Exclusive Tours for Elected Officials

Exploring Detroit's Rich History

The Detroit Historical Society invites elected officials at all levels, including City of Detroit, county executives, State of Michigan, and federal representatives, to participate in a series of private, behind-the-scenes tours of the Detroit Historical Museum, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and our Collections Resource Center, which houses over 250,000 artifacts. These personalized visits are designed to showcase how Detroit’s past continues to shape civic life, public policy, and regional identity, while demonstrating how history can be a powerful tool in addressing today’s most pressing challenges.

These personalized experiences offer a unique opportunity to:

  • Discover how we preserve and share Detroit’s stories, from maritime history to civil rights.
  • Learn about our impact in education, tourism, and community engagement across the region.
  • Explore ways your office can support cultural preservation, public programming, and economic development through history.

Each private tour is hosted by senior Detroit Historical Society staff and tailored to your interests. The visits include meaningful dialogue on how historical education, cultural preservation, and inclusive storytelling can support your work and constituents across areas such as economic development, environmental stewardship, veterans’ affairs, and public education. These tours also provide opportunities to discuss how elected officials can champion community access to history and investment in public institutions that safeguard Detroit’s legacy.

Tour highlights include:
Detroit 67: Perspectives — A nationally recognized exhibition exploring the causes and legacy of the 1967 uprising, offering deep insights into racial equity, community voice, and social change.

Origins: Life Where the River Bends — A powerful and respectful presentation of Indigenous history in the region, honoring the original stewards of the land and expanding understanding of Detroit’s founding.

Welcome Home: Vietnam Veterans of America Detroit Chapter #9— A moving tribute to Detroiters who served in Vietnam, connecting military service to local history, neighborhood memory, and veteran engagement.

Gridiron Heroes: Detroit Lions — Celebrating 90+ years of professional football in Detroit, this exhibit explores the team’s role in shaping civic identity and shared pride.

As part of our broader mission, the Detroit Historical Society is committed to using history as a catalyst for education, dialogue, and civic engagement. Our exhibitions and programs reach thousands of K–12 students, educators, and lifelong learners each year—sparking critical thinking, community connection, and a deeper understanding of our city’s past and future.

Tour highlights include:
Built by the River — A compelling core exhibit exploring how the Detroit River has shaped commerce, transportation, and community across generations.

Miss Pepsi: Detroit’s Racing Legend — One of the world’s fastest hydroplanes and a symbol of Detroit’s innovation and engineering prowess.

Gothic Room of the SS City of Detroit III — A fully restored luxury salon from a turn-of-the-century steamship, showcasing craftsmanship and the era’s cultural values.

Edmund Fitzgerald: The Legend Lives On — A This exhibition explores the mystery, loss, and legacy of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, while honoring the lives lost and the enduring fascination it holds for generations of Great Lakes communities.

Pilot House of the SS William Clay Ford — Step aboard the actual pilot house from one of the most storied freighters on the Great Lakes. This fully restored command center offers a rare, hands-on perspective of life on the river and Detroit’s leadership in shipbuilding and maritime labor.

This tour also highlights how the Dossin Great Lakes Museum serves as an educational resource for thousands of K–12 students, families, and lifelong learners each year. Through field trips, public programming, and community partnerships, the Detroit Historical Society uses maritime history to inspire civic pride, critical thinking, and place-based learning.

Tour highlights include:

A guided walk-through of climate-controlled vaults housing everything from automotive prototypes and civil rights ephemera to 19th-century fashion and mid-century household goods.

An inside look at how DHS curators, archivists, and conservators care for the collection and make it accessible through exhibitions, digitization, and research support.

Insight into how this resource supports K–12 education, public memory, academic study, and community storytelling across neighborhoods and generations.

As part of our educational mission, the Detroit Historical Society leverages this unparalleled collection to provide meaningful learning opportunities to thousands of students, educators, and researchers annually. By preserving Detroit’s material culture, the CRC supports efforts in historical education, inclusive narrative-building, and civic engagement.

Interested in taking a tour? Please send us a message and we will find a time to give you a tour of our facilities.

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