The Birmingham Museum

06/06/2026

On this date in 1944, the largest seaborne invasion in history took place on the beaches of Normandy, France during WWII. The D-Day invasion was a coordinated effort among the Allied nations against N**i Germany, which was occupying France. The invasion fleet comprised of almost 7,000 vessels, nearly 200,000 naval personnel, along with landing vehicles, and ground troops.
Victory on D-Day gave the Allies a foothold in France that they used to push the German army back.

Several days later, on June 8, 1944, the Birmingham Eccentric reported on how D-Day had been observed throughout the city. At 10 am, the air raid siren sounded, and residents were encouraged to engage in silent prayer for the success of the effort.

06/03/2026

This 1968 Schwinn Breeze bicycle was purchased in 1968 or 1969 by the parents of former Birmingham Mayor Elaine McClain at the Birmingham Bike Shop on Maple Road.
By the mid-20th century, bicycles had moved from the realm of liberating women to being primarily thought of as a child’s toy. But kids found bikes to be just as liberating as women had decades prior. On a bike, kids had independence to go where they wanted, to go as fast or as slow as they wanted and they could even decorate their bikes as they wanted!
Though this bike is no longer on display, it is a part of our collection.

06/03/2026

Join us for our next event!
On June 19 "Juneteenth Celebration of the Taylor and Harris Family" at noon at Greenwood Cemetery.
This special event will honor the stories of George and Eliza Dosier Taylor and Abe and Abbie Farmer Harris, who formed an early Black community in Birmingham. The Taylors were both formerly enslaved and met in the area after the Civil War, making Birmingham their final home. They were the first African American property owners here and were connected through their daughter to the Harris family of Royal Oak. Abe and Abbie Harris’ descendants resided in Birmingham for more than 100 years until the late 20th century. Museum staff invite the public to join them in a Juneteenth celebration of the Taylors and Harrises on Friday, June 19 at 12 noon at the Taylor burial site in Section E of Greenwood Cemetery.

Check out our website for more June events! https://ow.ly/rpLw50Z3nyF

06/02/2026

We’re excited to announce that the new Birmingham Historic Preservation Master Plan – one of the first historic preservation master plans adopted by a community in Michigan – has earned a 2026 Michigan Historic Preservation Award in the government/institutions category!

The Michigan Historic Preservation Network (MHPN) presents the award to agencies, cities and/or institutions that accomplish significant positive changes in the historic preservation climate and activity in Michigan. Calling Birmingham’s plan “a proactive, long-range strategy built on strong public engagement,” praised the plan’s GIS mapping of the city's building stock, 31 specific action recommendations and clear road map for implementation.

The product of more than three years of study and community engagement, the city’s plan was formally adopted by the City Commission in January. Next step: building on this momentum to implement the plan. Read the plan and learn more at bhamgov.org/hpmp

Congratulations to the City of Birmingham Planning Department and Historic District Commission for this well-deserved recognition of their hard work, and thank you to all the residents who participated in the process!

06/01/2026

For June's "They Changed Birmingham" display at City Hall we are focusing on W.D. Clizbe. W.D. Clizbe was a controversial public figure at the turn of the 20th century who loved Birmingham and was determined to bring it into the modern era. Over forty years, Clizbe continuously advocated to improve schools, cultural facilities and public infrastructure. He also showed foresight by introducing early municipal planning concepts like a tree ordinance and street paving, and was often seen cleaning up trash in empty lots around town. But he really made waves in 1922 when he contracted to modernize Birmingham’s water system despite a public vote defeating the bond issue. Within two years, however, the bond issue was approved when Birmingham voters realized just how necessary the water system was. Clizbe (whose daughter Marion married Harry Allen and built the Allen House) had followers and detractors in Birmingham, but he never compromised on his dedication to what he saw as the public good. When he died in 1926, his funeral drew the largest number of mourners Birmingham had ever seen. Look for the Around Town article for more information on this fascinating character who changed Birmingham here https://ow.ly/QvAk50Z3neh

05/30/2026

On this date in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC was dedicated. A memorial to President Abraham Lincoln had been discussed since shortly after his assassination in 1865, but came to fruition in 1910, when a commission was formed to decide on the design and location.

What was going on in Birmingham in 1922? Homer Gaskell, Birmingham's first police chief, uncovered a large scale mail fraud scheme in the village. Read all about it on our website! https://ow.ly/TMrw50YVJkz

05/27/2026

What was going on in Birmingham on this date in Birmingham's past? In 1961, Birmingham swapped mayors with Edwardsburg, Michigan. No, we weren't permanently trading Florence "T***k" Willett for Edwardsburg officials, it was Mayors Exchange Day! To read all about the day that Mayor Willett had in not-Birmingham, check out the Birmingham Eccentric Archive: https://ow.ly/43aL50YWKhl

Did you know that Birmingham had one of the first female mayors in the state of Michigan? Florence Willett originally became involved in city politics when she advocated for the repaving of the street she lived on. Friends and neighbors encouraged her to run for office, and she was elected to the City Commission in April, 1955. She became Mayor Pro-Tem in 1959 and Mayor in 1960 and served Birmingham in that capacity until 1963.

Read the full record details for Newspaper: Bloomfield-Birmingham Eccentric Newspaper, 1961-05-25

05/26/2026

On this date in 1913, Martha Baldwin died. She was a tireless campaigner for many causes including education, libraries, Greenwood Cemetery, village beautification, suffrage and countless others. After her death, her will gave money to the village to create a new school, a new park and to support the continuous upkeep of Greenwood Cemetery. For her funeral, businesses and schools in the village closed so that everyone could attend. If you've attended Baldwin School, been to the Baldwin Library, attended a funeral/taken a tour at the Greenwood Cemetery, enjoyed Martha Baldwin Park or walked on the city's sidewalks you can thank Martha Baldwin for making it possible.

05/25/2026

On this date in 1821, Dr Ziba Swan bought his land in what would become Birmingham. Ziba Swan was an early Birmingham settler who is perhaps best known today for donating the first ½ acre of land to make Greenwood Cemetery, but he was a lot more than just a land-donator. Ever wondered just what a battlefield doctor during the War of 1812 would have done? Come along and find out.

Ziba Swan was an early Birmingham settler who is perhaps best known today for donating the first ½ acre of land to make Greenwood Cemetery, but he was a lot ...