Arab American National Museum

I went with my friend from Algonac, we drove in from the Mount Clemens area. I’d been eager to check out this place for a while and so I’m glad I finally got around to doing so. For students the tickets are five dollars each, so we ended up paying ten dollars total as we’re both students. Though ten dollars even not as students really isn’t all that bad. The Museum was three floors, the history and origins of Islam and the different cultures and religions that make up the Arab world being on the bottom floor, as well as a few artifacts: think calligraphy and early writing. With there also being a contemporary art exhibit also in one of the far rooms on the bottom floor. The basement was an exhibit revolving around modern Arab art. And the third floor, the second floor up from the ground. Had a bunch of beautiful and touching exhibits regarding Palestine, an interactive map which played easily digestible videos discussing colonization and how that’s affected the whole region. You also learn about Arab dispersement and migration. I won’t spoil too much, but this was a phenomenal museum with a beautiful gift shop, which also features handmade Palestinian artwork. It’s always been amazing to see Arab culture flourish in Dearborn, and it was an amazing opportunity to learn and experience the culture basically in our own backyard. Expect to spend a few hours here, my hour and a half was not nearly enough time and so I will certainly have to come back.

We really enjoyed this museum. There is a lot to read and take in on the second floor. It was interesting to find out the Arabic ancestry of many familiar people. Also interesting to see the stories of many immigrants. We appreciated the even treatment of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Park in the back. Enter in the front/street side.

Visited the museum for the Dearborn coffee week closing day panel event at the museum that was organized by mayor Abdullah Hammoud and his team. It was my first time at the museum I really liked it as it does a good job at explaining the Arab heritage. Definitely recommend visiting the museum if you’re in Dearborn

Let’s open our eyes. 👀 Continuing to learn about other cultures and their beginnings can only create more love, joy and everlasting peace. ☮️

A place from the community that gives back to the community. I got the chance to be one of the instructors for their wonderful photography programs “ Sura” for this year which gave me the chance to give back to the little ones. I wish they have more advertising budget for the plenty events that’s goin on on their plate that enriches the community Love working with you guys!

Went with my 8 year old son. As an Arab American I was happy to take my son to a museum that represents him and his background. We go to a lot of museums that represent other cultures and backgrounds and it was nice to go to one that we can relate to. I learned a lot about the first Arab Immigrants to the USA.

I was educated and entertained. The information was totally different from what I expected, it truly explains the Arab American experience in immigrating and assimilating into the culture. I appreciated that it mentioned a range of religions and was topical to what's going on today, but also very historic in it's archives of the past immigration, issues, and triumphs. Well worth the money if you have an open mind and want to learn...

Very amazing and unique museum. The first and only of its kind in the United States telling a full picture of the history and current status of the Arab immigrants to the states since it’s early days more than a century ago. I was so impressed and will visit one more time.

Purportedly the only museum devoted to Arabic Americans (a claim I'm inclined to believe) this interesting site appears to be housed in an abandoned bank. Comprising three smallish floors covered by an impressive-looking dome, the place is appropriately embedded in an area full of Arabic people and businesses. The shopping center adjacent to this building offers an abundance of free parking, but there is a moderate charge to get in. There is certainly enough history and imagery to excite the mind. Several of the exhibits focused on anecdotal accounts of what this or that Arab American accomplished, which I am of mixed feelings about. Sometimes the specificity is compelling, but other times this approach seems to undersell the broader social history it hints at. The museum is quite clear about separating Arab culture from the Islamic religion, noting that all of the Abrahamic religions come from the same region. It takes some stabs at things like Israel-Palestine and 9/11, but they aren't the sole focus of the museum. I walked out thinking that as with most museums, this one would have been well-served covering only the distant past and putting a moratorium on exhibits about recent events as their attempts at contemporary relevance seemed to be much less intelligent than those covering earlier history. There were also a lot of the sort of vague generalizations ("Some immigrants did this! Others didn't!"). But looking past its flaws, I found the museum to have enough thought-provoking content to be worth a visit.

I attended a great virtual event online, showcasing the museum holdings and cultural educational opportunities with tour leader Dave Serio. Dave was friendly and knowledgeable, leading the group on a virtual tour of some, but not all of the exhibits. The tour was accessible via Zoom. The event was captioned which helped a great deal. I found especially interesting the cultural artifacts attached to immigration, the Titanic stories - over 150 Arab passengers with only 29 surviving... and the discussions centering on what common ties that the various nations within the Arab world hold, and the significance & contributions of those things to the American experience. I learned quite a lot and really look forward to visiting in person some time. I'm posting several photos which I hope are useful to those who couldn't make the event, and hope it encourages visits.

I wanted to like this museum more. There wasn't enough artifacts to create connections with the variety of cultures. Maybe that's part of the problem in trying to connect the dots of the diaspora under one roof. The first floor is mostly placards with achievements of the Arab world. The second floor focuses on 20th century immigration and contributions of Arabs in society. Bigger than I thought but still modest in size. You will spend 30-60 minutes here unless you decide to read all the numerous placards.

The older I get, the more I fall in love with history. This museum is the FIRST of its kind in the U.S. Kinda crazy, right? Nevertheless, There is such a wealth of information here!!!! In the few floors that you are able to tour, you can see everything from the history of the culture, including writings and an explanation of the Muslim religion and the Koran, the history of their migrating to America and all that they dealt with, which contained so much stuff that I didn't know, but what I liked most was the learning about Muslim American in modern times and the various contributions they have made in society or how they were affected by 9-11. For instance, I didn't know that a Muslim American, Paul Anka, wrote the Frank Sinatra song "My Way." The building itself is BEAUTIFUL! The architecture has influence from Iran and it is gorgeous. Take an hour and go check this place out!

My brother and I were visiting Detroit this past weekend and decided to stop in at the Arab American National Museum when we were in Dearborn. While I'm glad we visited, the museum seemed pretty sparse in information and artifacts. I guess I just wanted more out of the experience? The building is beautiful, and the admission is a fair price, but there just wasn't that much there. The museum seemed mostly filled with bios of Arab Americans and their immigration stories. But it didn't really feel very personal to me. Given Dearborn and Detroit's large Arab immigrant populations, I guess I was expecting a lot of the museum. It was an okay visit, but I didn't feel like I got much out of the experience.

What a gorgeous and welcoming museum! Coming from a background in museum work, I'm well aware of the shifting role of museums. They have gone from "places to store objects" to becoming a way to share experiences and stories. The Arab American National Museum seems well in line with this new paradigm. I was drawn into so many intriguing stories on my recent tour. I only had a limited about of time to spend exploring exhibits, but the amount of interactivity was really amazing. I loved seeing the giant map of the "Arab World" as well as realizing just how many famous and public figures are/were Arab American. Sure, I knew Jamie Farr was Lebanese American, but I didn't know anything about the family heritage of Helen Thomas (who is also Lebanese American). Museum members are able to browse through a library with a vast amount of resources, including a book that caught me totally off-guard (it was about the role of camels in the American West!). The gift shop is gorgeous and easily accessible from the entrance - so if you just want to pop in to buy a unique present, you don't need to pay admission. But hey, you are already there, so if you have time, I encourage you to go in and explore. I'm hoping to bring some family members here soon (including one who has a background in exhibits) and spend more time. I am positive that young and old will find something here that will pique their interest and engage them in wanting to learn more. Isn't that what museums are all about? For me, at least, that's key!

Finally got around to checking out the AANM and was happy I did. The exhibits focus on storytelling the contemporary Arab American experience. There's some really cool photography and political cartoon exhibits circulating now that are worth checking out. Highly recommend the visit and also also going for some awesome eats nearby.

Some times you see something and do not really give it much thought. Then somehow your paths cross and you think about how you almost missed something great. I first spotted the Museum on Yelp, then I saw it again driving through town, I wouldn't of even stopped if I did not have a monkey wrench thrown into day and need something to pass the time. Entering the foyer we met a greeter behind a counter was very warm and welcoming, and set us up with all the information we needed to begin our self guided tour. Walking into the museum was spectacular a beautiful rotunda and a room full of elegance and style. A first time visitor may expect museum based on Islamic culture, this couldn't be farther from the truth. Immediately to your left is a copy and explanation of the Torah, The Holy Bible, and the Koran. The museum itself is more about Arab American culture and history than anything else. The gift shoppe was small and did not have a whole lot to offer however the prices were very reasonable. If you are in the area and enjoy expanding your knowledge this is a must.

The building is beautiful and six dollars is reasonable for admission, but somehow I was expecting more out of this. It was an educational experience, but the museum seems a little light on artifacts. It wasn't as big as I expected given the way it looked from the outside. Many of the exhibits had buttons you could push to hear a recording or to view an informational tidbit on a television screen but most of these buttons weren't working on the day I visited. I hurt my back recently and on the day I visited I was a little bit out of it on pain pills so perhaps that had something to do with me being left feeling wanting. I'd probably return here for a special event but not to see the museum again.

One of the best places to visit and appreciate the work of the people from the past tell today. Must see this and learn about the history of the Arab emigrants.

A few friends and I visited the Arab American National Museum to see a BBC panel discussion about covering the Middle East as a region hosted by Michigan Public Radio. It was my first time to the Museum and the experience was impressive. Everyone enjoyed the panel, the host did a good job mediating the discussion and the three BBC panelists offered incite into the editorial process at the BBC and the challenges facing journalists and news outlets covering the new in the region. Following the discussion we were able to enjoy a few refreshments and take a walk around the exhibits. All the exhibits were well put together and offered a good balance of hands on activities, written information, and visual displays. We all learned some interesting information and gained some historical perspective that will help us in understanding the role Arab American's play in the culture. There wasn't enough time to properly go through all the exhibits but I'm looking forward to being able to return and take more time walking through. Thanks again to the museum, Michigan Radio, and the BBC for creating the opportunity that brought us to the Museum.

I completely enjoyed my visit here. I came in not knowing what to expect, and I was very impressed. It is a modern museum, to be sure. This means that they focus on stories as much as artifacts, and I'm a big fan of this new style of museum. The building is fantastic architecturally, especially inside. There were some great, cohesive exhibit spaces, ranging from Arab immigration to the US through current-day Arab Americans (showcasing Arab Americans in the arts, politics, etc.) I learned quite a few things about Arab immigration that are definitely not covered in typical US history texts. Quite a few of the exhibits are very hands-on, and very well suited for kids, especially the "modern day" exhibits. I would love to go back and explore further; I didn't see the theatre downstairs. There's less exhibit space than one would expect, given the size of the building, but the exhibits they have are well done and well worth it. I'm lucky to live so close to Dearborn, to be able to visit a museum dedicated to a culture that not many people get to truly explore.

I really enjoyed their collection. The top floor has a ton of information, and you could spend hours up there. The bottom floor has a small art collection that I wish was larger. The main floor is pretty cool with a bunch of other Arab history. Good place to learn how Arabs have been in America longer then many people even know about.

Since I am a recent transplant, I figured I had to check this place out. I am not sure what I was expecting, but either way I was pleasantly surprised by this place. When I went, the telephone tour thing was not working. In general, this place could stand to benefit from a little bit more maintenance work. There were quite a few interactive displays that were not fully functional. There is gorgeous tilework here and I love the done architecture. The place is really beautiful. I really loved reading the stories of how various Arab immigrants have assimilated over time - from staying in Arab communities only to changing their names and marrying into American families that have been here for generations. As the child of Bangladeshi immigrants, I could certainly appreciate their struggles for identity. I especially like the section that illustrated how poorly Arabs have been portrayed in media - even from well before 9/11 and Al-Qaeda. I am glad I came here, and a few updates would make this place epic.

I've been to various museums in my lifetime, but I had never been to a museums that was strictly about Arab Americans. The museum talks about the history of Arab contributions from as far back as the Mesopotamia era until today. Downstairs in the basement they had photography taken by various people in the Arab community of the metro Detroit area. Upstairs had a few exhibits - famous Arab Americans (who knew that Tiffany and Shakira are of Arab descent?), the history of Arab migration to the United States, and various short films about everyday Arab Americans. While it is definitely worth the six dollars to visit this museum, I was surprised how few exhibits there were for such a seemingly large building.

I love museums and have been to hundreds. Worst museum ever. Beyond boring. Only Arabs would enjoy this and only if they had never been to a decent museum. ALL the other museums in Detroit are far better. This just seemed like propaganda.

During a recent trip to Dearborn, I decided to stop by the AANM with some friends. I didn't research it at all before going, so I wasn't sure what exactly to expect. The outside of the building is very pretty. The staff there was very nice and helpful, and students get into the museum for $4. I am not normally a person who spends a whole lot of time at museums or reads all of the little cards. Here, at the AANM, the exhibits were so engrossing that I didn't even realize I had spent almost 2 1/2 hours there and still hadn't seen all of the exhibits! The first/ground floor hosts the permanent exhibit about Arab Heritage, filled with interesting information and artifacts. All of the exhibits were great, but my favorite was the temporary exhibit titled "The Map Is Not The Territory: Parallel Paths -- Palestinians, Native Americans, Irish". The museum is a cut above, very well-laid out exhibits, with a mix of interactive and informative sections. I not for once felt bored. I also think the museum highlights the impact of Arabs and Arab-Americans in the USA and the world, and contains a lot of information that many non-Arabs would do well to be informed about. A lovely cultural experience. I like that they have a lot of moving exhibits, it is a museum I would love to return to in the future!

The space is quite lovely with high ceilings and daylight shining down. It did give an impression of a temple or mosque (not that I've been in one before). The lower level has static window exhibits highlighting Arab contributions to music, science, medicine, mathematics, exploration and literature. I learnt a lot and was reminded of the richness and advanced learning fostered by the Arabic countries. In the lower level was a temporary exhibit by a young contemporary graphic artist with striking drawing recounting her families experiences of war and displacement in Beirut. On the second floor was a large, multi room exhibition of notable people, contributions, hands on experiences, examples of fashion, furniture and design. An old fashion museum design but still very interesting. We were a bunch of Episcopalians who had a great time exploring and learning about the varieties and contributions of the Arabic culture. The gift shop is small but has beautiful and affordable items ( good place to pick up unique gifts).

We went on the Yella Eat walking tour. It was a disappointment. Besides the high expense of the tour, the guides are not well informed. No research or well thought out information is shared. If the shop oner shared no information then no information was shared by the guides. For instance in Shatila bakery we were given the free samples provided by the bakery but zero history. My suggestion would be to get better guides.

We originally visited the Arab American National Museum because we wanted to see a photo exhibit of images taken at the annual Concert of Colors (Detroit's fab world music/diversity festival--the museum is one of the festival presenters). The building doesn't look particularly imposing from the exterior, but the intricate tile and wood work, lighted dome, and other beautiful architectural details make seeing the building's interior worth the price of admission. The exhibits were fascinating--I found the stories of how, and why, Arabic peoples immigrated to this area particularly interesting. Fans of world music, dance, film, and performance art should definitely check out the museum's schedule of events. I just wrote an article for a blog about their annual Arab Film Festival (early December) and their ongoing Global Thursdays schedule of live concerts, performances and flicks from diverse cultures around the world. We also visited the gift store, where we had a great chat with the volunteer working the counter--and she gave us a great tip about a good Arabic bakery in the city!

Very informative and friendly in a beautiful modern building ... park in the back ... enter in the front. I am so glad I finally made time to visit! As a non-Arab, I have always been curious about Islam and the Middle East, and this museum is perfect place to gain an understanding of those questions. I recommend following the phone-guided tour at your own pace. The staff was very friendly and helpful with my questions after my visit too.

I've been to the museum as a chaperone many times and go often at least once a month for their events they have. Usually I take my parents with me to the Arabic concerts/music sing-a-longs. It's great to be there and to be even more enlightened about my culture and learn to embrace it. Makes me really proud and happy. Reasonably priced, staff are very helpful and intelligent, clean, and well maintained. Great learning experience.

Spent about 4 hours here on a Friday afternoon, and I probably could have spent even a little more (although I am the type that reads every last word on the plackards). I completely agree with others who commented on the museum more telling a story than showing artifacts (although there were quite a few artifacts). One neat thing that they offer--and this seems to be getting popular with museums--is iPod tours. Pre-load your iPod with their soundbytes and listen along as you get to each of the areas that has a soundbyte associated with it. They may also have iPods with the soundbytes on them that you can borrow; I am not sure. Another neat and techy feature was the "cell phone tour". When you get to special areas, dial in with your cell phone to hear about the topic. I never used these features (I just read the plackards) but they looked neat. The museum is modestly-sized. Square-footage wise, it doesn't even begin compare in size to some of the larger museums in Detroit, but it is so densely-packed with information that you can spend quite a bit of time here. The admission price is also a steal--$3 for students, seniors and children older than 6; $6 for adults. There is parking available right behind the museum. The building is pretty nice, architecturally-speaking and everything is pretty new (it was built in mid-2005). I came in the summer, and they crank the air up so that this place is as chilly as an icebox. Might want to wear a long-sleeve shirt? After you pay admission you walk into a modest atrium and read about ancient Arab culture ("Arab Civilization: Our Heritage"). If you have taken an ancient civilizations class, much of what you read about Arab contributions to math and medicine, art, architecture, music, as well as religion in the Arab world, will already be familiar to you. This section is very light on the artifacts, and a couple of the placards referenced artifacts that were missing from the display cases (on loan?). There is ambient music playing in the background which, while adding a nice touch, can be distracting when you are trying to read. A couple of the displays were "interactive" and, thus, could get a little annoying when commandeered by six-year-olds. They had two temporary exhibits when I went. "North African Jewelry and Photography from the Xavier Guerrand-Hermès Collection," which runs through August 8, 2010, was the first I checked out. I didn't really care for it too much, but it might be because I came in expecting not to like it--jewelry is really not my thing. I just don't get a kick out of jewelry. But the other temporary exhibit... oh boy, this one got me excited ("From Mocha to Latte: Coffee, the Arab World and the $4 Cup," runs through August 15, 2010). Before you begin with this exhibit, trek all the way to the back corner break-room and fill up on some joe (It's free! If coffee isn't your thing, they have tea and hot cocoa as well). Sit on the couch and chat with those accompanying you before you walk through the history of coffee. Unfortunately, coffee isn't permitted to be taken outside of the breakroom. This exhibit features a timeline along one wall, which traces the origins of coffee from humble beginnings as a plant to the emergence of the fair-trade movement and the Starbucks brand. They have lots of cool pictures and many of the picture captions cited flickr users (never seen this done before at a museum, but cool!). Sit down and watch a fifteen minute video about the processing of coffee beans, the history of Starbucks, making Turkish coffee, using a vacuum filter pot and making espresso. Then you can move on to all of the artifacts--coffee grinders, coffee percolators/makers, old-school coffee advertisements--all sorts of coffee paraphernalia. Caffeinated, I moved on to the exhibits on the second floor. "Coming to America" recounts the stories of local Arab Americans in their journeys to America. Several of the stories were interesting, but this exhibit was difficult to follow because it was very fragmentary. It was one random chronicle after another without much continuity. "Living in America" gave a taste of what it was like in America as an Arab American. The final exhibit upstairs, "Making an Impact" was really neat in that it highlighted the accomplishments of many prominent Arab Americans. I would venture to say this was probably the most "interactive" exhibit in the museum, and it was filled with artifacts. This museum is definitely worth the price of admission and is a good way to spend an afternoon. The Friday I went, it was pretty empty. Maybe it is busier on the weekends? They also rent out space for private events--it would definitely be a cool venue to have an event at.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Arab American National Museum. I went with my Peace and Conflict class and only got a quick overview; I wish I got to spend more time there. I will definitely be going back to get a deeper look. It had very interesting exhibits on the history of Arabs in America and their contributions to America and the world. I'm bringing my father with me on my next visit, which will be very soon.

The facility is beautiful! The guides were a bit "harsh" toward high school students however.

I give up! I ordered a tshirt from you guys 6 weeks ago.......it never came and I was charged. I called and spoke to Adam. Twice. He said it was sent it twice and I am still waiting. He never could provide tracking info or where my tshirt was received at. Not cool. Almost $30 spent, no refund and no customer service--beware of ordering things online from this museum. VERY unhappy customer. I even left 2 phone messages and nobody called me back.

I had a difficult time knowing that there was a library. I wish the library was open more. I just contacted the library and they were very helpful. I am listening to three artists they recommended, it's a great cultural experience. Salam (peace)

A visit to the Arab American National Museum has long been a goal, and I finally achieved it this past weekend. I am pleased to report it did not disappoint. I was struck by the compelling demonstration of the Arab experience. It was extremely well done, and I will definitely go back some day soon.

quite good，deserve going to have a look but not sure whether the food is served for visitors