Cobblestone streets, 19th century stores, an auto assembly line, toy trains, and a fur trading post from the 1700s are only a few of the wonders to see at the Detroit Historical Museum. For more than 75 years, the Museum has chronicled the life and times of the region, safeguarding its rich history.

The Founding of the Museum

When attorney and historian Clarence M. Burton donated his collection of historical papers to the Detroit Public Library in 1914, he started a chain of events that ultimately led to the creation 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.