Current Exhibitions

During National Prohibition, Detroit and its neighboring cities became notorious for their role in the illegal alcohol trade. Whether they were running cases of beer across the river border with Windsor or selling whiskey in the back rooms of restaurants and homes, Michiganders skirted the alcohol ban in a variety of ways, and women were involved in every aspect of the illicit industry.  

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.