The Islamic Center of America has been serving the needs of area Muslims since 1963. The center traces its roots back to 1949, when its founder, Imam Mohamad Jawad Chirri, first traveled to the United States at the request of the then small Muslim community in the Detroit area. Formerly located in Highland Park, Mich., the Islamic Center opened the doors at its current location in 2005. The center's mission is not only to preserve and teach the religion of Islam, but also to educate the American public about Islam and the Arab culture. The symbolism and design of the Islamic Center are examples of Islamic-inspired architecture. The 70,000-square-foot facility houses the main prayer room, a full-service banquet hall, offices and the adjacent school building for the Muslim American Youth Academy (MAYA). The center offers tours for groups and individuals.
The Finnish Cultural Center & Hall lets all members experience Finnish culture through classes, folk dancing, singing, drama, cooking and weaving classes. The center also has concerts with Finnish American Singers. Other events held include the Pikku Joulou, Scandinavian Bazarr and summer jamboree.
The center has a gift shop that sells jewelry, books, novelties and specialty foods. The center also has the Finlandia Gardens. The gardens are full of garden statuary and benches among a variety of flowers and flowers native to Michigan. The Finlandia Gardens are open to the public, and the garden club meets on Mondays.
The center also offers a banquet hall that can accommodate 250 people. A full bar and catering is available. There is also a lounge available for rental that can accommodate 75 people.
Under the ownership of the Plymouth Department of Parks & Recreation, the Plymouth Cultural Center is a multi-purpose facility available for rent. The building's reception room has a stage, chairs and 6-foot round tables to accomodate 180 people. The smaller rooms seat 50. The facility can be used for business meetings, receptions, showers or other special events.
