Detroit Historical Society

06/01/2026

On June 1, 1919, this photo of the construction of a railroad bridge over the Rouge River was captured. Looking northeast, several workmen stand in the foreground, and a temporary concrete mixing plant is visible in the center background.

05/31/2026

On May 31, 1925, the James Scott Memorial Fountain was dedicated on Belle Isle as a monument to James Scott, a wealthy Detroiter who died in 1910 and left the bulk of his fortune to the city. The main portion, made of Vermont white marble, is 112 feet in diameter and 37 feet high.

05/30/2026

Stop by the Detroit Historical Museum for FREE admission today, May 30!

Free admission today! 🎉🎉 In honor recently retired Detroit Historical Society Chief Financial Officer Matt Greenough, general admission is free for all on Saturday, May 30 to recognize his years of leadership and dedicated service. Plan your visit at: https://bit.ly/3HMMTfI

📸 Ann and Matt Greenough. Photo by Laura McCaffery

05/30/2026

On May 30, 1900, a bicycle road race was held on Belle Isle, as shown in this photograph. A crowd of spectators is pictured from an elevated position along Belle Isle's Central Avenue, and blurred bicyclists are visible passing down a narrow central lane.

05/29/2026

On May 29, 1881, the grotto at the Church of the Assumption on Detroit's east side was dedicated. Designed by Peter Dederichs and inspired by the shrine at Our Lady of Lourdes in France, the grotto's fame led to the church being known as Assumption Grotto.

Learn more: https://www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online-research/encyclopedia-of-detroit/assumption-grotto-church

05/28/2026

Tonight at the Detroit Historical Museum! Check out the first of our FREE Quad Anniversary lectures with a look at Detroit in 1776 from Curator of Collections, Bill Pringle.

🕰️ Tonight - we're OPEN LATE! Have you ever wondered what Detroit was like in the Revolutionary War era? As Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin worked to draft the Declaration of Independence, Detroit was already a well-established and influential settlement with deep colonial roots.

👉 Learn more in our first Quad Anniversary lecture tonight. The museum will be open with extended hours from 5-8 pm with FREE admission, and the lecture starts at 6:30 pm. Click through for details.

05/28/2026

On May 28, 1860, David Mackenzie was born in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. An educator, principal of Detroit's Central High School, and founder of the College of the City of Detroit - which would become Wayne State University - Mackenzie received his degree from the University of Michigan and taught at schools throughout the state.

Learn more: https://www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online-research/encyclopedia-of-detroit/mackenzie-david

05/26/2026

On May 26, 1925, Dan Robbins, the inventor of the "paint by number" craft system, was born in Detroit. Robbins attended Cass Technical High School and conceived the idea for paint by number in 1949 after being inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, who would hand out numbered patterns to his apprentices.

🎨 We're paying homage to Robbins with a new paint-by-number style mural that will be installed this summer at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum! You can submit YOUR original art to be considered for the design at detroithistorical.org/mural

05/25/2026

On May 25, 1961, a lead time capsule was removed from Old City Hall in advance of its demolition. Inside were a variety of items from the 1870s, when the building was constructed, including this ticket envelope from Michigan Central & Great Western Railways and its "Great Central Route via Niagara Falls Between the East and West."

See more items from the time capsule, preserved in our collection, at: https://bit.ly/49hYXVP