Dearborn Historical Museum
@dearbornhmuseum.bsky.social
Local history museum and archive in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn Michigan
In 1975, steel works on Zug Island at the mouth of the Rouge were the destination of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Here's some maps showing how it evolved from a swampy peninsula to steelworks including the 1888 creation of a short cut canal
November 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
In 1975, steel works on Zug Island at the mouth of the Rouge were the destination of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Here's some maps showing how it evolved from a swampy peninsula to steelworks including the 1888 creation of a short cut canal
Dearborn merchants liked to start the Christmas season early even back in the 1950s. The attached ad and photos are from the Muirhead's Christmas Parade that was held 70 years ago this week in 1955.
November 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Dearborn merchants liked to start the Christmas season early even back in the 1950s. The attached ad and photos are from the Muirhead's Christmas Parade that was held 70 years ago this week in 1955.
Tonight at the DHM, Lisa Lark will be discussing the stories of the nearly 350 Dearborn men and women who died for their country while serving in the military. Lisa will tell their stories against the backdrop of the homes and neighborhoods they left behind.
November 3, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Tonight at the DHM, Lisa Lark will be discussing the stories of the nearly 350 Dearborn men and women who died for their country while serving in the military. Lisa will tell their stories against the backdrop of the homes and neighborhoods they left behind.
Do you need 1920s Halloween costume inspiration?
This shot from our Mildred Cronogue collection shows a Halloween 1924 party held at the home of Dora Rayworth on Michigan Avenue.
This shot from our Mildred Cronogue collection shows a Halloween 1924 party held at the home of Dora Rayworth on Michigan Avenue.
October 31, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Do you need 1920s Halloween costume inspiration?
This shot from our Mildred Cronogue collection shows a Halloween 1924 party held at the home of Dora Rayworth on Michigan Avenue.
This shot from our Mildred Cronogue collection shows a Halloween 1924 party held at the home of Dora Rayworth on Michigan Avenue.
Happy Halloween from the Dearborn Historical Museum! 👻
This week's #ArtifactSpotlight is none other than Casper the Friendly Ghost. Mattel, Inc, manufactured this doll in the early 1960s.This doll was donated to the Museum by the Price family of Dearborn in 1967.
This week's #ArtifactSpotlight is none other than Casper the Friendly Ghost. Mattel, Inc, manufactured this doll in the early 1960s.This doll was donated to the Museum by the Price family of Dearborn in 1967.
October 31, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Happy Halloween from the Dearborn Historical Museum! 👻
This week's #ArtifactSpotlight is none other than Casper the Friendly Ghost. Mattel, Inc, manufactured this doll in the early 1960s.This doll was donated to the Museum by the Price family of Dearborn in 1967.
This week's #ArtifactSpotlight is none other than Casper the Friendly Ghost. Mattel, Inc, manufactured this doll in the early 1960s.This doll was donated to the Museum by the Price family of Dearborn in 1967.
An interesting shot we came across today shows mechanic Al Husse with his high wheel bicycle next to the Clyde Ford dealership garage. Clyde Ford's dealership at the time of this 1918 shot was on the south side of Michigan just west of Oakwood.
October 27, 2025 at 7:33 PM
An interesting shot we came across today shows mechanic Al Husse with his high wheel bicycle next to the Clyde Ford dealership garage. Clyde Ford's dealership at the time of this 1918 shot was on the south side of Michigan just west of Oakwood.
An interesting map in our collection is this one titled "What To Do In Dearborn" 1964 edition. Published by the Bank of Dearborn, the map has features like museums, theaters, parks, and more.
October 20, 2025 at 5:47 PM
An interesting map in our collection is this one titled "What To Do In Dearborn" 1964 edition. Published by the Bank of Dearborn, the map has features like museums, theaters, parks, and more.
This image taken 75 years ago this week during the Cavalcade of Dearborn Parade looks northeast toward the intersection of Michigan and Howard. Thieleman's Pharmacy visible in the photo was at the northeast corner of Michigan and Howard.
October 16, 2025 at 6:36 PM
This image taken 75 years ago this week during the Cavalcade of Dearborn Parade looks northeast toward the intersection of Michigan and Howard. Thieleman's Pharmacy visible in the photo was at the northeast corner of Michigan and Howard.
Taken October 7th 1996, this shot shows the Camelot Theater around when it was demolished. The building at the southwest corner of Warren and Miller original opened as the Circle Theater in 1937.
The theater was replaced by Super Greenland Market which opened the next year.
The theater was replaced by Super Greenland Market which opened the next year.
October 8, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Taken October 7th 1996, this shot shows the Camelot Theater around when it was demolished. The building at the southwest corner of Warren and Miller original opened as the Circle Theater in 1937.
The theater was replaced by Super Greenland Market which opened the next year.
The theater was replaced by Super Greenland Market which opened the next year.
The Dearborn Historical Museum's 75th anniversary is this month! Celebrate the museum's birthday and the Halloween season by joining us for Brews and Boos on October 10th!
October 1, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The Dearborn Historical Museum's 75th anniversary is this month! Celebrate the museum's birthday and the Halloween season by joining us for Brews and Boos on October 10th!
Clara Bryant Ford passed away 75 years ago this week. This shot from around 1894 shows her at the Ford home on Bagley Street in Detroit with her son Edsel.
September 30, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Clara Bryant Ford passed away 75 years ago this week. This shot from around 1894 shows her at the Ford home on Bagley Street in Detroit with her son Edsel.
Some vintage images of Ford Headquarters "The Glass House" in our collection
September 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Some vintage images of Ford Headquarters "The Glass House" in our collection
90 years ago today, Eleanor Roosevelt briefly stopped in Dearborn at Michigan and Telegraph to receive roses on the way to dedicate the groundbreaking of Detroit's Brewster Homes.
September 9, 2025 at 8:26 PM
90 years ago today, Eleanor Roosevelt briefly stopped in Dearborn at Michigan and Telegraph to receive roses on the way to dedicate the groundbreaking of Detroit's Brewster Homes.
Our #ArtifactSpotlight this week comes from one of our exhibits at the Commandant's Quarters. This stained glass window was once part of St. Joseph's Retreat Mental Hospital, operational in Dearborn from 1885-1962.
September 5, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Our #ArtifactSpotlight this week comes from one of our exhibits at the Commandant's Quarters. This stained glass window was once part of St. Joseph's Retreat Mental Hospital, operational in Dearborn from 1885-1962.
Many Warren Ave buildings have surprisingly long histories.
Hallab Pastry at 14519 Warren sits in building constructed in the 1920s that was used as a real estate office initially. The attached older photo shows the building in 1968 when it was used for vacuum cleaner sales.
Hallab Pastry at 14519 Warren sits in building constructed in the 1920s that was used as a real estate office initially. The attached older photo shows the building in 1968 when it was used for vacuum cleaner sales.
September 5, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Many Warren Ave buildings have surprisingly long histories.
Hallab Pastry at 14519 Warren sits in building constructed in the 1920s that was used as a real estate office initially. The attached older photo shows the building in 1968 when it was used for vacuum cleaner sales.
Hallab Pastry at 14519 Warren sits in building constructed in the 1920s that was used as a real estate office initially. The attached older photo shows the building in 1968 when it was used for vacuum cleaner sales.
This 1975 shot was taken at Theisen's Manor Avenue Florist and Greenhouses. Located along Manor just north of Warren, the site has been Arthur Basse Park since the 1990s.
September 3, 2025 at 7:14 PM
This 1975 shot was taken at Theisen's Manor Avenue Florist and Greenhouses. Located along Manor just north of Warren, the site has been Arthur Basse Park since the 1990s.
Taken 75 years ago in August 1950, this image shows businesses on Michigan Avenue across from Dearborn City Hall.
September 2, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Taken 75 years ago in August 1950, this image shows businesses on Michigan Avenue across from Dearborn City Hall.
An interesting Dearborn Police slide we recently spotted shows them retrieving a boat from the river near the Ford Rouge Plant around the 1980s.
August 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
An interesting Dearborn Police slide we recently spotted shows them retrieving a boat from the river near the Ford Rouge Plant around the 1980s.
This image was taken early in the August 2000 demolition of Sharon's Steel's Dearborn facility at 7951 Maple. The Pennsylvania company started operations in Dearborn in the late 40s and moved production to Livonia in the late 80s.
August 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
This image was taken early in the August 2000 demolition of Sharon's Steel's Dearborn facility at 7951 Maple. The Pennsylvania company started operations in Dearborn in the late 40s and moved production to Livonia in the late 80s.
This interesting early Dearborn image from December 1897 shows the construction of an interurban (or commuter rail streetcar) line along Michigan Avenue. The image seems to look west and the Wagner Hotel appears to be visible on the left.
August 12, 2025 at 3:57 PM
This interesting early Dearborn image from December 1897 shows the construction of an interurban (or commuter rail streetcar) line along Michigan Avenue. The image seems to look west and the Wagner Hotel appears to be visible on the left.
This 1954 Plymouth Savoy convertible did not fare well during an August 1st 1955 storm. It was parked outside of the office of the doctor who owned it near the intersection of Silvery Lane and Ford Road.
August 6, 2025 at 2:10 PM
This 1954 Plymouth Savoy convertible did not fare well during an August 1st 1955 storm. It was parked outside of the office of the doctor who owned it near the intersection of Silvery Lane and Ford Road.
The fun of Dearborn Homecoming starts Friday! If you're at the festival, stop by at our booth on the hill.
Here's a shot of the festival carnival taken 30 years ago in 1995.
Here's a shot of the festival carnival taken 30 years ago in 1995.
July 31, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The fun of Dearborn Homecoming starts Friday! If you're at the festival, stop by at our booth on the hill.
Here's a shot of the festival carnival taken 30 years ago in 1995.
Here's a shot of the festival carnival taken 30 years ago in 1995.
Vintage clothing recently added to the Dearborn Historical Museum Vintage Sale happening August 15th and 16th
July 31, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Vintage clothing recently added to the Dearborn Historical Museum Vintage Sale happening August 15th and 16th
Do you have history questions about Downtown West Dearborn? Do you wonder what that turreted building is or why there's a starbucks strip mall downtown?
If so, join us for our next historic walking tour on August 1st starting at 6PM at the Commandant's Quarters (21950 Michigan).
If so, join us for our next historic walking tour on August 1st starting at 6PM at the Commandant's Quarters (21950 Michigan).
July 30, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Do you have history questions about Downtown West Dearborn? Do you wonder what that turreted building is or why there's a starbucks strip mall downtown?
If so, join us for our next historic walking tour on August 1st starting at 6PM at the Commandant's Quarters (21950 Michigan).
If so, join us for our next historic walking tour on August 1st starting at 6PM at the Commandant's Quarters (21950 Michigan).
30 years ago this week, Detroit area chain Arbor Drugs opened its sixth Dearborn location across Michigan Avenue from Westborn Mall in the Farmer Jack shopping center. The chain notably also had a location in Westborn Mall.
July 28, 2025 at 2:06 PM
30 years ago this week, Detroit area chain Arbor Drugs opened its sixth Dearborn location across Michigan Avenue from Westborn Mall in the Farmer Jack shopping center. The chain notably also had a location in Westborn Mall.