Things to see in Detroit
Attractions
Automotive Hall of Fame
No trip to the 'Motor City' would be complete without a visit to this museum. Founded in 1939, the strikingly designed Automotive Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements and innovations of the leading figures of the world's auto industry. Interactive exhibits and displays recount the history of the automobile, especially as shaped by the individuals who brought it to the world: Ferdinand Porsche, Soichiro Honda and many others.
Address: Dearborn, 21400 Oakwood Boulevard, Detroit, 48124Telephone: +1 313 240 4000.
Opening times:
Offices: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Museum: 0900-1700 | Oct-Apr: Friday-Sunday | May-Sep: Wednesday-Sunday
Admission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Motown Historical Museum
Motown Records, or Hitsville, USA was born in Detroit in the two simple houses that now form the Motown Historical Museum. See the recording studio (complete with worn floor from toe-tapping) where legendary musicians like The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson developed their unique sound. Also on display are a number of personal items like the US$800 loan given to founder Berry Gordy to produce his first record.
Address: , 2648 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit, 48208Telephone: +1 313 875 2264.
Opening times:
Tues-Sat 1000-1800.
Website: http://www.motownmuseum.org/Admission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Charles H Wright Museum of African-American History
The Charles H Wright Museum of African-American History was the vision of a Dr. Charles Wright, who wanted a centre to document and preserve black history, life, and culture. Once a travelling museum housed in a mobile home, it has grown into one of the world's largest museums dedicated to African-American history. Its exhibits focus on many aspects of black history, from the initial journey from Africa to the Underground Railroad, jazz, Malcolm X, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, and the Harlem Renaissance.
Address: , 315 East Warren Street, Detroit, 48201Telephone: +1 313 494 5800.
Opening times:
Tues-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1300-1700.
Website: https://thewright.orgAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Detroit Institute of Arts
The surprisingly low-key Detroit Institute of Arts houses one of the largest fine arts collections in the USA. The museum is dominated by a number of murals by Diego Rivera, who was commissioned to produce frescos on the Detroit motor industry. The musuem’s collections encompass a wide diversity of genres and include works by Rembrandt, Matisse, Picasso, Van Gogh, Degas, and Francis Bacon.
Address: , 5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, 48202Telephone: +1 313 833 7900.
Opening times:
Tues-Thurs 0900-1600, Fri 0900-2200, Sat-Sun 1000-1700.
Website: http://www.dia.orgAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
The Michigan Science Center
The stars at this planetarium are even bigger than the ones at Motown Records. Here’s you’ll find that state’s only IMAX Dome Theatre, as well as a Planetarium, a Science Stage, and the DTE Energy Sparks Theater, which specialises in interactive shows demonstrating how electricity affects the world. These are the main attractions, although the centre also has a variety of hands-on exhibits, demystifying subjects like motion, space, health and nutrition, physical science, engineering, and more.
Address: , 5020 John R Street, Detroit, 48202Telephone: +1 313 577 8400.
Opening times:
Tues-Fri 1000-1500 (Wed 1000-2000), Sat 1000-1800, Sun 1200-1800.
Website: http://www.mi-sci.orgAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Dossin Great Lakes Museum
The brainchild of Walter Dossin, a power-boat racing magnate, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum chronicles the flavourful history of Great Lakes boating and shipping through models, exhibits, paintings, and memorabilia. One of its most enticing attractions is the Gothic Room, which features 7.5 tonnes of carved gothic oak removed from the elegant turn-of-the-century river luxury liner, the City of Detroit III.
Address: Belle Isle, 100 The Strand Drive, Detroit, 48207Telephone: +1 313 833 5538
Opening times:
Wed-Sun 1000-1600.
Website: http://detroithistorical.org/main/dossinAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Belle Isle
Once known as Hog Island, the now more aptly named Belle Isle is a picturesque island in the Detroit River connected to the city by a small bridge. The whole island is now a park, and was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who also designed New York's Central Park. Albert Kahn, a well-known turn-of-the-century architect, designed the Belle Isle Conservatory, which contains regional flora from all over the country. Year-round features include a nature centre, beaches, a waterslide, tennis courts, and playgrounds. The island hosts the Detroit Grand Prix every June.
Address: , 2 Inselruhe Avenue, Detroit, 48207Telephone: +1 313 821 9844
Opening times:
Daily 0500-2200
Website: http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=736&type=SPRKAdmission Fees:
Yes for admission by car
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
Metropolitan Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau
Address: , 211 West Fort Street, Suite 1000, Detroit, 48226Telephone: +1 313 202 1800
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Website: http://www.visitdetroit.comPasses: There are no longer any dedicated tourist passes in Detroit, but the D Discount Pass, available on the bureau’s website, offers 20% or more off entrance to a number of Detroit’s most popular attractions.
Tourist passes
There are no longer any dedicated tourist passes in Detroit, but money saving coupons are available from the CVB's website.
