Visit

Visit

With two great museums, the Detroit Historical Society offers engaging opportunities to learn about and explore the city's rich history, from its automotive legacy to its maritime heritage.

Plan Your Visit

Detroit Historical Museum

Dossin Great Lakes Museum

Group Visits & Tours

Rentals

Filming & Photography Policies
Exhibitions & Projects

Exhibitions & Projects

Explore exhibitions, immersive experiences, and learning opportunities – at our museums, in the community, and online!

Current Exhibitions

Experience an exhibition

Projects

Projects that dive into history
Events

Events

Enjoy a variety of events, from lectures, book talks, and film screenings to family-friendly activities, behind-the-scenes tours, concerts, and more!

Events Calendar

Browse upcoming events
Research & Learning

Research & Learning

Explore a wide range of tools and resources crafted to inspire curiosity and support learning for educators, students, and lifelong learners alike.

Search Collections

For Educators

Teaching tools

Lesson Plans

School Tours & Programs

In Classroom Learning

History Resources

Research Assistance

Dig into our collection

On-Site Research & Loans

Speaker's Bureau

Bringing Detroit History to You

Request a Speaker

Online Research

Browse and learn

Digital Collection

Encyclopedia of Detroit

Timeline of Detroit

Blog
About

About Us

Learn about our history, meet the dedicated team preserving Detroit’s legacy, and discover what we’re doing today.

Our Museums

About Us

Careers at the Society

Our Staff

Rentals

Filming & Photography Policies
Support

Contribute

Help celebrate and protect Detroit’s legacy by giving, getting involved, or becoming part of our community!

Support

Explore Ways To Get Involved

Become a Member

Giving

Volunteer

Artifact Donation

Digital Collection

Gies, Joseph W.

Born

1860

Birthplace

Detroit, Michigan

Education

National Academy of Design, New York
Cooper Union, New York
Arts Student League, New York
Royal Academy, Munich, Germany
Academie Julian, Paris, France

Notes

Member of Scarab club

1895 - exhibition, Art Club of Detroit

Occupation

1890 - painting faculty, Detroit Museum School
1895 - co-founder, Detroit Fine Arts Academy
1895-1911 - teacher, Detroit Fine Arts Academy