The Dearborn Historical Museum was founded in 1950 and is based out of two buildings from the old Dearbornville Arsenal; the McFadden-Ross House (previously the Powder Magazine) and the Commadant’s Quarters. The Arsenal was originally located in Detroit, but as the population grew so did concerns about safety in the burgeoning city. It was decided that the small farming community of Dearbornville was an ideal location to move the Arsenal.

Construction on the Arsenal finished in 1839 with the completion of the Powder Magazine. Many important buildings have been located in former Arsenal buildings including the Detroit-Dearborn Motor Company, the Masonic Lodge, even a town hall, school, and public library having been housed in the Commadant’s Quarters.

In 1996, the museum added the Gardner House to its campus. The Gardner’s moved to the Dearborn area in the early pioneer days, making them one of the first families to settle here. The museum is happy to have the oldest standing home in Dearborn as an attraction.