For over 100 years, Detroit has been a global leader in manufacturing automobiles. Learn about this history and see how the city has reinvented itself as an exciting place to live and visit.
Cultural attractions include numerous museums and art galleries. At the Detroit Institute of Arts, one of the nation’s top museums, browse 65,000 artworks from ancient to modern times. The Detroit Historical Museum covers the region’s interesting past, including the Motor City exhibit, relaying 100 years of automotive history. Bring kids to experiment in the Michigan Science Center.
Detroit is home to Motown Records, the innovative label that brought music from The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and many others to the attention of everyone in the country. Relive the early days of Detroit’s music scene at the Motown Museum, also known as Hitsville U.S.A.
Walk along the Detroit Riverwalk presented by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy. The Detroit Experience Factory offers a free tour, providing information about Detroit’s history, including its role in Prohibition and the Underground Railroad.
Detroit grew along with the automotive industry. Some of the most impressive architectural structures from the city’s heyday remain today. See the art deco skyscraper Guardian Building, once a major financial center for Detroit’s huge industrial complex. The Fisher Building is another tall tower built for automotive industrialists who contributed greatly to cultural and civic development in the city. Visit the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, where Henry Ford initiated mass production of the Model T in 1908.
Watch the NFL Detroit Lions play football at Ford Field and the MLB Detroit Tigers play baseball at Comerica Park. Use the fun Detroit People Mover light rail system to get around the city.
Escape to Belle Isle Park’s nature center, aquarium, golf range, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and the popular Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. For a quick international experience, cross the Detroit River for a visit to the Canadian city of Windsor – just remember to bring your passport.
