TOP THINGS-TO-DO DOWNTOWN DETROIT
Downtown Residents recommend the Top Things-To-Do Downtown Detroit that define the spirit of the city.
Detroit has several remarkable and unique Things To Do and sights to see. Venues not seen anywhere else or fun enough that they are well worth a visit.
(See also Sport/Event Venues; Theaters; Casinos)
Home to an extensive array of Motown artifacts, photographs and other memorabilia, the Museum’s mission is to preserve the legacy of Motown Record Company and to educate and motivate people. The restored upper flat is where Berry Gordy lived with his young family during the company’s earliest days.
Diana Ross & The Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson & The Jackson 5, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Lionel Richie & The Commodores, ..
New Center Area
Internationally recognized cultural destination that brings the past forward by immersing visitors in the stories of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation that helped shape America. A national historic landmark with an unparalleled eclectic collection of artifacts from 300 years of American history. The 12-acre site is primarily a collection of antique machinery, pop culture items, vintage automobiles, locomotives, aircraft, and other items.
Examples:
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The 1961 Lincoln Continental, SS-100-X that President John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated
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The rocking chair from Ford's Theatre in which President Abraham Lincoln was shot
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A collection[20] of several fine 17th- and 18th-century violins including a Stradivarius
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The bus on which Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat
Dearborn, Michigan
Greenfield Village is the outdoor living history museum section of the Henry Ford complex. The first outdoor museum of its type in the nation. The museum's mission is to show how Americans have lived and worked since the founding of the country. Greenfield Village includes buildings from the 17th century to the present.
Examples:
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Noah Webster's Connecticut home
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The Wright brothers' bicycle shop and home
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A replica of Thomas Edison's Menlo Park laboratory complex from New Jersey
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Henry Ford's prototype garage where he built the Ford Quadricycle
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Harvey Firestone family farm
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The Logan County, Illinois courthouse where Abraham Lincoln practiced law
Dearborn, Michigan
Exhibits in the Deroit Historical Museum's 78,000 square foot facility present the history of southeastern Michigan, and include the favorite and newly renovated Streets of Old Detroit, recreating Detroit street scenes from the 1840's, 1870's and early 1900's. Cobblestone streets, 19th century stores, an auto assembly line, toy trains and a fur trading post from the 1700s, and much more. A great way to understand the City of Detroit and its history.
Midtown Detroit
The world-renowned Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), is one of the premier art museums in the United States - home to more than 60,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. The foundation was laid by William Valentiner, a scholar and art historian from Berlin, who was director from 1924 to 1945. His extensive contacts in Europe, along with support from generous patrons, enabled him to acquire many important works that established the framework of today's collections.
In addition to outstanding American, European, Modern and Contemporary, and Graphic art, the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum holds significant works of African, Asian, Native American, Oceanic, Islamic, and Ancient art. In 2000, the DIA established the General Motors Center for African American Art as a curatorial department in order to broaden the museum's collection of African American art.
2024 USA Today - named as the nation’s best art museum Readers’ Choice Awards
Midtown Detroit
With live stage shows, an IMAX® Dome, a 4D theater, a Planetarium, an 8,700 square foot special exhibit hall, and 220+ interactive exhibits, the Science Center has a lot to offer children and adults alike. Affectionately known as MiSci, this is a STEM engagement hub where discovery, learning and interactive participation meet. The exhibits, programs and science shows explore various topics in STEM and promote literacy and understanding of the natural world and the built environment.
Midtown Detroit
The birthplace of the Ford Model T car, the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum is recognized as one of the most significant automotive heritage sites in the world.
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The Ford Motor Company’s first purpose-built factory. Previously space was rented on Mack Ave.
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Ford Models B, C, F, K, N, R, S, and T were assembled here.
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The Ford Model T was developed here, introduced in 1908 as a 1909 model.
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The first 12,000 Model Ts were assembled here and shipped out by railroad.
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Ford Motor Company relocated to its new Highland Park Plant in 1910, selling the Piquette building to Studebaker in 1911.
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Studebaker used it for automobile production until 1933.
Milwaukee Junction (Near New Center)
Located on Detroit’s riverfront in the historic former Globe Building, with the Dequindre Cut Trail running through its backyard, the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center gives you a taste of Michigan’s great outdoors in the heart of the city. Amazing family fun venue, bring the kids. Experience exciting outdoor adventures with hands-on activities, exhibits and simulators – walk behind and touch a waterfall, step into a fishing boat and reel in a big fish, hit the trail on a mountain bike or snowmobile, and much more. Climb the roots and explore the canopy of our bur oak tree, hop aboard our airplane, and see what’s swimming in our aquarium.
Rivertown Neighborhood
Founded in 1903, Pewabic is one of the oldest continually operating potteries in the country. Working out of a National Historic Landmark studio on Detroit's east side, Pewabic preserves a tradition of hand craftsmanship that has enriched lives for generations. Visit this active working pottery, architectural tile studio, ceramic arts education center and vibrant cultural destination that attracts visitors from around the world every year.
Eastside Detroit
The oldest aquarium in the country. The Belle Isle Aquarium was designed by famed Detroit architect, Albert Kahn, and opened on August 18, 1904. Home to a unique collection of fish. With one of the largest collections of air-breathing fish in the world; the only known collection of all 7 species of gar in North America. You will travel all over the globe exploring the Great Lakes and Waters of the world. From Africa to South American from rocky shores to sandy depths all different environments are on display.
Belle Isle
Belle Isle State Park, a 985-acre island park located in the Detroit River near downtown Detroit, is rich with history and natural beauty and provides spectacular views of Detroit to the North and Canada to the south. Extensive natural forest areas, plenty of picnic space. Picnic, jog, nature walk, swim at the beach, ride bicycles, fish, kayak, golf, and more. The island's 200-acre forested wetland is one of the largest wet-mesic flatwoods in existence … providing habitat for a large variety of rare plants, wildlife species and migrating songbirds. Home to Bald Eagles, Fallow Deer, Beaver, and more.
- Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
- Belle Isle Beach
- Belle Isle Childrens Playground
Eastside Detroit, Detroit River
One of the world's largest museums of African American history and culture. 120,000 square feet (11148 meters) of exhibit space, the Museum includes several exhibit galleries, a research library, classrooms and a museum store. The anchor exhibit, “Of the People: The African American Experience,” uses Detroit's own history to tell the story of the African-American experience in the United States.
Midtown Detroit
The Detroit International RiverWalk spans more than three miles, from Rosa Parks Blvd. to the Belle Isle Bridge. This breathtaking feature offers the RiverWalk Café for guests to fuel up for an enjoyable walk, run, bike ride or just to relax. Aside from taking a walk or bike ride on the Detroit Riverwalk, take in the sight of new Detroit developments, splash around in several fountains and splash parks for kids, ride the carousel, enjoy nature areas and take in the views of both Detroit and Canada.
Along Detroit River Downtown
Eastern Market is the largest public market district in the United States, and the Eastern Market farmers' distribution center is the largest open-air flowerbed market in the United States. There can be more than 150 food and specialty businesses. On Saturdays, about 45,000 people shop at the city's historic Market. Designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
East of Downtown
World famous Carhartt was born in Detroit in 1889. Known for rugged, high-quality working and outdoor clothing - jackets, shirts hats, pants, coveralls, boots, etc. The Carhartt Detroit Jacket is a classic. It was originally designed to be a rugged, durable garment for the American worker nearly seventy years ago. Over the years it has achieved worldwide acclaim as a workwear staple that transformed into a streetwear icon.
Headquarters Store - Midtown
Dating back to 1935, the restored Cliff Bell’s is a must-visit for jazz and architecture enthusiasts. The exterior was recently spruced up, and the interior features rich colors and textures, plus Art Deco fixtures and lighting. Live jazz almost every night of the week, with artists from all over the globe playing traditional and contemporary jazz. Wonderful venue - plan on reservations to get in. Dinner, cocktails, wine.
Downtown Detroit
The Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts is located in the city's theatre district in Downtown Detroit. It was built in 1928 as the Wilson Theatre and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The Music Hall is Detroit’s “people’s theater” – the place for high quality performing arts and education with an emphasis on dance, theater and music, particularly jazz. Includes the Aretha Jazz Cafe - The Café offers Detroiters and visitors alike a steady yet very diverse sampling of the sounds and the vibes that make Detroit a global music city. It’s a space for jazz but also for blues, soul, and rock ‘n roll. Poetry, hip-hop, and funk co-exist with periodic theatre, musical theater, and dance performances.
Downtown
