Explore the History of Detroit’s Chinatowns at This DHS Exhibit

The exhibit is on display at the Detroit Historical Museum through Jan. 7, 2024.
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Photograph courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society

The Chinese community in Detroit has a history that dates back 150 years, starting with the arrival of immigrant Ah-Chee in 1872. Explore this event and so many other important historical moments for the community at the Detroit Historical Society’s exhibit, Detroit’s Chinatowns.

On display in the Robert and Mary Ann Bury Community Gallery at the Detroit Historical Museum until Jan. 7, 2024, this community-curated exhibit takes museum visitors on a journey along a timeline that begins with the city’s first Chinatown on 3rd Avenue, its relocation to Cass Corridor in the 1950s, and through the ‘70s and ‘80s — highlighting the growth of the Chinese community, and adversity that the city’s Chinese immigrants faced, along the way.

In addition to original artwork and oral histories of the restaurants, stores, and other businesses throughout the years, Detroit’s Chinatowns also features a variety of artifacts and photos alongside interactive experiences including a Chinese mahjong table, a world map where visitors can mark their family’s immigration route, and video footage from the museum’s collection.

Detroit’s Chinatowns is on display now. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, students, active military and first responders, and $6 for kids, with kids under 6 admitted free.

The Detroit Historical Museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. Special hours apply during holiday week (Dec. 27-30). The museum is closed on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

For more information, visit detroithistorical.org. Plus, be sure to visit hourdetroit.com for even more community happenings in metro Detroit.