Lincoln Park Historical Museum

04/14/2026

On May 14, 2026, a tribute to the 250th anniversary of the United States and the Declaration of Independence will be celebrated by the Lincoln Park Historical Society & Museum at their annual dinner.
Held at the Lincoln Park Middle School cafeteria on the evening of Thursday, May 14, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Featured is a catered dinner, followed by a specail presentation given by historian, collector, and reenactor Todd Brighton entitled, "Forging a Nation: Patriot Artifacts and Stories from the American Revolution".
Todd Brighton of Wyandotte, Michigan, will discuss the lives of everyday citizens during the American Revolution, including original artifacts from his personal collection related to seven Patriot soldiers who served in the conflict. Todd will exhibit authentic military gear, original portraits, manuscripts, and early Americana, including Native American trade silver, ceramic, and pewter pieces. Todd brings a personal note to this history with his stories of the individuals who played a role in the conflict.
A wide assortment of raffles and live auction items will be offered during the evening. Many local businesses have generously contributed gifts for raffle baskets. Throughout the evening, music of the American colonial period will be heard. The public is invited to join in for this milestone sesquicentennial celebration!
The cost to attend is $35 per person; or $30 for historical society members.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND TICKETS are available now at the Historical Society and Museum by calling 313-386-3137, or at [email protected]. Online payments are also available at www.lphistorical.org at the “Events” page. Reservations can be made on site at the museum, 1335 Southfield Road, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1pm to 6pm. The deadline for making reservations is May 4th, 2026.
Please see attached event poster.

04/07/2026

REMINDER of the talk being given by inventor Ken Post tomorrow Wednesday April 8th at 7pm here at the museum. (See post below for details.) Doors open at 6:30pm.

Free admission!

04/01/2026

YOU ARE INVITED: U.S. Patent No. 6,178,584 will be the subject when inventor Ken Post gives his talk at the Lincoln Park Historical Museum on WEDNESDAY APRIL 8, at 7:00 p.m.

When living on Cloverlawn Street in Lincoln Park in the 1990s, Ken invented the GlassMaster windshield cleaning tool, inspired by a spark of an idea while he was struggling between jobs. In 1998, Ken and his friend Rob Laskos formed K & R Industries, LLC, and entered business together marketing the new product. By the early 2000s, the GlassMaster was being demonstrated and sold at car shows across the country, including Detroit’s 2004 Autorama show.

Ken traveled the country with his demo windshield materials which will soon become part of the historical museum’s permanent collections. Today, millions of the convenient products are sold under the name Invisible Glass Reach & Clean Tool available at major auto suppliers and retailers.

Meet inventor and former Lincoln Park resident Ken Post, who conceived one of the most successful consumer product inventions of the past 25 years right here in Lincoln Park! His is a true Downriver / Detroit story - an American story - that has also been made into an upcoming feature film, entitled “1 + 99”.

On April 8, you will hear Ken speak about his inspiration and the amazing personal journey the creation has taken him on. Admission is free and open to the public. The museum is located at 1335 Southfield Road at Fort Park in Lincoln Park.

Check out the images here; two show the product being promoted at the 2004 Detroit Autorama; one image shows the product as it is marketed today as the Invisible Glass Reach & Clean tool; and the other is a still from the upcoming film "1 + 99".

Additional information can be obtained from the Lincoln Park Historical Museum at 313-386-3137 or [email protected].

We hope you can make it on Wednesday the 8th, and bring your questions!

03/11/2026

Friendly reminder of the Wednesday program March 11 at 7:00pm her at the Historical Musuem - a talk on the earliest landowner in the area that became Lincoln Park. Pierre St. Cosme received along with two of his sons the lands from Pottawatomi tribal leaders on July 1, 1776 - just a few days prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in the eastern colonies, 250 years ago this year.

We hope you can make it over.

Send a message to learn more

02/28/2026

At our March 11 museum program, curator Jeff Day will lead a discussion on the 1776 period in Detroit – 250 years ago – with a focus on the chiefs of the local Potawatomi gift of land to Detroit resident Pierre St. Cosme and his sons that year; this deed of land is dated July 1, 1776. (see a transcription of the property deed shared here). When the American colonies were in rebellion for independence against the British crown, the Great Lakes lands, having been formally under British control since 1763, were still heavily populated by French Canadians; the French and Indigenous cultures predominated.

The St. Cosme land took in thousands of acres (French “arpents”); an area that was centered south of the River Rouge at the Ecorse River, extending inland from the Detroit River for several miles and further south towards Monguagon. Today we know the St. Cosme Line (one of the property’s key boundaries) as Southfield Road. The terms of the transfer included the "Grosse Isle au Dainde", as mentioned in the deed, today known as Canada's Fighting Island -- NOT the bigger Grosse Ile which developed from a gift to the Macomb brothers by the Potawatomi on July 6, 1776 in that very same week!

The Potawatomi’s gift to St Cosme would lead to the eventual settlement of family ribbon farm-lands in the early 19th century and the establishment of Ecorse Township in 1827.

Join us at the museum as we take a unique look back at July of 1776 and Pierre St Cosme (1721-1787). Wednesday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. Free admission.

02/24/2026

We are fortunate to have a copy of the Mellus newspaper’s The Lincoln Parker edition for FEBRUARY 24, 1944 – eighty-two years ago.

In addition to many downriver news items, including schools, churches, weddings, obituaries, new construction projects, etc. the paper was also reporting on the war effort and news of local men serving in the armed forces.

A number of ads from that issue are shared here, some of which recognized the current war efforts in their advertising to the public. You can see what was playing at the Park Theatre that week.

Also seen here is a front-page rendering of the new War Memorial in Lincoln Park to become the new home of American Legion Post 67, on Southfield Road at Lafayette "opposite the roller rink" and "dedicated to the veterans of World War II." Construction was scheduled to begin on March 1st .

Old timers will remember Shorty's Recreation on Fort Park run by Romeo Leone and Renier's Lumber on Southfield Rd at Howard (much of their property was taken for construction of I-75 in the early 60s.) Sims Mens Wear on Fort Street at Arlington; also the Nixon Funeral Home on Fort Street which later moved to Wyandotte. A full page Packer's ad for the grocery located next to the Park Theatre in the 1940s. Newer residents especially will know that the beloved PARK RESTAURANT ON FORT STREET IS STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS !! Stop in and say "Hello" to owner Leah (and, no he's not that old.)

Finally a public service cartoon, "Cotton In Butter" highlighting the ways that cotton helped in the war effort.

This issue of The Lincoln Parker, along with many other historic issues, is available for viewing here at the museum during our regular hours. Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 1pm to 6pm. Stop by for a visit!

02/20/2026

Tomorrow Saturday February 21 is the Museum's Book Signing event with author Craig Hutchison for the recent release, LOST LINCOLN PARK.

see our recent post here for more info and the flyer.

Hoping any interested folks can make it then! 12pm to 2pm 1335 Southfield Rd LP

Send a message to learn more

02/11/2026

Please join us for the upcoming book signing for "Lost Lincoln Park". Author Craig Hutchison, of Dearborn, will be on hand SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21st to sign copies of this latest book on Lincoln Park history. The museum's book release/signing event held last November was very popular and we have scheduled this second one for those who missed it.

“Lost Lincoln Park,” published by Arcadia Publishing’s History Press, shares stories of what made our community grow, as we look back over 100 years of cityhood. The book is an overview of many community landmarks and land uses that have been altered or lost over time, but are still vital to understanding our story.

The hours are 12 noon to 2pm on Saturday February 21st. Cost of the book is $25. Cash, checks or credit payments are accepted. (See flyer shared here.) See you then!

02/03/2026

One more day till we reopen for 2026 -- the month of January was spent with cleaning and redoing exhibits and trying to stay warm -- oh, and getting a newsletter out...
The quarterly newsletter for February March and April is shared here. We hope you can take a moment to read over and see what we are up to these next months. and stop by when you are in the area.
Thank you!

01/29/2026

TODAY Thursday Jan 29 is the day of the Applebee's restaurant fundraiser for the Historical Museum.
If you dine between 4pm and 8pm you only need to mention to your server that you are there to support the Lincoln Park Historical Museum and Applebee's will donate 20% of the meal to us. No flyer is needed.

13855 Eureka Rd at Trenton Rd in Southgate.

THANK YOU in advance for your support!

01/26/2026

Congratulations and Happy "189th" Birthday to the great State of Michigan which was admitted to the Union on today's date in 1837.
State Motto: "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you"

And no matter what our president may say, we do love our neighbor to the North, East, and South!

"Huzzah!"

Map of Michigan in 1837 drawn by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. (Held by the National Archives and Records Administration)

01/20/2026

Sorry to announce the cancellation of the third and final January gardening class scheduled for Wednesday at the museum. Due to the weather, Arctic freeze, polar vortex, more snow, nasty wind chills, you name it. Stay safe everyone....
Reminder that the museum will reopen on Wednesday February 4th.