Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, Ypsilanti, Michigan
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Museums & Tours

Ypsilanti Heritage Festival Tours and Museums

Ypsilanti's rich historical significance is showcased by our outstanding Museums throughout the year. The Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation's annual Historic Home Tour is one of the highlights of the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival. The City of Ypsilanti also pioneered the concept of Historic Districts in Michigan and remains one of the largest in the state.

History

Originally a trading post established in 1809 by Gabriel Godfroy, a French-Canadian fur trader from Montreal, a permanent settlement was established on the east side of the Huron River in 1823 by Major Thomas Woodruff. It was incorporated into the Territory of Michigan as the village Woodruff's Grove. A separate community, a short distance away on the west side of the river, was established in 1825 under the name "Ypsilanti", after Romanian-born Demetrius Ypsilanti, a hero in the Greek war for independence. Woodruff's Grove changed its name to Ypsilanti in 1829, and the two communities eventually merged.

Automotive History

Ypsilanti has played an important role in the automobile industry. It was in Ypsilanti that Preston Tucker designed and built the prototypes for his Tucker Torpedo car.

In 1945, Henry J. Kaiser and Joseph W. Frazer bought Ypsilanti's Willow Run B-24 Liberator bomber plant and in 1947 began the production of Kaiser and Frazer model cars. The last Kaiser car made in Ypsilanti rolled off the assembly line in 1953, when the company merged with Willys-Overland and moved production to Toledo, Ohio. General Motors purchased the Kaiser-Frazer plant, and converted it into its Hydramatic Division, beginning production in November 1953.

Michigan Firehouse Museum, 110 E. Cross Street
Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Collection, 35 E. Cross Street
Ypsilanti Freight House, Depot Town
Ypsilanti Historical Museum, 220 N. Huron Street
Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation, Historic Home Tour, Sunday August 22
Ypsilanti Garden Club Heritage Garden Tour, Saturday August 21


HISTORIC BUILDINGS, MUSEUMS AND TOURS

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Friends of the Border To Border Trail Scenic Walk
Meet at South End of Riverside Park
Short guided walk on a scenic trail along the Huron River in the Water Street redevelopment area.
www.bordertoborder.org

7pm 1pm 1pm
$ Michigan Firehouse Museum c.1898
110 W. Cross Street
www.michiganfirehousemuseum.org

10am-4pm

10am-4pm

Noon-4pm

Riverside Arts Center c.1909
76 N. Huron Street
www.riversidearts.org

 

 

 

Gallery: The Ypsi Project
www.ypsiproject.com

3pm-9pm

10am-3pm

1:30pm-4pm

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 7, 5-7pm

$ Theater: Bare
Thursday, August 19 8pm
www.dynamicstageproductions.com
Thurs: 8pm
Friday: 8pm
Sat: 8pm
Sun: 2pm
$ Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum
100 E. Cross Street
www.ypsiautoheritage.org

Noon-8pm

10am-8pm

11am-5pm

Ypsilanti Freight House Depot Town
Restoration in Progress
www.foyf.org

Noon-8pm

10am-8pm

11am-5pm

Ypsilanti Garden Club
$ Heritage Garden Tour
For ticket information
www.ypsilantigardenclub.org

 

Noon--5pm

 

Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation
$ 33rd Annual Historic Home Tour
For ticket information: www.yhf.org

 

 

Noon--5pm

Ypsilanti Historical Museum c.1860
220 N. Huron Street
www.ypsilantihistoricalsociety.org

4-6pm

11-6pm

Noon-4pm