Celebrating Bangladeshi Heritage

The Hamtramck Historical Museum is dedicated to chronicling and preserving the rich history of Hamtramck, with an emphasis on immigration. Hamtramck is the most diverse city in the state of Michigan and one of the most diverse in the nation. This came about by a major influx of immigrants to the city in the early 20th century. To this day Hamtramck remains a strong magnet for immigrants from around the world, and we frequently host journalists and dignitaries from around the world who come to Hamtramck to learn how Christians and Muslims, Black and White and any other ethnicity and faith, live together side by side in harmony. The museum also conducts tours (walking, bus and car) of the city to give a sense of what it is like living here. The museum is not a typical community museum: We emphasize interpretation so that visitors not only just look at items on display but also learn what they are and understand why they matter to them even if they are not from Hamtramck. The museum also has a strong focus on community outreach. We conduct educational programs with the local public schools to help develop a sense of community in the students so they will be good citizens. We also have a formal working partnership with Wayne State University to conduct a number of programs. More than a conservatory of old things on shelves, the Hamtramck Historical Museum is a dynamic institution that interprets the past to develop a sense of the future.

In keeping with our mission to explore and preserve Hamtramck's history the museum presents a variety of exhibits. Now in preparation is a dynamic exhibit on the city's Bangladeshi Community. This will be a comprehensive overview of the Hamtramck's Bangladeshi residents - their history, culture, how they came to Hamtramck and how they are adapting to life here. Being prepared in conjunction with representatives of the Bangladeshi community, this will be an encompassing profile of the community. The goal here is to use this platform to raise funds for the Hamtramck Historical Museum so that it can make a proper, multi-dimensional exhibit complete with interactive displays. 

This will be a groundbreaking exhibit for the museum in its degree of complexity and depth and prepare the way for further such exhibits.