Celebrate Black History & Black Futures
Special Event at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation®
- February 1-28, 2025
- Time: 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Presented by:
Writer and activist James Weldon Johnson wrote "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in 1900 as a poem honoring Booker T. Washington. The poem was later put to music by his brother, composer John Rosamond Johnson. Performed by X. Alexander Durden, The Henry Ford's Manager of Theatrical and Musical Experiences.
Join us at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation during Black History Month to reflect on the past, celebrate the present and commit to creating a more just future.
2025's national Black History Month theme focuses on African Americans and labor. Through tours, collection spotlights, speakers and performances, we invite you to celebrate the many ways Black innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs, activists and thinkers have moved culture forward through their work.
2025 marks 60 years since Bloody Sunday, the Selma to Montgomery marches and the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Through the recent acquisition of the Jackson House, this history is more present in our collections than ever before.
Beginning February 22, see a selection of artifacts featured in We Shall Overcome: The 60th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. This Collection Spotlight, located near the Your Place in Time exhibit, explores and celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and introduces the Jackson Family. Dive into the rich story of Dr. Sullivan and Mrs. Richie Jean Jackson, and how they opened their doors to close friend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his allies in Selma, Dallas County, Alabama, and provided a place to rest and strategize the path forward to secure voting rights for African Americans.
Featured Tours and Experiences
Free 30-minute Tour | Reframing History: Uncovering Black StoriesDaily at 1 p.m., starts in Museum PlazaNew Tour for 2025 — Uncover Black history stories embedded in major artifacts in our collection. Learn how artifacts like George Washington's camp bed and the Wright flyer can help us discover people and events in Black history and inspire us to dig into more untold stories of the past. Please note: This tour will begin at 12 p.m. on Feb. 16 and at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 22. |
Experiment with History | E-q-u-a-l-i-t-yDaily from 10 a.m.-noon in With Liberty & Justice for AllLearn the story of young MacNolia Cox, one of the first African Americans to compete at the National Spelling Bee. Test your spelling skills and see if you can match MacNolia's literacy prowess. |
Story Stroll | "Dazzling Zelda: The Story of Fashion Designer Zelda Wynn Valdes"Daily, starting in Your Place in TimeExplore the story of Black fashion icon Zelda Wynn Valdes in the nonfiction picture book biography, "Dazzling Zelda: The Story of Fashion Designer Zelda Wynn Valdes," by Aura Lewis in collaboration with Farai Simoyi. |
Rev. Robert Jones Sr.Saturday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Museum PlazaMusician and storyteller Rev. Robert Jones Sr. will explore and demonstrate the role that traditional music has played in the battle for dignity and social change, from the time of slavery to modern day. |
Denise Davis & the Motor City SensationsSunday, Feb. 2 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Museum PlazaDetroit Black Music Awards 2018 "Entertainers of the Year" Denise Davis & the Motor City Sensations will perform a combination of exciting mellow vocals with a rhythmic undercurrent that bears testament throughout with elements of gospel, hip-hop, funk, jazz, pop, Motown, 80s Classics and R&B through Detroit hits and crowd favorites. |
Civil Rights Virtual TourTuesday, Feb. 4 at noonJoin the National Constitution Center, in virtual partnership with The Henry Ford, as we celebrate the birthday of civil rights leader Rosa Parks. In this virtual program, tour the bus Parks was riding the day she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement. You'll also learn more about Rosa Parks' life and work, get the opportunity to explore The Henry Ford's archives, and hear the stories of other people central to the fight for equality. Click here for registration to the virtual program. |
Artist & Entrepreneur Phillip Simpson, The Smile BrandSunday, Feb. 9 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Museum PlazaMeet and be inspired by the uplifting work of Phillip Simpson, artist and founder of the Smile Brand. Get creative with a coloring and button-making activity designed by Simpson. Explore a range of Simpson's art that embodies his belief in "changing the world one smile at a time." |
Tinkering for Tots | Celebrate Black HistoryTuesday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m.-noon in the Drive-In Studio near Driven to WinThrough storytelling, play and artifact exploration, we will learn how Martin Luther King Jr. challenged the rules to make the world a better place. |
The TeMaTe Institute for Black Dance & CultureSaturday, Feb. 15 at 11:30 a.m., Museum PlazaThe TeMaTe Institute for Black Dance & Culture, established in Detroit's arts and culture community, is guided by vision, values, principles and practices rooted in social justice. TeMaTe uses dance as a tool for community engagement and will lead a rousing drum demonstration and conversation. |
Michigan Krump MovementSaturday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Museum PlazaThe Michigan Krump Movement known as #DirtyGloveBvck began in 2014 when leader Jerwaun "Renegade" Suddun brought it to Detroit. Renegade will illuminate the history of Krumping and demonstrate the genre in an exciting engagement. |
Marygrove PerformanceSunday, Feb. 16 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Museum PlazaMarygrove's Repertory and Junior Companies will perform multi-genre pieces choreographed specifically for Black History Month. |
Cole Randolph, Cellist, and Harper Randolph, ViolistSunday, Feb. 16 at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Museum PlazaTwin members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Cole and Harper, will perform gripping works in a collection of repertoire, ranging in musical period and composers throughout time. |
The Journey of the Jackson HomeSaturday, Feb. 22 at 11 a.m., Museum PlazaJoin us for a curator talk on the incredible preservation journey of The Henry Ford's newest acquisition, the Jackson Home, with a moderated Q&A to follow. Amber Mitchell, Curator of Black History, Heather Bruegl (Oneida/Stockbridge-Munsee), Curator of Political and Civic Engagement and Jim Johnson, Director of Greenfield Village and Curator of Historic Structures and Landscapes, will take center stage to reveal the rich history and fascinating stories behind one extraordinary family and their home. By opening their home to the world, the Jacksons of Selma, Alabama, changed the course of history. |
Special Experience | Reframing History: Uncovering Black StoriesSaturday, Feb. 22 from 12 p.m.-2 p.m.Set your own pace as you venture to five highlighted artifacts and dive deeper into the stories from our newest tour. Learn something new as you meet presenters along the way, speaking about the Black stories represented in all five artifacts. |
Featured Artifacts and Exhibits
Exhibit | With Liberty and Justice for AllExplore the proud and often painful evolution of American freedom, from the Revolutionary War through the struggle for civil rights. Visit the Rosa Barks Bus nearly 70 years after Parks' courageous act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. |
Collection Spotlight |We Shall Overcome: The 60th Anniversary of the Voting Rights ActOpening Feb. 22 near Your Place in TimeThis temporary display explores the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. While viewing the content and stories, you are encouraged to think about how to keep the movement for equality moving forward. This display also introduces Dr. Sullivan and Mrs. Richie Jean Jackson and their family from Selma, Alabama. Learn how everyday people like the Jackson family opened the doors to their home to help fuel a movement. |
Artifact | "March on Washington: The Official Album," 1963More than 250,000 civil rights advocates showed up at this peaceful march on August 28, 1963, to support unity, jobs and a new civil rights bill proposed by President John F. Kennedy. This LP record includes speeches by 10 civil rights leaders heard at the Lincoln Memorial that day. |
Artifact | Engraved Copy of the 1776 Declaration of IndependenceRevisit this iconic artifact with a fresh question: How has the exclusion of Black individuals, and all non-white people, from the Declaration of Independence influenced our country's history? How can you see this object through the lens of Black history? |
Become a Member
Experience more with membership. Members enjoy free general admission to Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village along with benefits like discounts on shopping and dining, free parking and more.
Ticket Prices
Parking is $9 per vehicle for nonmembers; free for members.
Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
| Member | Nonmember | |
|---|---|---|
| Senior (62+) | Free | $30.50 |
| General Admission (12-61) | Free | $34.00 |
| Youth (5-11) | Free | $25.50 |
| Children (4 & Under) | Free | Free |
* Seasonal pricing will be in effect throughout the year. The pricing chart reflects the online discount price. There is an additional charge per ticket for purchases made on-site.
