MMM Lecture Series: Prohibition in Michigan – How the Waterways Shaped History
Date
December 9, 2026
Start Time
6:30 pm
End Time
7:30 pm
Event Details
Discover how Michigan’s rivers, lakes, and shorelines turned into front-line battlegrounds during the era of the 18th Amendment. The Detroit River, St. Clair River, and Lake Michigan were major smuggling corridors, moving liquor from Canada into cities and small towns alike. From rum-running boats and winter ice routes to organized crime, law enforcement, and everyday citizens who quietly defied the law, we’ll take a look at how waterborne networks made Prohibition impossible to fully enforce and ultimately positioned Michigan as a key player in the national fight for repeal.
Tickets are free for Museum members and $10 for non-members. Doors open at 6 PM. You can purchase tickets for this event online, over the phone, or in-person.
