Preservation Detroit

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Preservation Detroit

Preservation Detroit is the city’s oldest and largest preservation organization. Since 1975, we’ve he
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19/05/2026

Join us for our June lecture: Get Your Detroit Q***r History Straight!

Discover the vibrant, triumphant, and largely untold history of Detroit’s LGBTQ+ community. Local historian and tour guide Michael Boettcher explores how Detroit became home to a thriving q***r district and dozens of gay bars. He'll discuss pioneering moments like the opening of Club Frontenac in 1936, look at the evolution of the Palmer Park "gayborhood" in the '60s, and connect this rich heritage to modern-day revitalization efforts.

The Venue: Gigi's
There is no better place to talk history than at Gigi’s on Warren Avenue. Opened in 1973, just four years after Stonewall, Gigi’s is Detroit's oldest gay-owned and operated bar. It's a community haven, a historic pillar of advocacy, and home to Michigan's oldest drag pageant (the Miss Gigi's contest). Current co-owner Luis Mandujano is actively working to secure Gigi's well-deserved status as an official historical site.

Come out, support a local landmark, and learn about this incredible legacy!

Gigi's @ 16920 Warren Ave
June 18th, 6pm-close

The bar will be open for drink purchases throughout the lecture. Come make a night of it!

Reserve your tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/get-your-detroit-q***r-history-straight-lgbtq-history-in-detroit-tickets-1989626847460?aff=oddtdtcreator

25/04/2026

Our next lecture is on May 20th !
Join arts writer Matthew Piper for an in-depth look at the legacy of the large-scale geometric public art that flourished in 1970s Detroit.

The ambitious abstract murals and sculptures that emerged after the 1967 uprising were intended to uplift and unite the struggling, divided city by introducing new visual and social energies into the scarred urban landscape. Whether or not they succeeded in their mission is open to debate. But the unprecedented proliferation of eye-catching public art certainly created a lasting impression, inspiring generations of Detroiters and raising important and timely questions about access, preservation, and the role of art in creating change.

Matthew Piper is an arts writer, editor, and curator with a focus on performance and public/environmental art in Detroit. His writing has been featured in Essay’d (which he co-founded in 2014), KnightArts, Model D, Curbed, and Detroit Research, as well as Are You Sleeping? Neo Classical Nursery Rhymes (2024), Thanks For the View, Mr. Mies (2019), and Essay’d 1-3 (2016-18), which he produced in partnership with Wayne State University Press. Read more about his work at MATTHEWJPIPER.COM

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/signs-of-life-the-legacy-of-early-1970s-public-art-in-detroit-tickets-1987763409868?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Photo Credit: Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

16/04/2026

Join us at 10am on Saturdays for one of our neighborhood tours!
Get your tickets: preservationdetriot.org/tours

14/04/2026

We are officially kicking off the 2026 Preservation Detroit Tour Season on Saturday, May 2nd! Tickets are available now!

Join us every Saturday morning at 10 AM to explore the stories, architecture, and hidden gems that define our city’s incredible heritage. Tours are available throughout the season in Detroit's Cultural Center, Midtown, Downtown, and Eastern Market.

Plus we are also excited to announce two 5th Saturday Specialty Tours this year:
Yamasaki in the Cultural Center and Historic Ferry Street.

Learn more about each tour offering: preservationdetroit.org/tours

30/03/2026

Join us on April 11th at 10 AM for our annual Tour Season Kickoff, featuring a special keynote from Francis Grunow: "We’re all in this together! A case for us all being ‘Detroiters.’"

For over twenty years, the Greater Detroit-Windsor Project (greaterdetroitwindsor.org) has explored a radical idea: that our shared waters, air, and economy make us a single, international metropolis. Whether you’re in the 313, the 519, or the 248, we are all part of the same story.

Come for the vision of a connected region, stay to get involved with our upcoming tours!

📅 When: April 11, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

📍 Where: MSU, Detroit Center

🔗 Register/Info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/preservation-detroit-2026-tour-season-launch-and-volunteer-sign-up-tickets-1983456055455?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/03/2026

We’re kicking things off for the 2026 Tour Season! If you’re a local history buff who loves telling stories, meeting people from around the world, and keeping the "Spirit of Detroit" alive, consider volunteering with us this year!

Join us on April 11 at 10am to learn about our volunteer opportunities and celebrate the launch of the tour season with a special guest lecture by Francis Grunow!

🗓️ Tour Season Launch & Volunteer Sign-up
When: April 11 @ 10am – 12pm

Where: MSU Detroit Center

Special Guest: Lecture by Francis Grunow

Learn more & RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/preservation-detroit-2026-tour-season-launch-and-volunteer-sign-up-tickets-1983456055455?aff=oddtdtcreator

23/02/2026

Announcing the first event in our 2026 Lecture Series! Join us on March 18th at Saint Albertus Church for The Art & Science of Stained Glass Restoration.

Join master craftswoman Andrea Sevonty for an exclusive look at the traditional techniques used to build and breathe new life into Detroit’s historic windows. During this lecture, you will learn the step-by-step process of how stained glass is made and see the results of this intricate work firsthand with a guided viewing of recent stained glass restorations at this Detroit landmark church. Discover exactly what it takes to keep a masterpiece shining for another century!

Tickets are free for members and $5 general admission:
PreservationDetroit.org/lectures

26/12/2025

As we wrap up our year-by-the-numbers series, one thing is clear: none of this happens without community support. From tours and lectures to advocacy, celebrations, and education, every number represents people who care deeply about Detroit’s historic places.

Celebrating our 50th anniversary was both a milestone and a reminder that preservation is ongoing work. Protecting endangered buildings, sharing Detroit’s stories, and creating meaningful ways for people to connect with place takes sustained commitmentand the support of members who believe in this mission.

Our Board of Directors reflects on this important year and what lies ahead in their Year-End Letter, sharing why continued advocacy, education, and engagement are more important than ever: https://preservationdetroit.org/what-we-care-about/2025/12/26/2025-year-end-letter-1

As we look ahead to the next 50 years, your support matters more than ever.
You can help carry this work forward by starting or renewing a membership, or by gifting one to someone who loves Detroit history as much as you do.

23/12/2025

⭐ Preservation Detroit: A Year in Review, By the Numbers ⭐
We were proud to celebrate leadership in preservation at our 50th Anniversary Gala! This year’s Preservation Honor Awards recognized outstanding work safeguarding Detroit’s heritage and inspiring our community to keep historic places alive.

Our seven award winners:
🏆 50-Year Transformative Project Award: The Detroit Opera House
🏡 Residential Preservation Project of the Year: The Dr. Ossian H. Sweet House
🏡 Residential Preservation Project of the Year: The Rose Estate
🎨 Cultural Preservation Award: Paddy Lynch
📜 Community Historian Award: Eric Hergenreder
🤝 Community Preservation Award: Dorothea Williams-Arnold
🌟 Lifetime Achievement Award: Dan Austin

Their dedication reflects the passion and commitment to preserve Detroit.

Learn more about the award winners by downloading the Gala Program here:
preservationdetroit.org/gala

22/12/2025

⭐ Preservation Detroit: A Year in Review, By the Numbers ⭐
Preservation Detroit works to ensure threatened places aren’t forgotten, and that lost places are remembered. By highlighting endangered historic places, we hope to engage our followers, bring awareness to and honor preservation wins, and keep Detroit’s history visible.

Want to stay informed on endangered sites, preservation wins, and advocacy alerts? Join our newsletter, sign up at the bottom of our website!
www.preservationdetroit.org

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