The Occasion of the Detroit Historical Society's Grand Reopening of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum

Floor Speech

Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Detroit Historical Society as its members gather to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan.

Founded ninety-two years ago, the Detroit Historical Society was formed with the mission of ensuring that the Detroit region's unique history and contributions to our nation are preserved for future generations. In 1928, the Historical Society founded the Detroit Historical Museum and has been the driving force behind the fundraising and volunteer recruitment efforts that have been essential to its continuing operations. Just recently, in 2006, the Historical Society reclaimed responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Museum and its collections, which contain more than 250,000 artifacts. These artifacts not only showcase important pieces of Americana, but also remind us of Detroit's roles as a crucial center for American industrial innovation, a linchpin in the Arsenal of Democracy and a birthplace of uniquely American music, like Motown.

In 2009, the Detroit Historical Society launched its Past>Forward Campaign, which has raised the resources necessary to expand the exhibits and educational offerings provided by the Detroit Historical Museum. This campaign is also the key source of support for the renovation of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, which showcases the story of the Great Lakes and how they have impacted the development of Greater Detroit.

Founded in 1949, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum provides visitors with an array of exhibits that highlight Michigan's rich maritime history, going back more than three hundred years. Among its permanent exhibits, the Dossin Museum allows visitors a chance to see the anchor of the legendary S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald. When the Dossin Museum re-opens this month, thanks to the hard work of the Detroit Historical Society and its Past>Forward Campaign, it will include a new permanent exhibit titled Built by the River. Built by the River tells the story of the Detroit River and how this incredible natural resource has shaped the City of Detroit and the Southeast Michigan region, serving as the epicenter of a commercial and manufacturing revolution in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, as a fifth-generation Michigander, I am proud of the work the Detroit Historical Society is doing to preserve and educate residents and visitors on the important role Detroit has played in our nation's history. I congratulate its members on the grand re-opening of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and look forward to our continued work together in the endeavor to revitalize Southeast Michigan.

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