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Say What?

Posted June 11, 2012 by Brendan Roney

With the opening of the Gallery of Innovation fast approaching, many of Detroit’s lesser known innovators will be spotlighted.  However, one name that might not mak

Homes of Tomorrow

Posted June 8, 2012 by DHSdigital

Fans of mid-century modern architecture will certainly appreciate these photographs from the Davis Hillmer Collection taken at J. L. Hudson’s Department Store.

Guide for the Groom-Elect

Posted February 14, 2012 by DHSdigital

My, how times have changed! Today we would be surprised to receive a valentine or a how-to guide for marriage from our local retail store, but that was just what Hickeys Men’s Department Store used to do.

Gone With the Wind

Posted February 10, 2012 by DHSdigital

Glitz, grandeur, and glamour were a staple of Hollywood’s Golden Age, but Detroit had its own examples of Hollywood flair. Downtown streets have a long history of highly stylized window displays featuring the latest fashions, but on occasion shoppers were treated to something extra special. Gone with the Wind, David O.

The Brown Bomber

Posted February 3, 2012 by DHSdigital

Since tomorrow is African American History Day at the Detroit Historical Museum, we are sharing some of the objects in our collection related to one of Detroit’s most famous sports heroes, boxer Joe Louis.

Capturing the Invisible Image

Posted January 30, 2012 by DHSdigital

Sure, the idea that historians and archivists are like detectives is clichéd and overwrought; however, it seemed especially apt in regards to this innocent looking photo.

Fabulous Furs

Posted January 27, 2012 by DHSdigital

With winter upon us, let’s look back at some of the seasonal fashions of the 1920s. Fur coats were all the rage, if you could afford one. These images from Annis Furs in Detroit, show just how popular and exotic furs could be.

A Magic Bullet

Posted January 23, 2012 by DHSdigital

Finding a uniquely historic object in the collection is always a thrill. However, finding two items that relate to each other is an unforgettable experience. While cataloging some beautiful old coin purses in the collection, one of our volunteers ran across an object that was obviously not a purse — it was a bullet. What was a bullet doing in the coin purse drawer?

Cadillac Square

Posted January 20, 2012 by Brendan Roney
Old City Hall

 

If the Shoe Fits

Posted January 18, 2012 by DHSdigital

While the DHS artifact collection is primarily centered around metro Detroit objects, there is a significant collection of Native American material from throughout the Great Lakes region. As the ancestral home to more than a dozen different tribes, the Great Lakes were a source of food, transportation, clothing, shelter, and trade for thousands of years. With the establishment of Detroit came manufactured trade goods. One of the more common trade items among American Indians were glass beads.

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