Detroit Historical Society asks council to continue $2 million in annual support and fund $1.5M in capital repairs

Ilana Ruh, president and CEO of the Detroit Historical Society, told the council that the nonprofit operates the Detroit Historical Museum, the Dawson Great Lakes Museum and the Collections Resource Center and cares for nearly 300,000 artifacts. She said the society has grown membership and programming, delivered “more than 20 new or refreshed exhibits” in the last 12 months and reached a record membership base.

Ruh said the society is asking the council to continue $2,000,000 a year in operating support and to provide $1.5 million in new capital dollars to protect city‑owned museum buildings, preserve the collections and ensure safe, functional workplaces for staff. “These are the most urgent capital investments that we feel we need to protect the public assets,” she said.

Rodney Diehl, the society’s vice president for education and outreach, described expanded school partnerships and programs. He said the society expects renewed partnership agreements with the Detroit Public Schools Community District and that about 15,000 students participated in museum learning experiences last year. Diehl cited teacher professional development, a student advisory council and neighborhood oral‑history projects as ways the museums extend learning into classrooms and communities.

Steve Zirio, the society’s new chief financial officer, said earned revenue has grown (about a 26% annual growth rate over the last three years) but large capital needs remain. He listed high‑priority projects for fiscal 2027: renovating the 175‑year‑old carriage house design studio (asbestos abatement, new HVAC, lighting and windows), updating the flagship Detroit ’67 exhibit (electronics have failed after an extended service life), building a sensory/quiet room for neurodiverse visitors and making employee restrooms ADA‑compliant.

Zirio warned of unstable electrical service to the Dawson museum and the CRC archive: the society is exploring a backup generator for Dawson and estimates the CRC power‑feed upgrades could cost roughly $900,000 to $1,000,000. He said the CRC houses irreplaceable archives and that electrical vulnerability is a near‑term threat to the collection.

Ruh framed the funding request against a stalled millage effort: she said millage legislation that the society supported passed both chambers but has been tied up in a lawsuit between the House and Senate and may not reach the governor in time for the intended ballot. Because of that uncertainty and recent declines in federal grant funding (she said the society lost roughly $350,000 from sources including the IMLS and NEH), she urged continued city investment to maintain operations and retain staff while the society pursues alternate millage pathways.

Council members praised education work and pressed the society on steps to expand neighborhood programming, put artifacts into schools and increase Detroit resident hiring. Ruh said the organization is running a board‑approved deficit and has some reserves and an unexpected bequest that helped cover part of the shortfall; she said the board is prepared to run a modest deficit while pursuing the millage but would have to consider deeper cuts if the millage is significantly delayed.

The society also announced a staffing milestone: the hiring of Taylor Claybrook as the museum’s first Black female curator, who will lead the Wayne County history project at the Guardian Building.

The council did not record a roll‑call vote on the society’s funding request during the hearing. Several members moved administrative motions (see the Votes article) to add closing resolutions and to send some matters to executive session for further discussion. The council scheduled an opportunity for broader public comment on the overall budget for March 30 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

What happens next: the council took multiple procedural steps at the end of the hearing (motions to add closing resolutions, to place Fort Wayne matters in executive session and to refer a funding request to executive session). The society asked the council to consider the $2,000,000 continuation and the $1.5 million capital request as part of the city’s upcoming budget decisions.