A Celebration of Lions History – Detroit Lions: Gridiron Heroes
The football season is fast approaching, and the Detroit Historical Museum is set to unveil an art exhibit that will heighten the excitement for Detroit Lions fans. Coinciding with the first Lions home game of the 2024-25 season on Saturday, Aug. 24, the museum will introduce “Detroit Lions: Gridiron Heroes,” a tribute to the Lions’ triumphant seasons in the 1930s and 1950s, along with notable highlights from recent years.
“We couldn’t be prouder than to have the Lions’ team history highlighted at the Detroit Historical Museum as we launch the 2024-2025 season,” Emily Griffin, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Brand for the Detroit Lions, said in a press release. “There’s something remarkable to uncover in every era and it was a lot of fun to pour through our archives looking for artifacts to share. We hope the fans will have just as much fun discovering them as we did.”
Interactive and Family-Friendly
The museum’s newly inaugurated permanent exhibit, the City of Champions Gallery, is set to be adorned with Lions memorabilia. This is made possible through a collaboration involving the Detroit Historical Society, the Detroit Lions, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The exhibition will feature a range of artifacts, including trophies from the 1930s and 1950s, vintage uniforms, a tribute to every Lions Hall of Fame inductee, and exclusive items from both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Lions’ own collection.
Legends Plaza offers an interactive experience where visitors can compare their handprints to those of Lions legends Barry Sanders and Lomas Brown. Additionally, a special temporary exhibit celebrates the 2024 NFL Draft hosted in Detroit, showcasing pieces such as a massive “DET” sign autographed by thousands of attendees from the event’s unprecedented turnout.
“The Draft was a moment of pride for the whole city of Detroit,” Chris Moyer, Senior Director, Communications and Public Affairs for Visit Detroit, said. “Visit Detroit was pleased to play a part in bringing it back to life in a small way at the Detroit Historical Museum.”
As you visit the Plaza, take in the unique pop-up exhibit Detroit Lions: Gridiron Heroes available through September, showcasing artifacts from the historic 2024 NFL Draft held in Detroit. The Gilbert Family Foundation generously donated these items, and the exhibit has been realized with their support, alongside that of Visit Detroit.
“There are few activities that bring people together like sports, which is why we’re so passionate about supporting this exciting new exhibit” said Laura Grannemann, Executive Director of Gilbert Family Foundation. “It was an honor to play such a key role in the NFL Draft coming to Detroit and its success, both in downtown and across the neighborhoods. We know visitors will enjoy reliving some of those experiences through the creativity of the Detroit Historical Society.”
Detroit Lions: Gridiron Heroes Opening Day Activities – Saturday, August 24
- NFL Licensed artist, Sherrie Savage of Naturally ILLustrated has made us some NFL Draft Coloring pages and we’ll host coloring tables all day long in the Gallery of Culture!
- We’ve refreshed our unique assortment of vintage Detroit Lions merchandise in the Museum Store; and
- For folks on their way to Saturday’s game remember that our parking lot is available for only $10 a day, and we’re just ½ a block away from the nearest Q-Line stop.
The Detroit Historical Museum is located at 5401 Woodward Ave. (NW corner of Kirby) in Midtown Detroit. The Detroit Historical Museum is open to the public Wednesday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Historical content and virtual tours and exhibits are available at detroithistorical.org. Just opened: The Links Incorporated: Our History, Our Story in the Robert and Mary Ann Bury Community Gallery. Permanent exhibits include the famous Streets of Old Detroit, the Allesee Gallery of Culture, Doorway to Freedom: Detroit and the Underground Railroad, Detroit 67: Perspectives, Detroit: The “Arsenal of Democracy,” and The Glancy Trains.
The public opening of the exhibit Detroit Lions: Gridiron Heroes on Aug. 24 will feature family-friendly activities including NFL Draft coloring pages, a selection of unique vintage Detroit Lions merchandise, and more. More information is available at detroithistorical.org.
Location Details:
- Detroit Historical Museum
- 5401 Woodward, Detroit
- 313-833-1805
Ready to dive into the rich history of the Detroit Lions? Head to the Detroit Historical Museum this season and get a firsthand look at the legacy of one of the NFL’s storied franchises.
