My Hood: Free Week at Detroit Historical Museum

If you’re like me and have never checked out the Detroit Historical Museum (I know – I’m ashamed!) – next week – the week of July 25-31 – will be a great time to check it out because it will be FREE for a program call Seven Days-Seven Stories in celebration of Detroit’s 310th anniversary.

Each day will be dedicated to previewing some of the upgrades and new exhibits coming to the museum as part of the Past>Forward campaign.

Here’s the scoop on what will be happening each day. There’s just too much cool information for adults and kiddos, so I’ve just pasted it verbatim from the press release:

Monday, July 25 – Detroit’s Greatest Innovators – Author Amy Clarke of Inventerrific speaks about our region’s greatest innovators while looking at nostalgic innovations from the Slinky to Tinker Toys. The museum’s Cadillac Café hosts three gaming stations each devoted to innovative problem solving for groups or children. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Imagination Station will allow children to use arts and craft supplies to create a solution to a posed problem, build a working windmill out of Tinker Toys or a tower out of drinking straws.

Tuesday, July 26 – Underground Railroad Stories – Highlighting the upcoming Doorway to Freedom exhibit expansion, presentations will include a storytelling experience from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by an author series and book signings. Cadillac Café will also host three educational craft stations devoted to the Underground Railroad and the anti-slavery movement from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, July 27 – Celebrating the Motor City – Auto enthusiasts won’t want to miss a classic car show featuring 40 vehicles on Kirby Street, showcasing Detroit’s rich history of automotive production and design. The show begins at 10 a.m. Voting will take place from 3-3:45 p.m. and winners will be chosen in the Mayor’s Choice, Director’s Choice and People’s Choice categories. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., children’s activities in the Cadillac Cafe include a coloring station, design-your-own race car station and an assembly line activity cart.

Thursday, July 28 – The Streets of Detroit Come Alive – The Streets of Old Detroit will be filled with docents dressed in period clothing and storefronts will open to the public. Beginning at noon, the Dodworth Saxhorn Band will stroll through the Streets performing Americana music, and food stations sponsored by Golden Spice Catering will feature delicious offerings inspired by Eastern Market, Greektown, Paradise Valley and Black Bottom, Dearborn, Hamtramck and Mexicantown. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. a history detective activity will keep groups guessing for prizes in the Streets.

Friday, July 29 – Remembering The Arsenal of Democracy – Another new exhibit The Arsenal of Democracy is featured in an 11:30 a.m. presentation by author Mike Davis and a 1 p.m. screening of Keith Famie’s documentary, “Detroit’s Greatest Generation” in the auditorium. Children’s activities in Cadillac Café run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a ration game, a Victory Garden craft and a coloring activity including WWII poster art.

Saturday, July 30 – Detroit’s Unique Culture – Get in the spirit of Detroit with a Detroit Legends Costume Contest. (How sweet does that sound???) Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the contest begins at 1 p.m. Detroit City Councilman James Tate will present awards at 2 p.m. in three age categories: 12 and under; 13-17 and 18 and older. First prize is $100 and Second Prize is $50 in each category. Detroit-made foods like Better Made potato chips, Sanders ice cream, Vernor’s and Faygo will be featured. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. visitors will be invited to share their Detroit Memories on video for use on the Society YouTube page and are welcome to vote for Detroit legend candidates to be invited to have their handprints cast in cement in the museum’s upcoming Legends Plaza.

Sunday, July 31 – Our Maritime Heritage – The Dossin Great Lakes Museum welcomes visitors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate its upcoming new exhibit Built by the River with a visit by storyteller and musician Mike Deren. With performances at noon and 2 p.m., he takes the crowd back in time portraying an 1840 Erie Canal boat captain and an 1875 Great Lakes schooner captain. Author Annessa Carlisle will display Bob-lo boat artifacts. Family activities include a Great Lakes geography map floor activity and a Navigate the Straits maze.

For more information, visit the Detroit Historical Society at www.detroithistorical.org. The museum is located on Woodward Ave.

I will be making my first trek there with Little K – hoping to give her some of her mommy and daddy’s history nerdery already! I’ll be sure to post photos following on my Facebook page. Give me a shout if you can make it out.