The Belleville Area Museum

The Belleville Area Museum Welcome to the official page of The BAM, a cherished historical landmark over 150 years old The community's spirit of collaboration was evident.

Welcome to the official page of the Belleville Area Museum, a cherished historical landmark with a rich and fascinating history! In 1875, the community of Van Buren Township came together to build a one-story brick town hall on Main Street, a place for conducting official business that had long been held in private homes and rented spaces. Residents pooled $1,500 for the project, and unde

r the supervision of Robert Patterson Clark, William Crawford, and Thomas Quirk, the Van Buren Township Hall took shape. As construction began, the Belleville Grange (Union) No. 331 sought permission to add a second story to the hall, generously donating all the materials for their meeting place. In 1905, Belleville was incorporated as a village, and the township hall was now outside Van Buren Township's boundaries. Nevertheless, it continued to serve as a municipal facility until 1959, when new offices were constructed on Tyler Road. Over the years, The Old Township Hall has worn many hats. It has hosted town meetings and voting sessions, issued driver's licenses, collected taxes, and even housed a library. The hall has been a hub for dances, concerts, church services, service club meetings, Red Cross blood drives, and even served as a jail and an Army recruiting station. After the township offices moved to Tyler Road, the building was repurposed for various commercial ventures, including the Rotary Club Haunted House, Oxbow Realty, the Belleville Enterprise, Adventure Travel, and the Belleville Area Chamber of Commerce. In 1995, The Old Township Hall underwent a significant renovation, paving the way for the Belleville Area Museum and Historical Society to move in 1996. Subsequently, in 2019 and 2021, the museum received a fresh makeover, ensuring its continued vitality. We're proud of our Museum and we're excited to continue sharing our history with you. Museum admission is FREE, with a suggested $5 donation supporting our ongoing preservation efforts. Still owned by Van Buren Township, the Belleville Area Museum holds a special place on the State of Michigan Registry of Historic Sites. Stay connected with us to explore the past and present of this remarkable Greek revival public building as we celebrated
its 145th anniversary in 2020 and continue our journey into the future!

08/27/2026
Last chance to RSVP!There’s still time to join us this Thursday, August 27, for a fascinating look at the history of Bla...
08/25/2026

Last chance to RSVP!

There’s still time to join us this Thursday, August 27, for a fascinating look at the history of Black farmers in Wayne County.

Our dedicated volunteer, Danielle Whitehead, will share her research highlighting the contributions of Black farmers, with a special focus on Van Buren and Sumpter Townships and why preserving these stories matters to our local history.

Pizza at 5:30 PM
Presentation at 6 PM

Space is limited, so reserve your spot today. Email [email protected] to RSVP or call 734-697-1944.

We’d love to see you there!

Discover the Story of Black Farmers in Wayne CountyJoin us on Thursday, August 27 for a special presentation by dedicate...
08/20/2026

Discover the Story of Black Farmers in Wayne County

Join us on Thursday, August 27 for a special presentation by dedicated volunteer Danielle Whitehead, who will share her fascinating research into the important role of Black farmers in Wayne County, with a special focus on Van Buren and Sumpter Townships.

Come early! Pizza will be served at 5:30 PM, followed by Danielle's presentation at 6 PM.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about an important part of our local history and the people who helped shape our community.

Space is limited. Please RSVP by emailing [email protected] or call 734-697-1944.

We hope you'll join us!

Join us tomorrow, we are open!
07/03/2026

Join us tomorrow, we are open!

🏛️ Exciting News from the Belleville Area MuseumThe wait is almost over! One lucky winner will take home the Ford Model ...
06/24/2026

🏛️ Exciting News from the Belleville Area Museum

The wait is almost over! One lucky winner will take home the Ford Model T Lego style. Come by the Museum during Belleville Lake Fest for a chance to win.

In addition to our regular schedule, the museum is now open on Mondays from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the Belleville Farmers Market.

📅 Museum Hours
• Monday: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Thursday: 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

While you're here, don't miss one of the Museum's most beloved artifacts, the historic 1919 Ford Model T donated by longtime Belleville physician Dr. Herbert J. Robb.

Inspired by this piece of local history, we're also giving visitors a chance to take home their own Ford Model T—LEGO style!

Visit the Museum during the month of June and enter for a chance to win a LEGO Ford Model T set. Donations are always appreciated and help support the Museum's mission, but no donation is required to enter the drawing.

The winner will be announced during Belleville Lake Fest on Saturday, June 27, at 6:00 p.m.

Every contribution helps the Belleville Area Museum preserve and share the stories, artifacts, and history of Van Buren Township, Belleville, and Sumpter Township for future generations.

Stop by, explore local history, and enter for your chance to win!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Belleville Area Museum's recent lecture, Midnight: Detroit and the Undergrou...
06/19/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Belleville Area Museum's recent lecture, Midnight: Detroit and the Underground Railroad, presented by Catherine Waldecker of the Detroit Historical Society.

As we celebrate Juneteenth, we remember the many stories of courage and perseverance that shaped the fight for freedom.

One remarkable Detroit story is that of Lucie and Thornton Blackburn, a Kentucky couple who escaped slavery and were arrested in Detroit in 1833. Members of Detroit's Black community helped them escape custody and cross the Detroit River to Canada, where authorities refused to return them to slavery. Their story became one of the most dramatic and celebrated freedom journeys in Detroit's history.

We appreciate everyone who attended the lecture and helped us explore this important chapter of our region's past.

Happy Juneteenth from the Belleville Area Museum.

Please follow and share.

06/19/2026

Juneteenth is a time to gather as a family, reflect on the past and look to the future. Discover ways to celebrate this African American cultural tradition of music, food and freedom.

Our next lecture is Thursday, June 11th. "Midnight: Detroit and the Underground Railroad," will be presented by Catheri...
06/10/2026

Our next lecture is Thursday, June 11th. "Midnight: Detroit and the Underground Railroad," will be presented by Catherine Waldecker of the Detroit Historical Society 313.

History is full of stories waiting to be discovered. Be sure to follow the Belleville Area Museum page for updates on future lectures, exhibits, and special events.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent lecture, "Lost Film and Media," presented by Tyler Moll of ...
06/08/2026

A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent lecture, "Lost Film and Media," presented by Tyler Moll of The Wayne Historical Society . Tyler shared a fascinating look at the history of lost films, forgotten recordings, and remarkable discoveries that helped preserve pieces of our culture.

Thank you to all who attended and participated in the discussion.

Did You Know? Early motion picture film was made from nitrate cellulose, a material so flammable it posed a significant fire risk in theaters, projection booths, and archives. As a result, thousands of silent-era films were destroyed by fire, deterioration, or improper storage and are now lost forever.

Did You Know? Marion Stokes, a media archivist from Philadelphia, recorded television news broadcasts around the clock for more than 30 years. Her collection includes over 70,000 VHS and Betamax tapes containing approximately 350,000 hours of television history, preserving countless moments that might otherwise have been lost.

Our next lecture will be Thursday, June 11th. "Midnight: Detroit and the Underground Railroad," will be presented by Catherine Waldecker of the Detroit Historical Society.

History is full of stories waiting to be discovered. Be sure to follow the Belleville Area Museum page for updates on future lectures, exhibits, and special events.

We look forward to seeing you at our next lecture.

Address

405 Main Street
Belleville, MI
48111

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 4pm
Thursday 1pm - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+17346971944

Website

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