Detroit Historical Society

On March 2, 1799, an Act of Congress made Detroit a port of entry to the United States. International traffic now passes daily across the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and the Ambassador bridge.

Sun 3/1, 1-4 p.m. With Love & Flowers Workshop: A Tribute to Detroit’s Black Matriarchs, a hands-on, community centered experience hosted by The Black Bottom Archives.

Both are included with general admission! More details at detroithistorical.org/events

Celebrate Black History Month in its final weekend & kick off Women's History Month with two special events at the Detroit Historical Museum:

Sat 2/28, 1 -3 p.m. Celebrating a Century of Courage: Co-Creating and Co-Existing featuring young Black scholars from the Collegiate School in NYC.

To all my friends in the Detroit area: Rochester Historical Society appraisal day is fast approaching -- get your antiques, musical instruments, books, etc, appraised by local experts (including me)

Photo taken at Detroit historical museum of a plaque stating that brothers Jeremiah and James Dwyer were known as the Stove Kings of Detroit. The stove industry required specific metals and kilns and contributed to the rise of the auto industry here a few decades later.

“Dwyer? As in the Detroit stove king Dwyers?”

Detroit was once home to 18 Black-led hospitals – here’s how to understand their rise and fall In the early 20th century, Detroit’s Black medical professionals created a network of health care institutions in response to racial discrimination and exclusion.

Detroit was once home to 18 Black-led hospitals – here’s how to understand their rise and fall theconversation.com/detroit-was-...

Things to do in Detroit: Youth-led iftar, poetry and more events Break bread at a youth-led iftar, honor Black matriarchs, take in poetry and find more things to do to have Detroit weekend packed with culture.

We’re closing out Black History Month and stepping into Women’s History Month in Detroit!

Honor Black matriarchs, celebrate Black authors and immerse yourself in poetry, sound and music — ready to plan your Detroit weekend today?

Do you know someone who’s making a change, innovating or creating something new?

Nominate a Detroit entrepreneur for recognition in the Detroit Historical Museum at detroithistorical.org/hustle

📸 Hustle first round honoree Patrick Hines - Functional Fluidics. Photo by Bre-Ann White.

On February 24, 1953, architect Louis Kamper died. During his long career, reaching back to 1889, he designed Detroit's Book Cadillac Hotel and Book Tower. He is buried in the Roseland Park Mausoleum, which he had also designed.
Learn more: www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online...

📸 Hustle first round honorees The Thomas Family - Sweet Potato Sensations Bakery. Photo by Jenny Risher.

The Hustle: Celebrating Detroit’s Unsung Entrepreneurs is coming BACK for a second round! We're looking for 30 special city business owners to feature this year in the museum.

⭐ Learn more and nominate someone today: detroithistorical.org/hustle

The Dossin Great Lakes Museum is on the list! 🏆

A Curious Obelisk at Elmwood

While largely forgotten today, abolitionist leader Senator Jacob M. Howard has a fitting resting place at Elmwood Cemetery that speaks to his life's work. Learn more on our blog: www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online...

The Detroit Historical Museum is excellent, and has entire wings dedicated to the Underground Railroad, Black Bottom and Paradise Valley, the 1967 Uprising, and the 100th anniversary of the Red Wings.
Went there last weekend.

The lead banner of the Jobs Justice and Peace march in Detroit, August 2010. I don't remember everyone's name here, union leaders for the most part, but the line includes Jesse Jackson, John Conyers, Maxine Waters, Virg Bernero, and Jocelyn Benson. Jackson would attend the speeches at the MI Democratic Convention that weekend as well.

Jobs, Justice, and Peace March, Detroit, Aug 28th, 2010. Jesse Jackson, John Conyers, Maxine Waters, prominent union members, lead thousands to a rally. (Pretty sure that's Jocelyn Benson on the end.)

Story about the march, and the reasons behind it, here:

voiceofdetroit.net/2010/09/14/d...

On February 17, 1863, the First Michigan Colored Regiment was mustered into service against the Confederacy. They later became known as the 102nd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment.

Learn more: www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online...

#OtD 16 Feb 1937 a group of predominantly Polish women cigar makers in Detroit sat down demanding a 10% raise, kickstarting a militant wave of sitdown strikes across the industry in the city stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8778...

[February 15th, 1926] New air mail service, contracted to Henry Ford, started Monday linking Detroit with Chicago and Cleveland. This connection provides Eastern Michigan its first air mail outlet to the entire country.

From 1964, in Kresge Court, Detroit by Bill Rauhauser.

For Valentine's Day 1948, this J.L. Hudson Co. Department Store window featured shag carpet and latch-hook rugs. A large heart with an arrow through it is featured at the center of the display.

Ron Teasley, Pioneering Baseball Player and One of Two Surviving Negro League Veterans, Dies at 99 The former Brooklyn Dodger and New York Cuban leaves a lasting legacy of coaching and service in his hometown of Detroit

Pioneering Baseball Player and One of Two Surviving Negro League Veterans, Dies at 99

Ron Teasley, former Brooklyn Dodger and New York Cuban leaves a lasting legacy of coaching and service in his hometown of Detroit.

May he rest in peace. 🌹
www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/r...

Rube Foster

February 13th, 1920. Rube Foster establishes the Negro National League in Kansas City with 8 teams.

Detroit Stars
Cuban Stars
Kansas City Monarchs
St. Louis Giants
Indianapolis ABCs
Dayton Marcos
Chicago American Giants
Chicago Giants

Ice Skating in Detroit

Enjoyed by Detroiters past and present, ice skating has a long history in the city! Learn more on our blog ❄️⛸️

A black-and-white newspaper clipping with the headline “NHL Players Join Ranks” and the subhead “All but One of 112 Join New Association.” Below the text columns is a group photo of about ten men in suits gathered around a table, several leaning in as two men sign papers. A caption beneath the photo reads “HOCKEY PLAYERS FORM ASSOCIATION,” and the layout shows multiple narrow columns of print surrounding the image.

On this day in 1957, Ted Lindsay of the Detroit Red Wings and Doug Harvey of the Montreal Canadiens formed the first NHL Players' Association. The owners sabotaged the union by trading or demoting anyone involved with it. It soon folded but inspired the present-day NHLPA.

On February 11, 1937, after a three-month strike, General Motors recognized the United Auto Workers union. A copy of that first contract is housed in our collection.

Learn more: bit.ly/4rHAFei

📻🎙️ Learn more: www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online...

On February 10, 1922, a Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert broadcast on WWJ, then known as 8MK, was the first symphony concert ever heard by radio.

Michigan's oldest radio station, WWJ was founded by the Scripps family and originally broadcasted from the second floor of the Detroit News building.

The Detroit Historical Museum has a really detailed exhibit about the city's integral role in the Underground Railroad, highly recommend a visit

From the CEO: February 2026

February is Black History Month! Find out about our special events and initiatives coming up - including the second round of The Hustle - on our blog.

Yep!