Awards & Recognition
Oakland County Underground Railroad Project Proclamation
On February 7, 2024, the Royal Oak Historical Society received this proclamation from the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for our work in helping to uncover the history of the Underground Railroad network in Oakland County.
his research is part of a five-community project on the Underground Railroad led by the Birmingham Museum and funded by a grant from the Michigan Council for the Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. It involves volunteer-based teams in Birmingham, Farmington, Royal Oak, Pontiac, and Southfield researching connections to the Underground Railroad in Oakland County communities.
As part of the project, a traveling exhibit will be on display at Royal Oak Historical Society Museum in early 2025. A huge thanks goes out to Don Drife, who has been working tirelessly on documenting the Hamer family from Royal Oak township. Read the recent article in HOUR Detroit magazine for more about the Hamers.
The Royal Oak Historical Society Museum
In 1997, the Royal Oak Historic District Study Committee and the Royal Oak Historical Commission sought a location to house the city’s collection of historical objects which were dispersed between the library and the Starr House. The Royal Oak Historical Society Museum was also seeking a permanent home for its collection. In 2003, the Royal Oak School District agreed to allow the Society to display artifacts in the Churchill Community Center. In March 2004, five women – Agnes Buhalski, Pat Eaves, Bonnie Linehan, Blanche Myerhovern Roth, and Muriel Versagi – each contributed funds to purchase the collection of Bill Rasmussen. This collection formed the nucleus of the museum. In 2009, the city of Royal Oak entered into an agreement with the Royal Oak Historical Society and Museum to lease the Northwood Fire Station (Webster Street Fire Station #2) as its permanent home.