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The Grosse Pointe Historical Society
The Grosse Pointe Historical Society was organized in 1945 to promote the preservation of our local
heritage and to share that knowledge with the community. The Society's logo represents the 18th century
French windmill which stood on Windmill Point.
The Society works to make the history of our exceptional community vital, relevant, and accessible. Through
our programs, facilities, and events, we bring history to life and protect historic artifacts so that we all can
experience the past first hand.
The Origins of the Society
- A desire to further the interest of the locality [its] historic memories" prompted a small group of
concerned Grosse Pointers in May, 1945 to establish the Grosse Pointe Historical Society. Bylaws were developed, and the
Grosse Pointe Historical Society was incorporated on November 5, 1947. Housed in the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, the new
Society's membership grew to about 40 people. In March, 1950 the Society held its first public lecture. It remained quietly active
until the late 1970s when it became evident that many valuable documents were unknowingly being destroyed. In 1980,
incorporation papers were filed and 501 ©(3) tax-exempt status obtained. A Curator was hired to manage the collection at that
time.