Current Exhibitions

On November 18, 1926, the Detroit Cougars played their first game in the National Hockey League. In the century since, the Cougars became the Red Wings, the most storied of all American hockey clubs, winning 11 Stanley Cup championships. The Red Wings have produced some of the game's all-time greats and created a distinctly Detroit hockey culture. 

Come explore how Detroit became Hockeytown in this special centennial exhibition!

Say the word “Hudson’s” and most Detroiters will be able to share a story about visiting the elegant downtown department store or shopping at one of its suburban locations. Hudson’s Holidays will bring back the memories and magic of Hudson’s in a pop-up exhibit in the Allesee Gallery of Culture, just in time for the holiday season!

From the Bottom, Up presented by Black Bottom Archives, is a love letter to Black Bottom written through memory, movement, and the voices of the community. 

This immersive exhibition invites all to experience the collective remembrance and collective dreaming facilitated by the Sankofa Community Research Project, which for the past two years has been recording the stories of past residents, descendants, and community members about the harm inflicted by the destruction of Black Bottom and their hopes for the 30 acres of land to be created in the redevelopment of I-375.  

In the 1960s, Chrysler hand-built 50 turbine-powered vehicles at their Highland Park Design Studio for an intensive two-year research test program. The identical cars featured an eye-catching “turbine bronze” metallic paint finish and aircraft-inspired styling by designer Elwood Engle and Italian body fabricator Ghia. Consumers across the country were given the opportunity to drive the revolutionary cars for their day-to-day needs and report their findings. When the test program concluded in 1966, the cars were rounded up and most were destroyed. Our Chrysler Turbine is one of only nine remaining.

Celebrate a century of impact as the Hannan Center commemorates its 100th Anniversary with a special exhibition at the Detroit Historical Museum. Visitors will discover rare artifacts, photographs, and art that tell the story of Hannan’s 100-year history, from its early roots and innovative programs to its vision for redefining aging across metro Detroit. 

In 2015, Detroit became the first and only UNESCO City of Design in the United States, joining a global network that recognizes design as a driver of sustainable urban and economic development. This exhibition explores the story and impact of Design Core Detroit, the stewards of Detroit’s City of Design designation, and how design has shaped the city’s identity, addressing challenges and envisioning a more equitable, resilient, and creative future.

The second exhibition in the Wayne County History Project features Plymouth, Canton, Northville, Van Buren, Sumpter, Huron Twp., and Belleville. From early industry and agriculture to innovation, aviation, and community traditions, this exhibit highlights how these towns grew, thrived, and shaped the region we know today.

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.