History of the Project

The Downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Exhibit Program began at the grass roots level as an idea developed by local residents interested in the past and future of downtown. The response was positive, and the Ann Arbor Historic District Commission became the official project sponsor.

Presentations to the Downtown Development Authority, City Council and the four downtown merchant associations quickly followed. These groups endorsed the exhibit program and provided seed capital which was matched by a grant from the Michigan Council for the Humanities and contributions from local individuals, businesses, groups and foundations.

The overall design concept emerged from an intense, all-day brainstorming session attended by over twenty Ann Arbor area design professionals. Since then, a team of designers and historians has continued to develop exhibit concepts. The Historic District Commission accepted the design prototype and the first exhibits at Courthouse Square were installed in June 1999.

A fund-raising drive is now underway to fabricate and install exhibits at the fifteen additional sites in the planned historical walking tour. Contributions will be welcomed by the program's fiscal sponsor--the Ann Arbor Historical Foundation.