Known as “The Motor City” for its automotive heritage, Detroit is home to the Automotive Hall of Fame and Henry Ford Museum, but you’ll find the city is much more than a mecca for gearheads.
Detroit is a true midwestern gem that everyone should explore at least once. Driven by entrepreneurial grit, filled with cultural landmarks, and carried by a lively music scene, you may be surprised to find that one visit to Detroit isn’t enough.
The Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the most-visited museums in the United States for good reason: it contains 65,000 works across 100 galleries spanning 658,000 square feet, including notable works from the likes of Van Gogh and Picasso. The museum itself is a piece of art, highly regarded for its Beaux-Arts, Italian Renaissance style- every twist and turn reveals something beautiful to examine.
Across from the Automotive Hall of Fame you’ll find a museum that was founded by Henry Ford himself- the man who revolutionized industry with his assembly line technique and grew the Ford Motor Company to one of the world’s greatest organizations.
The museum doesn’t just catalog cars, it contains an astounding collection of manmade objects that tell the story of American innovation. Inside you’ll find JFK’s Limo, Rosa Parks’ bus, Abraham Lincoln’s chair from Ford’s Theater, George Washington’s bed, Thomas Edison’s Lab, and much, much more. In fact, “The Henry Ford” as it’s called, is among the largest indoor-outdoor museums in the United States.
A stretch of 5.5 miles along the Detroit River is filled with parks, plazas, pavilions, and pathways known as the Detroit Riverfront. In addition to the beautiful waterfront scenery you’ll find a multitude of things to do along the way, from restaurants, shops, and skyscrapers to marinas, a cruise ship terminal, and the bridge to Belle Isle.
Keep an eye out for several tourist attractions within its reach, most notably Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, Dequindre Cut Greenway, GM Plaza, and Hart Plaza.
Who woulda thunk there’s an island in Detroit, Michigan?
The 982-acre Belle Isle Park was colonized by the French in the 1700s, originally named Pig Island for the livestock they let openly roam. It became the estate of an American General after the War of 1812, was renamed in honor of the Governor’s daughter in 1845, and in the early 1900s was re-imagined as an island park for the people of Detroit. It became a State Park of Michigan in 2014 following Detroit’s declaration of bankruptcy in 2013.
Aside from making the perfect picnic spot, highlights of visiting the island include hiking trails, biking trails, a botanical garden, conservatory, aquarium, nature center, fountain, and museum. It’s also a popular location for special events such as seasonal concerts and races.
In 1922, with the same trowel that George Washington used on construction of US Capitol, George Mason and Company laid the first cornerstone of the Detroit Masonic Temple. It’s 1926 grand opening was celebrated with a Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert on Washington’s birthday (Feb 22) and the tradition of hosting spectacular musical events lives on today.
The Detroit Masonic Temple is the largest Masonic Temple in the world, one of America’s most impressive examples of Gothic architecture, and it’s an amazing venue to see a live show. Even if you can’t catch a show, you should definitely consider taking a tour.
The DHM opened in 1928, dubbed “the highest museum in the world” for its one-suite location on the 23rd floor of what is now Cadillac Tower, quickly accumulating over 15,000 collected items.
In 1951, on the 250th Anniversary of the city’s founding, the Detroit Historical Museum finally got its permanent home on Woodward Avenue. Today, it chronicles the life and times of the region, complete with cobblestone streets, 19th century stores, an automotive assembly line, and a fur trading post from the 1700s.
A visit to the Detroit Historical Museum is a stroll through one of the most important places and times in American history.
Established in 1891, Eastern Market in Detroit holds the distinction of being the oldest continually operating public market in the United States. Sprawling over 43 acres, it’s a vibrant blend of food, culture, and community, offering everything from fresh local produce and meat to eclectic art, antiques, and Detroit-specialty goods.
On Saturdays, the market buzzes with excitement, hosting up to 45,000 visitors, transforming into a hub for live music, street food, and community events, making it a must-visit locale in the heart of Motor City.
Where better than Motor City to celebrate the men and women who revolutionized the world with their automotive innovations? Since 1939 the Automotive Hall of Fame has chronicled the moments and milestones that matter most, from explaining how the first highway was built to highlighting legends like Ferruccio Lamborghini to Mario Andretti.
Learn the exciting history of those who truly paved the way at the Automotive Hall of Fame!
Hop onboard the most unique and entertaining way to explore the Motor City: the Detroit People Mover. This 2.9-mile elevated, automated light rail system circles downtown Detroit, providing a convenient and fun mode of transportation to many of the city’s key attractions. Each of the 13 stations feature artwork that reflect the rich culture and history of Detroit.
Home to Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers since 2000, you’ll find much more at Comerica Park than a major league baseball field with stunning views of the city skyline. It’s carnival-like atmosphere includes a ferris wheel, carousel, huge tiger statues, giant water fountain, pedestrian museum enveloping the main concourse, and so much more. The venue seats more than 40,000 people and hosts concerts and other events throughout the year.