Dearborn Historical Museum

It is with deep sadness that the staff at the Dearborn Historical Museum reports that former Curator Mary MacDonald has passed. Mary had an amazing career at the DHM and worked in various capacities throughout her 50 plus years with the Museum. She started working at the DHM almost from the very beginning of the institution and her last role was that of Chief Curator. The Museum would not be what it is today without her tireless efforts to create some of the best educational programming and we honor her for her dedication to the rich history of Dearborn.

Mary will lie in state and there will be visitation on Sunday, November 20th from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Dearborn Chapel of Howe-Peterson Funeral Home at 22546 Michigan Avenue. A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 21 at the Chapel at 11 a.m. A private entombment will take place after the service. Flowers can be forwarded to her family via Howe-Peterson Funeral Home. All of us at the DHM express our sympathies and we send our prayers and thoughts to her family.

We regretfully announce that Winfield Arneson, the museum’s former curator passed away last week. Arneson was born in Wisconsin in 1930 and eventually joined the Dearborn Historical Museum staff as Curator of Research in 1960. From 1963 until 2002, Win Arneson served as the museum’s Chief Curator. During his tenure, the Commandant’s Quarters was renovated and the museum underwent several expansions. Arneson was passionate about the telling of history and will be missed by the Dearborn community. For arrangements, please visit the following link: Howe Peterson