Ypsilanti Historical Museum
220 N. Huron
c. 1860, Italianate

The Ypsilanti Historical Museum, Italianate style, known also as the Barnes—Ross House, was actually built by Asa Dow of Chicago, president of the bank and the Peninsular Paper Company, and a partner with Daniel Quirk in the Ypsilanti Woolen Mills Manufacturing Co. The house was owned and occupied by a number of other prominent citizens until 1900, and then divided into apartments. Atypical in plan, although with typical brick construction and hip roofs, the house is asymmetrical with a half octagonal bay on the front, sheltered by a porch with octagonal columns with ornamented bracketed capitals. Other Italianate details are eave brackets and stone hooded, arched—top double hung windows. The City bought the house in 1960, and In 1968 Mayor John Burton, one of the nation’s first black mayors, offered the house to the Ypsilanti Historical Society for use as a museum and archives. With some City funds and private capital, the building was restored to its original splendor and the Historical Society moved into it in 1970. Today it is one of the finest house museums and conununity archives in the state, with regular daily hours for researchers and weekend hours for visitors wishing to experience some of the community’s past.