100 Years Ago, Today
An ongoing collection of stories gathered from historical newspapers from the 18th–20th centuries, pertaining to the rich history of the Detroit River and its surrounding communities.
100 Years Ago, Today Read More »
Detroit River Stories Podcast
A student-produced podcast series featuring interviews with local residents about their relationships with the Detroit River.
Detroit River Stories Podcast Read More »
Resistance on the River Curriculum
An extensive collection of learning materials and lesson plans that engages middle school students with the history of anti-slavery and anti-racist organizing along the Detroit River corridor.
Resistance on the River Curriculum Read More »
Detroit River Skiff & Schooner Program
A hands-on learning program that connects local youth with the cultural and environmental heritage of the river through tall-ship sailing and boat-building experiences.
Detroit River Skiff & Schooner Program Read More »
Lives of Leisure and Labor on the Detroit River
An interactive essay exploring the experiences of those who built, maintained, and traveled on Detroit River steamboats at the turn of the 20th century, with special attention to key events in local labor and racial history and the ways they reflected shifting social and political attitudes of the time.
Lives of Leisure and Labor on the Detroit River Read More »
The Detroit River Beat
The Story Lab sponsors student internships with nonprofit news organizations, such as Bridge Detroit, Planet Detroit, and Detroit Public Television, to assist thinly stretched staff in the coverage of river-related stories and works with partners to develop new local training opportunities, on campus and in the community, for both student and citizen journalists.
The Detroit River Beat Read More »
People, Place, & Things
People, Place, & Things is an ongoing collection of stories about Belle Isle and the impact it has on those who visit and nurture it. Each month, we’ll post tales of people whose lives have been transformed, those who have found healing, community, and spiritual renewal through their connection to this unique place.
People, Place, & Things Read More »
Underground Railroad Research Guide
A compilation of regional history resources focused on struggles for freedom in the Detroit River borderland including a selected bibliography, annotated lists of digital and physical archives, miniature biographies of local freedom seekers and abolitionists, and suggested angles for future research.
Underground Railroad Research Guide Read More »
Myth, Memory, and Michigan’s Underground Railroad
An exploration of the ways the history of anti-slavery resistance along the Detroit River has been remembered and occasionally distorted since the end of the 19th century.
Myth, Memory, and Michigan’s Underground Railroad Read More »
Can Detroit students see themselves in their course work? District wants them to weigh in.
Esther Launstein, Chalkbeat Detroit, August 1, 2024
How Black Journalists in Detroit and Canada Have Passed their Pens Along the River
Saarthak Johri and Courtney DuChene, Telegram Newspaper, June 27, 2024
How Black Journalists in Detroit and Canada Have Passed their Pens Along the River Read More »
Why Friends of the Detroit River’s volunteers are key to its success
Brady McKillop, Planet Detroit, June 20, 2024
Why Friends of the Detroit River’s volunteers are key to its success Read More »
Invasive species an ongoing risk tied to Great Lakes maritime transport
Charlotte Parent, Bridge Detroit, May 26, 2024
Invasive species an ongoing risk tied to Great Lakes maritime transport Read More »
Maritime trade poses environmental risks along Detroit River
Charlotte Parent, Bridge Detroit, May 22, 2024
Maritime trade poses environmental risks along Detroit River Read More »
Decarbonizing the Detroit River Corridor
Designed in collaboration with the U-M School of Education’s Center for Education Design, Evaluation, and Research, this digital curricular module,
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Exploring Community and Connection on the Detroit River
A display poster created by UM graduate student Crystal Cole describing her development of an experiential learning module focused on water quality and ecological connections with the river for use aboard the schooner Inland Seas.
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The House that Changed Lives
A lesson plan based on the life and community building work of Sarah E Ray, an activist known as the Rosa Parks of the Boblo Boat. Consisting of a comprehensive, multi-media discussion guide and a curated collection of archival materials for classroom use, this adaptable curricular module will support social science classes at the middle and high school level throughout the Detroit River region.
The House that Changed Lives Read More »
Detroit River Corridor Carbon Emissions Visualization Tool
Designed in consultation with history and environmental studies teachers at regional high schools, this multi-layered, interactive ArcGIS map draws on dozens of public data sources to create a comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the Detroit River.
Detroit River Corridor Carbon Emissions Visualization Tool Read More »
Digital Mapping Project
An interactive collection of historical and digital maps allowing you to explore the Detroit River Corridor through time.
Digital Mapping Project Read More »
Interpretive Signage for Historic Fort Wayne
Site installations and online content, including a timeline, in support of a new interpretive plan for Historic Fort Wayne, with topics including environmental history, profiles of local civilian employees, migration and ethnic histories of southwest Detroit, Fort Wayne’s connection to the Underground Railroad, and little known Indigenous and colonial-era histories.
Interpretive Signage for Historic Fort Wayne Read More »
Great Lakes Way @ Trenton
A Storymap project imagining possible futures for disused industrial sites along the Detroit River in Trenton, featuring historical contexts, interviews, and captivating site renderings. The project was created by students in a DRSL-linked Public Design Corps studio class at UM’s Taubman College.
Great Lakes Way @ Trenton Read More »
Community Dimensions of Coastal Revitalization
Paired conference papers describing the partnership of the Detroit Historical Society and the Detroit River Story Lab on a variety of river-themed programming activities designed to foster place-based environmental and cultural awareness.
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Establishing Site and Regional Imprints of Wyandot Cultural History in Southeast Michigan.
A cultural site planning project for the Six Points site in Gibraltar, MI developed by graduate students in U-M’s School for Environment and Sustainability in partnership with the Wyandot of Anderdon Nation.
Home Archival Guide
An introduction to the practice of home preservation developed as part of the 100 Years 100 Stories project at the Detroit Historical Society.
Home Archival Guide Read More »
Neighborhoods: Where Detroit Lives
An oral history project devoted to collecting and preserving local stories, including those of historic riverside neighborhoods like Black Bottom, Corktown, and Delray.
Neighborhoods: Where Detroit Lives Read More »
Detroit River Region Timeline
A working prototype for a robust visual and interactive resource for exploring the environments, institutions, and actors that have shaped the Detroit River corridor over the past millennium. As it continues to expand, this tool will serve as an archive and a pedagogical resource in service of the Detroit River Story Lab’s long-term goal to assemble and curate an archive of resources in support of local organizations’ efforts to reconnect local communities with the river and its stories. By presenting the histories of the Detroit River corridor as those of a coherent, interconnected region, the timeline allows users to explore connections between the river’s past and future, provides an accessible resource for local students to learn about the places they live, and supports local organizations in amplifying marginalized voices the river’s long and storied history.
Detroit River Region Timeline Read More »
Watershed Activist Shares Views on Long-Term Work of Environmental Stewardship
Patricia Jewell, Planet Detroit, Nov 18, 2021.
Watershed Activist Shares Views on Long-Term Work of Environmental Stewardship Read More »
Hunting for stories with the RiverWolf: Downriver history and memories with Dick Whitwam
Patricia Jewell, Planet Detroit, Nov 3, 2021.
Hunting for stories with the RiverWolf: Downriver history and memories with Dick Whitwam Read More »
National Humanities Alliance Conference
Panel focused on the design and creation of the Resistance on the River curriculum featuring four members of the development team.
National Humanities Alliance Conference Read More »
Wahnabezee and the River Park Question
A [hi]story-telling workshop that showcased oral histories, archival materials, and student projects on the past, present, and future of Belle Isle.
Wahnabezee and the River Park Question Read More »
‘It’s all Waawiyaatanong’: A conversation with Hadassah GreenSky on the Detroit River, Anishinaabe stories, and the power of water
Patricia Jewell, Planet Detroit, Oct 21, 2021.
Congressional Resolution
A formal commemoration of the International Underground Railroad Memorial Monument, noting the creation of the new Resistance on the River curriculum, and urging the river’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site, H.Res.739, 117th Congress.
Congressional Resolution Read More »
Michigan Underground Railroad Heritage Gathering
Panel at an annual event sponsored by the Michigan History Center describing the initial pilot of the Resistance on the River curriculum.
Michigan Underground Railroad Heritage Gathering Read More »
Detroit / Rouge River Storybooth Blitz
A day-long event hosted at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge providing an opportunity for local residents to share and document their knowledge and insights into the history of the rivers as well as what they might envision for their futures.
Detroit / Rouge River Storybooth Blitz Read More »
As climate change worsens, Detroit needs a plan, experts say
Surabhi Balachander, Bridge Detroit, Aug 13, 2021.
As climate change worsens, Detroit needs a plan, experts say Read More »
Advocates: Federal funds should go to Detroit’s growing environmental crisis
Surabhi Balachander, Bridge Detroit, July 29, 2021.
Advocates: Federal funds should go to Detroit’s growing environmental crisis Read More »
UNESCO World Heritage Site Inventory
A database of existing and proposed World Heritage Sites in the US and Canada, with locations, descriptions, and designation criteria.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Inventory Read More »
UNESCO Designation Gap Study
A comprehensive overview of progress made over the past fifteen years towards eventual UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for the Detroit River, identifying specific sites warranting further research and suggesting possible next steps.
UNESCO Designation Gap Study Read More »
River Heritage Resource Map
An interactive digital map that catalogues approximately 100 public heritage sites, public spaces, and trails along the Detroit River corridor, providing a visual argument in support of regional heritage development efforts relating to the Underground Railroad and other historical events.
River Heritage Resource Map Read More »
