  Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1422 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 140.244.107.151 |
Just a reminder that this weekend, July 22-23, is your last chance to visit the Detroit Historical Museum for at least 10 weeks while the Museum undergoes some building improvements and exhibit upgrades. Join the Museum in celebrating the City's 305th birthday on Sunday, July 23!!! (Details below) "After being spun off from the city, the Detroit Historical Museum is now planning to close for 10 weeks and reopen in September after spending $500,000 on new and improved exhibits and building upgrades. The museum is scheduled to shut down July 24 and reopen Sept. 29, with a celebration." http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060623/NEW S01/606230368/1003 From the Society's website: The City of Detroit’s 305th birthday party Sunday, July 23 / Noon-4 p.m. The Detroit Historical Society and the Madame Cadillac Dance Theatre will bring Detroit’s French colonial past to life for your enjoyment. § Let Madame Cadillac dress you in period clothing and teach you how to “act French colonial” § Join 18th century dancing and singing § Learn to play French colonial games and musical instruments § Make your own 18th century French fan § Discover the story behind the three flags that have flown over Detroit since 1701 Also enjoy complimentary refreshments, access to the Museum’s exhibits, and an offer for $10 off a one-year membership in the Detroit Historical Society. Support for this event is provided by the Society of Colonial Wars. Call (313) 833-1805 for more information. | ||
Bobj Member Username: Bobj Post Number: 876 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 65.221.183.220 |
Thanks for the info Kathleen, it will be helpful for our CC Tour as well. | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1435 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
Bump!!! | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4023 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.197.17.207 |
Is this closing also for the expansion that's been planned for years? | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1437 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
No, this is just for some building improvements and some exhibit upgrades. An expansion such as the one that has been discussed in the past would take much longer than 10 weeks. And now that the Detroit Historical Society is handling the day-to-day operations, they are just trying to keep the museum open and afloat until the future direction and funding is firmed up. | ||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 349 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 207.74.110.31 |
No expansion, the closing is to repaint, redo exhibits, and improve the museum in all ways, but sadly the expansion is on hold. Due to the City's financial situation, they had to turn the DHM and The Dossin Great Lakes Museum over to the Detroit Historical Society. And, operating funds are more important now than expansion. But, hopefully some time in the not too distant future the museum can be expanded. The Detroit Historical Society, founced in 1921, was the orignal founder of the Detroit Historical Museum in 1928 on the 25th Floor of what is now the Cadillac Tower. In c.1944 they moved into the Wiliams home on Merrick - now Wayne State U across from the main entrance to the Detroit Public Library. This home is where Governor Soapy Williams grew up. In 1946 a public referendum established at the Society's urging established the City of Detroit's Historical Commission. The Society turned its sizeable building fund and collections over to the city and assumed the role of fund-raiser for the Museum - although until 1971 the Society and the Museum had the same director. Now, we've gone full turn with the Society taking over the managment of the Museum they founded in 1928. Come down for the 305th Detroit Birthday Celebration Kathleen so ably has described above. And, then come back September 28th to see the new look to the museum. Bob Cosgrove | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1438 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
Thanks, Bob, for providing all that detail. We are looking forward to tomorrow's celebration...and returning to the Museum when it reopens in September. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2477 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.105.5 |
All this talk of expansion begs the question.... is there room on DHM's current site for expansion?? It seems rather cramped on that corner... | ||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 350 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 207.74.110.133 |
The expansion, which as I said is on hold for the foreseeable future, would have doubled the Museum's size using the existing parking lot with parking above the new portion of the museum. There's adequate space in the existing museum to properly display Detroit history. The expansion would have allowed us to do more with 20th Century history, which we do do now. Bob Cosgrove | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1167 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.251.28 |
The DIA will be closed during August too, isn't that correct? | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1439 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
Fury13: That appears to be correct as I was able to locate this press release: DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS APPROACHES THE FINISH LINE ON BUILDING PROJECT IN AUGUST: Museum to briefly close to the public, Aug. 1–Sept. 5; some activities will continue off-site http://www.dia.org/PressReleas es/showpressreleases.asp?ID=30 0 | ||
Mrsjdaniels Member Username: Mrsjdaniels Post Number: 200 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 141.217.46.39 |
the old executive director Dennis Zembala was the worst thing that ever happened to the DHM...thank God he is gone and the museum can do soem sprucing up! |
