Skip to main content
Detroit Historical Society logo
  • Shop
  • Buy Tickets
  • Membership
  • Donate Now
  • Webcam
  • Blog
  • Visit

    Visit

    With two great museums, the Detroit Historical Society offers engaging opportunities to learn about and explore the city's rich history, from its automotive legacy to its maritime heritage.

    Plan Your Visit
    Detroit Historical Museum
    Dossin Great Lakes Museum
    Group Visits & Tours
    Rentals
    Filming & Photography Policies
  • Exhibitions & Projects

    Exhibitions & Projects

    Explore exhibitions, immersive experiences, and learning opportunities – at our museums, in the community, and online!

    Current Exhibitions

    Experience an exhibition

    Projects

    Projects that dive into history

  • Events

    Events

    Enjoy a variety of events, from lectures, book talks, and film screenings to family-friendly activities, behind-the-scenes tours, concerts, and more!

    Events Calendar

    Browse upcoming events

  • Research & Learning

    Research & Learning

    Explore a wide range of tools and resources crafted to inspire curiosity and support learning for educators, students, and lifelong learners alike.

    Search Collections
    For Educators

    Teaching tools

    Lesson Plans
    School Tours & Programs
    In Classroom Learning
    History Resources
    Research Assistance

    Dig into our collection

    On-Site Research & Loans
    Speaker's Bureau

    Bringing Detroit History to You

    Request a Speaker
    Online Research

    Browse and learn

    Digital Collection
    Encyclopedia of Detroit
    Timeline of Detroit
    Blog
  • About

    About Us

    Learn about our history, meet the dedicated team preserving Detroit’s legacy, and discover what we’re doing today.

    Our Museums
    About Us
    Careers at the Society
    Our Staff
    Rentals
    Filming & Photography Policies
  • Support

    Contribute

    Help celebrate and protect Detroit’s legacy by giving, getting involved, or becoming part of our community!

    Support

    Explore Ways To Get Involved

    Become a Member
    Giving
    Volunteer
    Artifact Donation

Become A Member

Detroit Historical Society members enjoy benefits including free admission, priority registration, retail discounts, and more.

Learn More

Existing Members

Log into our Member's Portal to manage your membership and access exclusive content.

Login
Detroit Historical Society logo
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Detroit Historical Museum
    • Dossin Great Lakes Museum
    • Group Visits & Tours
    • Rentals
    • Filming & Photography Policies
  • Exhibitions & Projects
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Projects
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
  • Research & Learning
    • For Educators
      • Lesson Plans
      • School Tours & Programs
      • In Classroom Learning
      • History Resources
    • Research Assistance
      • On-Site Research & Loans
    • Speaker's Bureau
      • Request a Speaker
    • Online Research
      • Digital Collection
      • Encyclopedia of Detroit
      • Timeline of Detroit
      • Blog
  • About
    • Our Museums
    • About Us
    • Careers at the Society
    • Our Staff
    • Rentals
    • Filming & Photography Policies
  • Support
    • Support
      • Become a Member
      • Giving
      • Volunteer
      • Artifact Donation
  • Shop
  • Buy Tickets
  • Membership
  • Donate Now
  • Webcam
  • Blog
Plan Your Visit
Buy Tickets
Search
Detroit Historical Society's Facebook Page Detroit Historical Society's Instagram Page Detroit Historical Society's Bluesky Page Detroit Historical Society's YouTube Channel Detroit Historical Society's LinkedIn Page

Copyright 2025, Detroit Historical Society

Legal & Trademarks Privacy Policy
Legends Plaza

Legends Plaza

See the handprints and signatures of some of the men and women who’ve helped shape the culture of our region, state, and nation.

Permanent Exhibits

Detroit Historical Museum

5401 Woodward Ave Detroit, MI 48202
313-833-1805

Wednesday - Saturday
10am - 5pm

Sunday
1pm - 5pm

Friday, May 30, 2025
10am - 2pm
Closing early

Thursday, June 19, 2025
10am - 2pm
Open for Juneteenth

All Exhibitions

About this Exhibit

Share

Detroit’s rich heritage lies with the men and women who’ve always called Detroit “home,” even as they went on to help shape our nation’s cultural landscape. 

We cheered their accomplishments on the field, welcomed them into our lives through television and radio and were thrilled to see them perform on stage. Their championships became our championships and their hit songs formed the soundtracks of our lives.

In 2011, the Detroit Historical Society began memorializing the handprints of some of these living legends for the creation of an outdoor experience at the Detroit Historical Museum. The museum will continue adding legends to the Plaza indefinitely.

Alice Cooper handprintBarry Sanders handprintGordie Howe handprint

Throughout Legends Plaza are the handprints and signatures of some of the men and women who’ve helped shape the culture of our region, state, and nation, including:

  • Juan Atkins, Techno Music Pioneer
  • Dave Bing, NBA Hall of Fame Inductee
  • George Blaha, Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Broadcaster
  • Bill Bonds, Legendary Broadcaster
  • Scotty Bowman, NHL Coach and Hall of Fame Inductee
  • Lomas Brown, Michigan Sports Hall of Famer, NFL Player
  • Alice Cooper, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
  • Carl Craig, Techno Music Artist
  • Ken Daniels, Regional Emmy Award Winning Sports Broadcaster
  • Ann Delisi, Radio Personality
  • Joe Dumars, NBA Hall of Fame Inductee
  • The Electrifying Mojo, Visionary Detroit Radio DJ
  • Eddie Fowlkes, Techno Music Pioneer
  • Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul
  • Carmen Harlan,  Award Winning  Broadcaster
  • Thomas Hearns, Boxing Champion
  • Willie Horton, Detroit Tigers World Champion
  • Gordie Howe, NHL Hall of Fame Inductee
  • Mike and Marian Ilitch, Cultural Entrepreneurs
  • Al Kaline, MLB Hall of Fame Inductee
  • Bettye LaVette, Acclaimed Soul Singer/Songwriter
  • Elmore Leonard, Award Winning Author
  • Diana Lewis, Award Winning Broadcaster
  • Ted Lindsay, NHL Hall of Fame Inductee
  • Mickey Lolich, Detroit Tigers World Champion
  • Amrye Makupson, Award Winning News Anchor
  • Derrick May, Techno Music Pioneer
  • Jeff Mills, Techno Music Artist
  • Dick Purtan, National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame Inductee
  • Sam Raimi, Noted Hollywood Director
  • Martha Reeves, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
  • Barry Sanders, NFL Hall of Fame Inductee
  • Kevin Saunderson, Techno Music Pioneer
  • Devin Scillian, Award Winning Broadcaster
  • John Sinclair, Poet and Activist
  • Paul W. Smith, Award Winning Talk Radio Host
  • Lily Tomlin, Emmy and Tony Award Winning Actress
  • Ben Wallace, NBA Champion & Hall of Famer
  • Don Was, Grammy Award Winner
  • Allee Willis, Grammy Award Winning Songwriter
  • Mary Wilson, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee

Related Exhibits

  • Allesee gallery

    The Allesee Gallery of Culture

    Detroit Historical Museum

    Permanent Exhibits

    Learn More
  • Motor City Music

    Detroit Historical Museum

    Permanent Exhibits

    Learn More

Bring some Detroit history into your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter Subscribe
Detroit Historical Society

Copyright 2025 Detroit Historical Society,

All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms and Conditions

Detroit Historical Museum

5401 Woodward Ave,
Detroit, MI 48202
313-833-1805

Plan Your Trip Buy Tickets

Dossin Great Lakes Museum

100 Strand Drive, Belle Isle,
Detroit, MI 48207
313-821-2661

Plan Your Trip Buy Tickets
Detroit Historical Society's Facebook Page Detroit Historical Society's Instagram Page Detroit Historical Society's Bluesky Page Detroit Historical Society's YouTube Channel Detroit Historical Society's LinkedIn Page

About

  • Contact Us
  • Careers at the Society
  • Rentals

Visit

  • Plan Your Visit
  • Detroit Historical Museum
  • Dossin Great Lakes Museum

Events

  • Events Calendar

Exhibitions & Projects

  • Current Exhibitions
  • Projects

Research & Learning

  • For Educators

Purchase

  • Online Shop
  • Buy Tickets
CMS Login