Detroit Historical Museum: A lot more than just automobiles
Detroit may be known more for its industry than its history, but a local museum sets out to prove that the city’s past is mighty colorful indeed. The Detroit Historical Museum uses artifacts and creative exhibits to show visitors just how diverse and downright interesting Detroit history can be.
Established in 1928, the Detroit Historical Museum is one of the country’s oldest and largest museums dedicated to metropolitan history. More than 600 artifacts are housed in over 80,000 square feet of exhibition space, all chronicling more than 300 years of Detroit’s past.
The museum welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each year, all eager to explore popular exhibits like “Hero or Villain? Metro Detroit’s Legacy of Leadership,” exploring the lives of famous locals like Henry Ford, Jimmy Hoffa and Ty Cobb (including a homerun ball signed by the baseball great).
The exhibit “100 Years Ago” lets guests explore the city of Detroit a century before through photographs, newspaper articles and images. “Doorway to Freedom – Detroit and the Underground Railroad” highlights the city’s historic sites that served as stops along the journey.
Visitors of all ages will enjoy the Glancy Trains exhibit, an extensive collection of toy trains donated by the one-time co-owner of the Empire State Building. Motor City is another popular exhibit that explores how Detroit became the center of car manufacturing, and how the industry shaped the city and its people.
But perhaps most popular of all at the Detroit Historical Museum is the "Streets of Old Detroit," where visitors are transported back to the 19th century. Brick streets, oil lamps, an old barbershop, drugstore and black smith shop complete with artifacts from the period all make for a magical journey back through time.
The Detroit Historical Museum proves that not only is the city’s history fascinating, it’s highly entertaining as well. Visitors from all over will enjoy the creative exhibits the museum offers, and the peek into the past they provide.
Posted by D.J. Siegel
