a private citizen by then — out of office, in poor health, and louder than ever. He believed America couldn't avoid the war in Europe, and he refused to stay quiet about it.

This off-the-grid location of Detroit Historical Society’s warehouses safeguard some of Michigan’s most precious artifacts. www.hourdetroit.com/art-topics/h...

still thinking about how i found out there's an n-gage game sitting in the detroit historical museum right now lol

🤩🦸‍♀️🎬 It's Motor City Comic Con weekend! Visit the Detroit Historical Museum to learn about the local creatives and iconic characters that helped define the modern world of comics in our exhibition Heroes vs. Villains.

On May 14, 1925, Cornelius Nathaniel Ray III, founder of Sea Ray fiberglass boats, was born. Known as Connie or C.N., he was a recreational boating industry innovator whose boats were considered by many to be the most stylish and comfortable watercrafts of their time.

The Detroit International Riverfront is a redeveloped waterfront in the US city of Detroit, supported by public and private investment totaling several hundred million dollars.

On May 12, 1987, this silent color film footage was shot by Castorri and Company for a Bob-Lo Island advertisement, highlighting the park's Skytower and carousel. www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5Ip...

2026 marks a rare convergence of milestones: 325 years since Detroit’s first European settlers, 250 years since the founding of the United States, and the 75th and 65th anniversaries of the openings of the Detroit Historical Museum and Dossin Great Lakes Museum.

[May 7th, 1926] The River Rouge has transformed from a small stream used by Native Americans into a man-made industrial channel. Now lined with industries, it is poised to become a major global port and plays a vital role in the industrial development of Southwest Detroit.

📢 Calling all Southeast Michigan artists! Help us create the newest attraction at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum with your original mural design. Submissions are OPEN now through June 1, 2026. Click through for more details.

Tucked away in a nondescript warehouse in southwest Detroit sit some of the Detroit Historical Society’s most prized artifacts. https://www.hourdetroit.com/art-topics/hidden-detroit-detroit-historical-society-artifact-collection/

On May 5, 1904, the R.W. England (pictured here c. 1911) was the first steamer launched by the Great Lakes Engineering Works. By this time 1,600 men worked for the main GLEW engine works in Detroit and the company's shipyards in Ecorse and St. Clair.

May 4, 1926: The Stinson Aircraft Co. is incorporated in Detroit to manufacture some of the first planes with enclosed cabins. In its first week the company founded by aviator Edward Stinson receives orders for eight SB-1 planes, which form the basis for Northwest Airlines.

Happy Labor History Month! The Reuther Library has been preserving Labor's heritage since 1959. #LaborHistory #LaborHistoryMonth #Archives @reutherlibrary.bsky.social

On May 2, 1844, pioneering mechanical engineer & inventor Elijah McCoy was born in Colchester, ON, Canada. Best known for creating an automatic lubricating oil cup in 1872 after he settled in the Detroit area, McCoy went on to earn 50+ patents. Learn more: www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online...

On May 1, 1918, Detroit became the first major U.S. city to go “dry” when Michigan enacted statewide prohibition, banning the sale and manufacture of alcohol. 📸 Detroit Free Press clipping from May 1, 1918.

On April 29, 1917, Christ Church Detroit held a special service for men preparing to depart the city and serve in World War I, as described in this program housed in our collection.

[April 28th, 1946] The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad announced a change to its Detroit terminal, moving from Fort Street Union Depot to Michigan Central Station.

See a rare 1940s full-color view of Hastings Street, at the heart of Black Bottom, in found video footage from our archive: www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online...

🎨 We're looking for an original mural design for the Dossin Great Lakes Museum! Enter a design inspired by Detroit's maritime heritage and unique connection to the water, and it could be turned into a paint-by-number style community mural to be installed on the museum's west facing wall.

I'm not saying it's better than Chicago's, but Detroit's flag is pretty sweet! The Latin phrase means "we hope for better things" and "it will rise from the ashes."

On April 21, 1947, songwriter, singer, and actor Iggy Pop was born James Newell Osterberg, Jr. in Muskegon, Michigan. He grew up outside Ypsilanti, Michigan and formed his band the Psychedelic Stooges in Ann Arbor. Their first public gig was in 1968 at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit.

Detail on the William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse in #Detroit, #Michigan, one of the world's #top5 #lighthouses. Find out more at stephentravels.com/top5/lightho...

On April 16, 1895, the name "Tigers" was given to Detroit's baseball team for the first time by the Detroit Free Press. This early pennant shows the team mascot in the 1910s. Learn more about the Tigers' long history: www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online...

April 14 1960: A new American record company is founded by Berry Gordy Jr, who had launched Tamla Records one year earlier. He incorporates it as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit. Michigan.

A thread I blew my deadline, but I wanted to get this out there as this is going to happen tomorrow. Viola Liuzzo was a civil rights activist from Michigan who was murdered during the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965. She was also active in civil rights work in the metro Detroit area.

🎩🥂 We're getting ready to party at the Guardian Building for the 2026 Society Ball on Saturday, 4/18! Check out some of the historic spaces that guests will enjoy and get your tickets for The Speakeasy at detroithistorical.org/speakeasy! www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online...

On April 10, 1922, the last horse-drawn firefighting units were used in Detroit. 50,000+ people lined Woodward to witness the horses’ ceremonial last run to an arranged false alarm at the National Bank Building. Five horses, named Pete, Jim, Tom, Babe, and Rusty, were then retired to Rouge Park.

Detroit Historical Museum Opens Red Wings Centennial Exhibit Spanning Two Floors https://www.rawchili.com/nhl/544849/ The Detroit Historical Museum has unveiled a two-floor tribute marking the Red Wings’ 100th season. “Becoming Hockeytown: Detroit…

To celebrate Michigan’s win, a few best-of Historical Marker Ahead’s from the state. Here’s the marker for the start of one of the most infamous “riots” of the 1960s. Detroit resident John Lee Hooker summed it up here: youtu.be/oUdx3CRfKxc?...

Design Month Detroit 2026 - Open Call The application window runs from February 23 to April 20. More info www.detroitmonthofdesign.org

On April 8, 1956, a parade of streetcars marked the end of rail service in Detroit after 92.5 years. One of the 27 PCC street cars that made the final farewell tour is pictured below. Learn more about Detroit's streetcar history: www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online...

Windsor: The area was once known as la Petite Côte (Little Coast) and then La Côte de Misère (Poverty Coast). In 1797, the settlement of Sandwich was established. The name was later changed to Windsor, in honour of the Windsor, Berkshire, England. 🧵 11/12

Air view of Briggs Stadium and skyline of Detroit, Michigan. #Postcards #Vintage #DetroitTigers

April 6, 1926: Women’s tennis star Elizabeth Ryan takes a turn at whacking at a harder kind of ball during Detroit Tigers spring training in Augusta, Ga. Player-manager Ty Cobb watches.

On April 6, 1919, this photo of a biplane was captured after it was forced to land in a Detroit neighborhood. The plane, whose fuselage reads "Locktite Tire Patch," is surrounded by a crowd of people with a policeman to the left. A caption notes the location, Maxwell & Burnett [now Manila] Streets.

On April 3, 1933, Michigan became the first state to vote repeal of federal Prohibition. Alcohol sales would legally begin again on December 5, 1933 with the passage of the twenty-first Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

🎨🧵 Creators and makers, we want you! Visual artists, designers, beauty product makers and even upcyclers — if you or someone you know is creating something you always want to have, nominate them for the second round of The Hustle at the Detroit Historical Museum! >> detroithistorical.org/hustle

Belle Isle has both a boat club and a yacht club, and they've been there for more than a century. From $1-a-year leases to some of Detroit's most famous names. Reporter Sascha Raiyn wades into the history in the latest CuriosiD. wdet.org/2026/03/27/w...

On March 31, 1928, "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe was born in Saskatchewan, Canada. Howe would play 25 seasons (1946-1971) with the Detroit Red Wings and help lead the team to four Stanley Cups as part of the famed “Production Line.” In 1972, his iconic No. 9 jersey was retired by the Red Wings.

Bob Gruen, Stevie Wonder, Detroit, 1974.

[March 27th, 1926] Some Detroit storefronts

The interior lobby of the Fisher Building, a renowned Art Deco skyscraper located in Detroit, Michigan.

Tonight from 5:30-8 p.m.! The Detroit Historical Museum will be open for National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) conference attendees to view our new exhibition Centerpoint: Mapping Detroit’s Ceramic Legacy. More about the exhibition: bit.ly/47UVwDs

On March 26, 1944, twelve-time Grammy and Oscar-nominated singer, actress and producer Diana Ross was born in Detroit. Ross has had a total of 18 #1 hits in the U.S. Learn more: www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online...

If you know an inspiring Detroit-based entrepreneur – tell us their story! Nominate them to be featured in the Detroit Historical Museum by April 26 at: detroithistorical.org/hustle 📸 Hustle first round honoree Djenaba Ali - Black Bottom Garden Center. Photo by Bre-Ann White.

Women Who Led the Fight This week on Labor History Today, we explore moments when workers didn’t just demand change—they forced it. Detroit, 1937: sit-down strikers face a violent police raid—and resist, floor by floor, in a pivotal moment in the fight for union recognition. Seattle, 1919: Conor

✨ Saturday, April 18! ✨ Step into the Roaring ’20s for an unforgettable night at the landmark Guardian Building benefitting the Detroit Historical Society. Presented by Ford Philanthropy Complimentary valet | Black tie or Roaring ’20s attire 🎩 🎟️ Tickets at detroithistorical.org/2026Ball