Current Exhibitions

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.

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.

In 2022, the Detroit Historical Society began a series of exhibits, events, public programs, and educational offerings in The Hustle, a program designed to celebrate and honor Detroit's Black entrepreneurs, told in their own words.

The finale exhibition, The Hustle: Detroit’s Unsung Entrepreneurs, featured 34 honorees selected from nearly 800 crowd-sourced nominations and was on display from Fall 2023 - Spring 2024 at the Detroit Historical Museum.

A dynamic, self-directed walking tour of Detroit's historic Black Bottom neighborhood, told through the lens of former residents and their descendants. 

The tour was created by the Detroit Historical Society, Design Core Detroit and Octane Design for the 2021 Detroit Month of Design, with community partnership from Bailey Park Neighborhood Development Corporation and Black Bottom Archives. 

As the hotel marks its 100th anniversary, the Detroit Historical Society has partnered with the Westin Book Cadillac team to create an on-site historical exhibition to recognize its century of history.

View the virtual exhibit here.

In 2023 Bedrock reopened Book Tower in downtown Detroit after a complete renovation. 

To highlight the landmark building’s 100-year history, the Detroit Historical Society has partnered with Bedrock to create a Historic Exhibition in the building’s lobby, featuring items items salvaged in the building’s renovation along with unique artifacts loaned by the Book family.

Detroit’s rich heritage lies with the men and women who’ve always called Detroit “home,” even as they went on to help shape our nation’s cultural landscape.

We cheered their accomplishments on the field, welcomed them into our lives through television and radio and were thrilled to see them perform on stage. Their championships became our championships and their hit songs formed the soundtracks of our lives.

Origins: Life Where the River Bends is a story of many Detroit beginnings. It invites guests to explore the lives and events that have shaped - and been shaped by - the area on the river now called Detroit. This region’s First People called it Waawiiyaataanong, or “where the river bends,” but it would earn many monikers over the years including “le détroit” and the “Motor City.”