TROY, Mich. – Amid the bustling commercial districts of Troy, filled with shopping, dining, and the well-known Somerset Collection, lies a unique treasure that takes you back in time: the Troy Historic Village.
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This remarkable site features 11 meticulously preserved buildings surrounding a charming gazebo, offering a glimpse into life during the early 19th and 20th centuries.
“People famously ask, ‘Where’s Troy’s downtown?’ This is it! This is the downtown,” said Executive Director Jen Peters as she gave WDIV anchor/reporter Ty Steele a personal tour of the site.
Despite its location right on Wattles Road, many residents are surprised to discover it.
“That’s something we hear every week — someone walks in and says, ‘I’ve driven past this a hundred times and never knew what it was,’” Peters said.
The village includes a log cabin, a general store, a church, a one-room schoolhouse, and homes dating back to the 1820s. Historical interpreters, like Sarah Faist, help bring the past to life. Interactive experiences, from laundry demonstrations to hands-on crafts, allow visitors to appreciate the resilience and simplicity of early settler life.
“The beautiful thing about history and working at a place like this is we can investigate and share these stories with everyone,” says Faist.
Tens of thousands of people visit Troy Historic Village every year – including tours from schools across the Detroit Metro area.
“It is a gem,” said longtime Troy resident Megan Swoyer, who also teaches art classes at Troy Historic Village and remembers taking her two sons here when they were young. “It’s right here on Wattles. People drive by it, and they don’t know that it’s here. It’s like a miniature Greenfield Village.”
If you’re looking for a break from the fast pace of modern life, a visit to the Troy Historic Village is the perfect way to step back in time. Open year-round from Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the village also hosts community events such as Victorian Christmas and Cocoa and Crafts with Santa.
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