Since its founding in 1921, the Detroit Historical Society has been dedicated to ensuring that the history of the region is preserved so that current and future generations of Detroiters can better understand the people, places and events that helped shape our lives.

In 1928, the leaders of the Detroit Historical Society founded the Detroit Historical Museum and for the next 20 years the Society operated the Museum and preserved our region’s rich history through the collection and conservation of artifacts.  In 1945, the Society transferred ownership of the Museum and the collections to the City of Detroit, and the Society focused on fundraising and marketing activities for the Detroit Historical Museum and, later, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum.

Throughout the next five decades, the Society raised funds, recruited volunteers and ensured that the Detroit Historical Museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum remained a vibrant presence in Detroit’s cultural landscape. 

In 2006, the Society reached a new agreement with the City of Detroit to once again become the day-to-day manager of the Detroit Historical Museum, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and the more than 200,000 artifacts held in the collections. 

Since that time, the Society’s board of trustees and staff have reinforced their commitment to ensuring excellence in all of the organization’s activities.  In September 2006, the Detroit Historical Museum celebrated its Grand Re-Opening after a Society-led 10-week makeover that saw the installation of six new exhibits and many needed facility improvements.  In March 2007, the Society completed a similar makeover at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, which reopened to record attendance.

Today, the Society’s mission is as follows:

The Detroit Historical Society educates and inspires our community and visitors by preserving and portraying our region’s shared history through dynamic exhibits and experiences.

The Society’s Vision is as follows:

To create a shared sense of community and pride by celebrating the history and unique culture of our region.

The Society’s staff members and board of trustees also have adopted the following core values, and members of the public should expect that we are striving to realize these values in all of our exhibitions, programs and communications:

Accountability: we will serve as effective stewards of our assets and relationships, acting in a manner in which everyone is held responsible for their actions.

Authenticity: We will demonstrate the highest level of integrity and scholarship in all of our words and actions, recognizing the need to maintain an unimpeachable credibility amongst our key stakeholders

Customer Focus: We will be guided by an understanding of the customer’s needs and expectations in all of our actions.

Engagement: We will involve all of our stakeholders in the creation of an environment that is challenging, creative and rewarding

Relevancy: We will strive to ensure that our efforts always resonate with, and are meaningful to, our community and stakeholders

Respect: We will foster an atmosphere that acknowledges and values the contributions and ideas of all individuals