Detroit Historical Museum, Michigan

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Detroit, Michigan · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Museum with a major rail exhibitOpen Wednesday to Sunday year-round

The Detroit Historical Museum has chronicled the life of the Detroit region since 1951, and for train lovers its heart is the Glancy Trains, a large model railroad built from Alfred R. Glancy Jr.'s personal collection and kept running by dedicated volunteers.

  • Opened July 24, 1951
  • Glancy Trains model layout
  • Push-button controls for kids
  • Detroit rail and streetcar history panels
  • Certified Autism Center
  • Children under 6 free

Detroit Historical Museum at a glance

Hours
Wednesday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm
Admission
Adults $15; seniors, students, military, educators, first responders and veterans $12; ages 6 to 12 $8; under 6 free
Seasonal events
Spooky Week, This is 100: America's Thanksgiving Parade exhibition, Docent-led museum tours, Behind the Scenes tours
Plan for
About 90 minutes to 2 hours
Best for
Families with young kids and Detroit history fans
Best ages
Toddlers to age 12
Parking
Museum lot, $10 per car when space is available
Accessibility
Certified Autism Center; accessibility details posted on the museum's site

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Detroit Historical Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Detroit.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

From holiday train parties in Grosse Pointe Shores to Woodward Avenue

The Detroit Historical Museum opened its doors on July 24, 1951, and in 2026 it marked its 75th anniversary as part of a Quad Anniversary year that also celebrated Detroit's 325th and the nation's 250th. Run by the Detroit Historical Society, it is dedicated to the story of the Detroit region, from its industries and music to its role in American history.

The trains came later, and they came with a story. Alfred R. Glancy Jr. (1908 to 1973) was a real estate financier who once owned the Empire State Building in New York City. Through the 1950s and 1960s, every holiday season, he opened his home in Grosse Pointe Shores for "train parties," welcoming friends, neighbors, schoolchildren and scout troops to watch his collection run.

After Glancy died in 1973, his family donated that collection to the Detroit Historical Museum. The family has kept supporting the train exhibit and the Society ever since, and the layout has been rebuilt over the years into the version visitors see today.

None of it would run without the Glancy Train volunteers, who build and maintain the layout. In 2026 they took the exhibit offline for maintenance, and it was set to reopen on September 9, 2026, ready for another holiday season of young visitors.

Rare trains, push buttons and the story of Detroit by rail

The Glancy Trains gallery centers on a large model railroad layout that mixes rare artifacts and one-of-a-kind trains into a playful miniature scene. Interactive buttons around the layout control different functions, which is why the museum calls it one of its most popular attractions for children. Four panels along the back wall cover the history of rail travel in Detroit: the railroads, the city's train stations, the streetcar and trolley age, and the interurbans. Two more panels on the side walls explain model trains and the Glancy family's collection.

The rest of the museum is worth the ticket too. Permanent exhibits include the Streets of Old Detroit, the Allesee Gallery of Culture, the Kid Rock Music Lab, Doorway to Freedom: Detroit and the Underground Railroad, Detroit: The "Arsenal of Democracy" and America's Motor City. Through January 3, 2027, a special exhibition marks 100 years of America's Thanksgiving Parade.

Don’t miss

  1. The Glancy Trains layoutA model railroad built from Alfred R. Glancy Jr.'s collection, with one-of-a-kind trains and buttons that kids can press to set things in motion.
  2. Detroit rail history panelsFour wall panels in the train gallery trace Detroit's railroads, train stations, streetcars and interurbans, a quick primer on how the city moved.
  3. The Glancy family story panelsSide wall panels explain model trains and how a financier's holiday train parties became a museum exhibit.
  4. Streets of Old DetroitA permanent exhibit that pairs well with the train gallery for kids who like to explore.
  5. America's Motor CityThe museum's look at the industry that defined Detroit, a natural companion to the rail story.

Buttons to press and trains to watch

The Glancy Trains are built with kids in mind: interactive buttons control different parts of the layout, and the museum calls the exhibit a family favorite for all ages. Children under 6 get in free, which makes a short visit with toddlers easy to justify, and kids 6 to 12 pay a reduced price.

The museum is a Certified Autism Center, a helpful note for families with sensory needs. During Spooky Week at the end of October, the Society hosts a Halloween celebration just for kids.

Plan your visit: tips for Detroit Historical Museum

  • Tickets are not date specific, so you can buy online ahead and use them any open day.
  • Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park residents can get a free Detroiter membership.
  • Households with five or more paid admissions get $1 off each ticket.
  • Watch for free admission days posted on the visit page.
  • Self-led groups over 30 need a reservation, and guided tours must be booked four weeks ahead.

The Glancy Trains have a holiday history: they started as Christmas season train parties in the Glancy home, and they remain a seasonal favorite for families. In late October the Society runs Spooky Week, with a Halloween celebration for kids, and through January 3, 2027 the museum's parade exhibition celebrates a century of America's Thanksgiving Parade. If you want a holiday ride on a real train after seeing the models, our guide to Christmas train rides in Michigan rounds up options around the state.

The Society, the Glancy family and the train volunteers

The Detroit Historical Society runs this museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle. The Glancy family still supports the train exhibit, and a crew of Glancy Train volunteers builds and maintains the layout. Visitors can help by becoming members, which brings free admission, by shopping in the museum store, or by volunteering.

More trains within an easy drive of Midtown

Dearborn is about 9 miles away, where you can ride the Greenfield Village Railroad or see the big locomotives in the Henry Ford Museum's railroad collection. The Michigan Transit Museum in Mount Clemens is about 19 miles north. For a wider list, see train museums across Michigan.

Every train museum in Michigan

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

I love that these trains started as one family's holiday parties for neighbors and scout troops. Watching a model railroad feels a lot like Rally at his arched train window in our book, taking in the ocean and saying hello to a white bird: small faces close to the glass, nobody wanting to look away. My kids would be all about those push buttons. If yours are too, our list of train books for toddlers is a good next stop at home.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Detroit Historical Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Detroit Historical Museum and the Glancy Trains: 20 questions

Where is the Detroit Historical Museum?

The Detroit Historical Museum is at 5401 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202, in the city's Midtown area. The main phone line is (313) 833-1805. The museum has its own parking lot, and the Detroit Historical Society also runs the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle.

What are the Detroit Historical Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. It is closed Monday and Tuesday. Special dates sometimes change the schedule, such as late openings or early closings for private events, so check the visit page before you go.

How much are Detroit Historical Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, adults pay $15. Seniors 65 and up, students, active military, educators, first responders and veterans pay $12 with ID. Children 6 to 12 are $8, and children under 6 and Society members are free. Households with five or more paid admissions get $1 off each ticket.

Are there free days at the Detroit Historical Museum?

Yes, the museum posts free admission dates on its visit page. In late October 2026, for example, it listed free admission on October 24, October 25, a late opening on October 29 from 5 pm to 8 pm, and October 31 before an early close. Residents of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park can also get a free Detroiter membership.

What are the Glancy Trains?

The Glancy Trains are the Detroit Historical Museum's model train exhibit, built from the collection of Alfred R. Glancy Jr. The layout features rare artifacts and one-of-a-kind trains, plus interactive buttons that control different functions. The museum calls it one of its most popular attractions for children of all ages.

Who was Alfred R. Glancy Jr.?

Alfred R. Glancy Jr. (1908 to 1973) was a real estate financier and a former owner of the Empire State Building. In the 1950s and 1960s he hosted holiday train parties at his home in Grosse Pointe Shores for friends, neighbors, schoolchildren and scout groups. His family donated the collection to the museum after his death.

Is the Glancy Trains exhibit open now?

The museum closed the exhibit temporarily for maintenance in 2026 and scheduled it to reopen on September 9, 2026. If the trains are the reason for your trip, call (313) 833-1805 the day before to make sure the layout is running, since volunteers occasionally need to work on it.

Can kids push buttons on the Detroit Historical Museum trains?

Yes. The current Glancy Trains layout has interactive buttons that control different functions, so children can make parts of the scene move. That hands-on element is a big reason the exhibit is a family favorite. Young kids may need a lift to reach and see everything comfortably.

Does the Detroit Historical Museum cover Detroit railroad history?

Yes. In the Glancy Trains gallery, four panels along the back wall cover the history of rail travel in Detroit, including the railroads, the city's train stations, the streetcar and trolley age, and the interurbans. Two side panels explain model trains and the Glancy family's collection.

Is the Detroit Historical Museum good for toddlers?

Yes, especially the Glancy Trains, which the museum describes as a favorite for all ages. Children under 6 get in free, so a short visit focused on the train layout and the Streets of Old Detroit is low cost. The museum is also a Certified Autism Center.

How long does it take to see the Detroit Historical Museum?

Plan on about 90 minutes to two hours. The museum estimates 90 minutes for a self-led group visit, which covers the main exhibits. Families focused only on the Glancy Trains might spend less, while history fans who want the Streets of Old Detroit and America's Motor City may want longer.

Where do you park at the Detroit Historical Museum?

The museum has its own parking lot. As of October 2026, the group tour page lists parking in the Detroit Historical Museum lot at $10 per car, based on availability. Check the museum's parking page before you go for current details and any street parking options.

Is the Detroit Historical Museum accessible?

The Detroit Historical Museum is a Certified Autism Center, and it posts accessibility details for the building on its website. If you need specific information about elevators, wheelchairs or sensory supports, call (313) 833-1805 before your visit and staff can help plan.

What other exhibits are at the Detroit Historical Museum?

Permanent exhibits include the Streets of Old Detroit, the Allesee Gallery of Culture, the Kid Rock Music Lab, Doorway to Freedom: Detroit and the Underground Railroad, Detroit: The "Arsenal of Democracy," America's Motor City and the Glancy Trains. Changing exhibitions rotate through the year.

When did the Detroit Historical Museum open?

The museum opened its doors on July 24, 1951, so 2026 marked its 75th anniversary. The Society celebrated that milestone along with Detroit's 325th anniversary, America's 250th and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum's 65th as a Quad Anniversary year with lectures and events.

Does the Detroit Historical Museum have Halloween or holiday events?

Yes. Spooky Week, October 25 to 31 in 2026, includes a Halloween celebration for kids along with programs for adults. Through January 3, 2027, an exhibition celebrates 100 years of America's Thanksgiving Parade. The Glancy Trains themselves began as holiday season train parties.

Can groups or schools visit the Detroit Historical Museum?

Yes. Self-led groups of 10 or more can schedule a visit, priced as of October 2026 at $14 for adults, $11 for seniors and $7 for children 6 to 12, with group minimums. Guided tours must be booked at least four weeks ahead. Call education staff at (313) 833-1801 or email education@detroithistorical.org.

Do I need to buy Detroit Historical Museum tickets in advance?

No. You can buy tickets online ahead or at the door. Online tickets are not date specific and are valid any time during open hours, though they are non-refundable. Groups larger than 15 are asked to request a self-led group reservation, and groups over 30 need one.

How can I support the Glancy Trains?

Become a member of the Detroit Historical Society, which brings free admission and supports exhibits like the Glancy Trains, or make a financial contribution through the Society's website. The layout is built and maintained by volunteers, so ask about volunteering by calling (313) 833-1805.

What train museums are near the Detroit Historical Museum?

Greenfield Village Railroad and the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation's railroad collection are both in Dearborn, about 9 miles away. The Michigan Transit Museum in Mount Clemens is about 19 miles away, and the Southern Michigan Railroad Society in Clinton is about 50 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil
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