Detroit Historical Museum - Detroit, MI - museum chronicling Detroit's history

In 1928, the Detroit Historical Society opened the Detroit Historical Museum, which today is one of the oldest and largest city museums in the United States. With over 600 items on display, this is considered one of the premier tourist destinations in Detroit's Cultural Center. There are over 80,000 square feet of exhibitions in this museum.

The Detroit Historical Museum features both permanent and temporary displays. Their signature display is called Streets of Old Detroit. The museum advertises this as the most memorable exhibit in the museum. They've recreated the streets of the city as they looked in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors can even go inside one of the shops, which is set up to look like a store from this time period. Along with recreated pieces, this shop includes real historical items, including artifacts that date back to the 1840s.

Another popular exhibit in the Detroit Historical Museum is named The Motor City. This display, which was opened in 1995, celebrates the city's automotive industry. It starts with the opening of Detroit's car factories and follows the timeline of these companies to their presence in Detroit today.

The Detroit Historical Museum also has the Frontiers to Factories exhibit as a permanent display, which chronicles the city's history before the car industry was even a dream in people's minds. Tourists can see pictures, artifacts, and more from this era. Nearby, some of the other exhibits visitors might like to see include 1920s: Detroit's Building Boom, Hero or Villain? Metro Detroit's Legacy of Leadership, Fabulous 5: Detroit's Entertainment Venues, The Glancy Trains, and Detroit's Official Symbol. Throughout these displays, visitors can read the story of this city and view hundreds of artifacts. Tours are available for groups, or visitors can walk through the museum on their own.

One of these artifacts is a clock build by Louis Meier, Sr., a skilled clockmaker who lived and worked in Detroit. Called the "Wonderful Clock,'' Meier's clock is carved with intricate details and gives guests a great photographic opportunity whenever it rings. When he built it, the clock was used to advertise his jewelry store, which was located on the corner of East Grand Boulevard and Gratiot in downtown Detroit.

The Detroit Historical Museum is a part of an entire collection of research and artifacts that are owned by the Detroit Historical Society. In addition to this museum, they also run the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and a collection of over 200,000 items relating to this area of Michigan. The Detroit Historical Society, which was established in 1921, is managed by a board of trustees.

The museum is open Wednesday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, as well as on weekends (Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday from noon to 5:00 PM). They are typically closed on holidays, but they also often have extended hours and discounted or free admission prices during the winter holiday season. They also have private spaces available for rental for events such as birthday parties, weddings, and business conferences. When visiting Detroit, this is a great way to learn about the city.