Current Exhibitions

The J.W. Westcott Company has been an active and beloved presence on the Detroit River for over 150 years. Casually referred to as the “mail boat,” the Westcott is the U.S.A.’s only floating zip code – 48222. Westcott staff deliver mail, packages, crew members, and even pizza to the vessels that journey across the Great Lakes during shipping season from April to December, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Still a family company today, the Westcott has evolved with the times. In this new exhibition, learn how Captain John Ward Westcott started his business in 1874 as a marine reporter, documenting river traffic and delivering company communications to ships via rowboat.

Explore the powerful story of Vietnam Veterans of America Detroit Chapter #9, the first VVA chapter in Michigan and among the earliest in the nation. Founded by Detroit-area veterans, the chapter formed in response to the lack of support and recognition faced by Vietnam veterans upon their return. 

This exhibit traces their journey from military service to grassroots advocacy, highlighting how they turned shared struggle into community strength. Through first-hand accounts, personal keepsakes, and historic artifacts, learn how Chapter 9 continues to honor their fellow veterans and uplift the city of Detroit.

During the 1990s, the Black queer community in Detroit struggled with the severity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the rampant discrimination they experienced in housing, employment, and everyday circumstances. The community lacked a space to gather together.

In 1995, activists met in a one-bedroom apartment at John R and Elizabeth Street, now the site of Comerica Park, to introduce a new celebration that brought Pride back to Detroit. 

From the earliest days of fandom to the rise of iconic superheroes and gritty anti-heroes, Detroit has been a quiet but powerful force in shaping comic book history. Heroes vs. Villains: Detroit’s Comic Book Story shares the histories of the iconic characters and local creatives who helped define the modern world of comics.

Learn about the story of Christopher Street Detroit ’72, the first-ever LGBTQ+ pride celebration in Michigan held over 50 years ago, through a full-color, nonfiction comic book by freelance illustrator Isabel Clare Paul and historian Tim Retzloff. 

The Detroit River has been a hub of powerboat racing since 1916 when Detroit hosted its first Gold Cup.

Learn more about Detroit's 100+ year history of racing - from early powerboats to modern hydroplanes - in this exhibition, created by Wayne State University history graduate students Connor Chapman, Kit Hishmeh, Zahrah Koch, and Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo. 

Detroit's modern urban farms provide fresh produce to schools, restaurants, and stores. In 2023, the city even created the Department of Urban Agriculture, bolstering Detroit's thriving food network. However, Detroiters have a long history of growing their own food.

This exhibition, created by Wayne State University history graduate students Ryan Baker, Nalissa Dace, Amanda Miller, and Rebecca Phoenix, shows how in feast or famine, Detroit’s urban farmers have managed to get out there and grow.  

Working in disciplines ranging from calligraphy to photography; from illustration to letterpress, Ralph Rinaldi (1945-2022) deployed all of these abilities in support of the arts in his beloved Cass Corridor neighborhood.  

See letterpress and posters created over Rinaldi's career in this new exhibition, which also recalls legendary Cass Corridor institutions, artists, and musicians.