Map of Wayne County with "History Project" logo overlay.

Wayne County History Project

The Detroit Historical Society and Wayne County Executive Office have partnered for the Wayne County History Project, a series of six rotating history exhibitions that will showcase each of the county's 43 communities. Launching on June 7, 2025, exhibitions will be on display at the Guardian Building (500 Griswold St, Detroit, MI 48226) through December 2026 and supported by a new free, searchable archive database of the county's rich history, set to debut later this year.

2025 Exhibit Openings:

  • June 7: Redford, Westland, Livonia, Garden City, Inkster, Wayne  
    REGISTER NOW!
  • September 6: Plymouth, Canton, Northville, Van Buren, Sumpter, Huron Twp., Belleville  
    REGISTER NOW!
  • December 13: Romulus, Taylor, Ecorse, Brownstown, Allen Park, Lincoln Park, Flat Rock, Southgate  
    REGISTER NOW!

2026 Exhibit Openings:

  • March 7: Woodhaven, Gibraltar, Wyandotte, Grosse Ile, Riverview, Trenton, Rockwood
  • June 6: Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park
  • September 19: Detroit, Highland Park, River Rouge, Hamtramck, Melvindale, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights

See Current exhibition

Share your Wayne County Community story!

Which Wayne County community do you/did you live in?

Need ideas about what to share? Here are some suggestions:

  • Tell us about your experiences.
  • Discuss a significant event, person, or era that played a crucial role in shaping your community.
  • What role did you play in this story? First hand experience, learned about the event/person in school etc.?
  • What did this mean to you and your neighborhood? What was the lasting impact?
  • Has this event or person been memorialized? If not, what would you like to see happen in remembrance?
  • Is there anything else you would like to share about your community?
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Explore More

  • Ornate interior with arched ceiling, decorative patterns, and a staircase leading to a bright hall.

    Guardian Building lobby

  • Postcard illustration of boathouses on a calm lake surrounded by trees, with windmills in the background.

    Grosse Ile

  • Black and white photo of a two-story house with people on the porch, surrounded by a grassy yard and other houses in the background.

    Highland Park

  • Aerial illustration of a proposed historical village with various buildings, roads, and trees, labeled Northville, Michigan.

    Northville

  • Ornate theater entrance with vintage decor, grand columns, and a sign above. Vibrant colors and decorative details.

    Detroit

  • Historic street scene with vintage buildings, cars, and horse-drawn wagon under an overcast sky.

    Redford

  • Tree-lined street under a blue sky with clouds, flanked by green lawns. Vintage postcard style.

    Grosse Pointe

  • A large, leafy tree stands in the center of a rural street, flanked by houses. The photo is black and white.

    Dearborn