New Black History Museum Opens in Restored Farmhouse Near Ann Arbor

The new African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County celebrates local Black history and spotlights the achievements of significant individuals who have contributed to the community's diversity.

The museum opened in a restored farmhouse at 3261 Lohr Road in Pittsfield Township, near Ann Arbor. It is open from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, with additional hours for special events, including classes and workshops.

In recognition of Black History Month in February, the museum is hosting a history exhibit, "Black History: Local Roots," which will showcase artifacts and stories from notable local Black families and individuals.

One individual who played an integral role in preserving the more than 180-year-old farmhouse was prominent Black architect David Byrd. Byrd and his wife, Letitia Byrd, purchased the home in 1975 for use as his office.

As the founder of Washtenaw Community College's construction technology program, Byrd used the farmhouse restoration project as an educational and employment opportunity for the college's students. He filled the house with 19th century furniture he restored, and his students helped build a chapel, the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, behind the home. The chapel was completed months before he died in 1987.

Byrd gained  notoriety for his restoration work in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., before he moved to Ann Arbor. In Ann Arbor, Byrd became a county commissioner, serving from 1968 to 1972, and advocated for affordable housing and civil rights.

According to an MLive report, the museum property was originally part of a 480-acre farmstead established by European settlers. Property ownership passed through several hands of farming families over the years.

Letitia Byrd eventually became one of the museum's founding members. For 15 years, the museum had used the farmhouse to store artifacts and host meetings. After her death, Byrd's son, Kip Lightfoot, sold the property to the museum in December 2022 and petitioned for it to be placed on a historic district registry in 2023.