Events by Month

On the first Saturday in February each year, the Friends of the Detroit River host Shiver on the River, a family-oriented event designed to bring people down to the river and Belle Isle State Park. Numerous locations on the island will provide opportunities to get outside in the winter and discover the many wonderful things to do on Belle Isle. Come learn about the importance of the Detroit River and the need for effective stewardship of the river and its environs.

This event is SOLD OUT. Tickets will not be available at the door. 

Join us for an exciting evening on February 9, 2017 when Ivan Benning, one of Detroit’s premier saxophonists, performs on “Jazz on the Streets of Old Detroit” at the Detroit Historical Museum. This event continues the Jazz on the Streets of Old Detroit, a quarterly music series hosted by the Black Historic Sites Committee.

This is the thrilling true story of the USS Mason (DE 529) and its crew, the only African-American sailors to take a U.S. Navy warship into battle during World War II. They challenged the segregation of the U.S. Military, fought the Nazi U-boats, and won. Narrated by actor Ossie Davis, the film interweaves the personal stories of individual crew members with archival footage of the ship and crew produced by the Navy.

Shown at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Running time: 60 minutes. Admission is FREE.

Filmmaker Clayton Rye will join both screenings for an introduction at 2:30 p.m. and Q&A following the film at 4 p.m. 

This is the thrilling true story of the USS Mason (DE 529) and its crew, the only African-American sailors to take a U.S. Navy warship into battle during World War II. They challenged the segregation of the U.S. Military, fought the Nazi U-boats, and won. Narrated by actor Ossie Davis, the film interweaves the personal stories of individual crew members with archival footage of the ship and crew produced by the Navy.

Shown at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Running time: 60 minutes. Admission is FREE.

Filmmaker Clayton Rye will join both screenings for an introduction at 2:30 p.m. and Q&A following the film at 4 p.m. 

Join us on the third Thursday of each month beginning in February for a new speaker series. Local scholars and subject matter experts share their knowledge of Detroit’s history, with a focus on multicultural perspectives, civil rights, social justice and other related topics. All presentations run between 6 and 8 p.m. in the auditorium at the Detroit Historical Museum. Attendance is free, but pre-registration is encouraged.

The Detroit Historical Museum is thrilled to present a series of tours focused on the history, experiences and enduring influence of African Americans in Detroit. Jamon Jordan, founder of the Black Scroll Network, is the tour guide for this series. 

Tickets are $15 per person, per tour. Register early! There are only 25 tickets available for each tour.