Guest Editorial … Facing an even brighter year in 2025

By Greg Kowalski
Executive Director, Hamtramck Historical Museum

Looking ahead at 2025 I wonder how we are going to beat 2024.
Last year was an exceptional year for the Hamtramck Historical Museum. Among the many events and achievements we inaugurated were the landmark Bangladeshi community exhibit and the archaeological dig we partnered with Wayne State University, which may turn out to be our most successful archaeological dig in Hamtramck yet.
We’ve also greatly increased the number of tours we have conducted and are growing the number of visitors to the museum — this despite some great challenges we have had to overcome.
But the scale of last year’s successes points out that we have only begun to tap the vast opportunities in the future. We would like to build on the success of the Bangladeshi community exhibit to feature the other ethnic groups present in Hamtramck, including Yemeni, Ukrainian, African American and others.
We are continuing to make improvements to the museum building. In fact, we closed out the year by tuckpointing the masonry and washing the front of the building. Our plan is to make the museum building the jewel of Jos. Campau, a welcoming place for Hamtramck residents and visitors alike.
And now that Wayne State University has received a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for the Hamtramck Explorer project, a whole new world of historical exploration has opened up for us.
All that said: our biggest goal will be the toughest one to achieve; This is to fully connect with and be embraced by the immigrant community in and around Hamtramck.
We have made significant progress in achieving that as shown by the Bangladeshi exhibit, yet we have a long way to go. We continue our extensive outreach efforts and would love your help in reaching every new resident of our city.
And finally, we face the ever-growing challenge of funding the museum.
The museum is fiscally viable but we know we must increase our revenue. You — the Friends of Historical Hamtramck — have been wonderful supporters.
Thank you for all you have done. Please continue to keep us in your hearts and minds. Any additional funds you direct to the museum help enormously.
If you want to see the results of your support, just come to the museum.
(The Hamtramck Historical Museum is located at 9525 Jos. Campau, and is open Fridays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by appointment.)

Posted Feb. 7, 2025