Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum
Located downtown at 100 E Cross St, the YAHM is a top-of-bucket-list destination for anyone wanting to explore the impact of the automotive industry on Ypsilanti. Icon brands historically associated with the city, including Chevrolet, Ford, Tucker, Hudson, and Motor State, are well-represented in the museum’s exhibits.
The YAHM also hosts the National Hudson Motor Car Company Museum and includes among its most prized exhibits a 1952 Hudson Hornet driven by NASCAR champ Herb Thomas in the 1953 season.
Michigan Firehouse Museum
Head about a mile west of the YAHM to the other side of the Huron River, home of the Michigan Firehouse Museum at 110 W Cross St. This 26,000 square foot museum houses a fully restored 1898 firehouse complete with fire engine steamers once pulled by horses to fight Ypsilanti’s fires.
Rotating exhibits showcase antique fire trucks and early fire rigs, plus tools, equipment, fire-fighting memorabilia, and the nation’s largest collection of fire truck bells. Ring-a-ding-ding!
Yankee Air Museum
Leaving Ypsilanti itself, drive about eight miles east to the Yankee Air Museum for some aviation history you’re not likely to forget. Located at 47884 D St, Belleville, MI, the museum commemorates the historic B-24 Liberator aircraft factory that built one Liberator bomber per hour at nearby Willow Run Airport during WWII.
Besides a deep dive into aviation history, visitors can book one of the museum’s “Air Adventure” flights on a B-17, B-24, Huey helicopter, or iconic Ford Trimotor!
University of Michigan Museum of Art
Craving some world-class art? Head just ten miles northwest to the University of Michigan Museum of Art at 525 S State St in Ann Arbor, MI. UMMA boasts European art from the Renaissance to the 19th century, including works by Whistler and Picasso.
Also sharing the spotlight is Chinese and Japanese art from ancient times through the 19th century, African art from the 19th and 20th centuries, and American art from the 19th century until today.
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
Rounding out our museum hop is the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, whose collection of more than 100,000 ancient artifacts and works of art from the Mediterranean world includes rare coins, pottery, and even examples of wall graffiti from Greece, Rome, and Egypt.
It’s just ten miles from downtown Ypsilanti on the University of Michigan campus at 434 S State St in Ann Arbor. Take this 20-minute drive on a rainy day for a deep dive into thousands of years of history.
Speaking of history, did you know that Fischer Honda has been serving Ypsilanti and other nearby communities for more than 34 years? After visiting these great museums, drive on over to Fischer Honda and share your experiences about our great town.
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