Past > Forward
The Detroit Historical Society is the only organization in metro Detroit dedicated to celebrating the people, places and events that helped shape our community. For nearly nine decades the members, volunteers and staff of the Detroit Historical Society have made it their mission to explore the stories that are important to the region and the Great Lakes.
Today, the Detroit Historical Society is at a programmatic and financial crossroads. In order to continue our strong legacy of service to the metropolitan Detroit community, we need to make a significant investment in expanding our program delivery capabilities, upgrading our facilities and improving our ability to tell the stories that are important to the region.
That’s why we are excited to announce
Past>Forward: The Campaign for the Detroit Historical Society.
Past>Forward is a five year, $20.1 million dollar campaign which began in July of 2009. At the successful conclusion of this campaign, the metropolitan Detroit community will realize:
- A greater understanding of the stories that are central to the history of Detroit, discovering new ways to explore the more personal histories of their family, neighborhood and greater community
- Expanded opportunities to engage in history-related learning activities in the community through the use of both established and emerging technologies
- Enhanced educational opportunities at both the Detroit Historical Museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum as new exhibits, increased programmatic initiatives and much-needed facility improvements combine to create two dynamic experiential learning institutions focused on the visitor’s needs
- Increased opportunities to interact with and learn from history professionals and the more than 300 years of artifacts already in the Society’s collections
- The strengthening and revitalization of two of Detroit’s landmark cultural institutions in two of the most important areas of the region, Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood and Belle Isle
Funds raised through the Detroit Historical Society’s
Past Forward campaign will support the following:
- Enhancement of our permanent exhibits at the Detroit Historical Museum including the Streets of Old Detroit, Frontiers to Factories, Doorways to Freedom and the Motor City
- New exhibits including the Arsenal of Democracy , Gallery of Culture and Gallery of Innovation at the Detroit Historical Museum
- Enhancement of our permanent exhibits at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum including updates to the William Clay Ford Pilot House and the City of Detroit III Gothic Room
- A new permanent core maritime exhibit at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum
- Technology and lighting upgrades and other capital improvements throughout the Detroit Historical Museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum
- New programmatic and educational initiatives in the museum, in schools, in the community and online
- Enhanced opportunities for individuals to access information about artifacts and objects held in the museums?collections
- Resource investments in our core curatorial, education, collections and operations departments to better serve the needs of our members, visitors and students and position the Society for a sustainable future
Please join us in protecting and sharing the stories of our shared past.
Click Here to make a contribution to the
Past>Forward campaign
Click Here to set up an appointment to learn more about the campaign or call Lisa Anga, Director Of Development at 313.833.4143.