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Detroit's Top Regional Attractions

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

315 E Warren Avenue  |  Detroit, MI  |  313.833.7900  | www.chwmuseum.org

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is the world's largest institution dedicated to the African American experience.  The museum provides learning opportunities, exhibitions, programs and events based on collections and research that explore the diverse history and culture of African Americans and their African origins. Housing over 30,000 artifacts and archival materials and home to the Blanche Coggin Underground Railroad Collection, Harriet Tubman Museum Collection, Coleman A. Young Collection and the Sheffield Collection, a repository of documents of the labor movement in Detroit, the museum also features:

 • 120,000 square feet and seven exhibition areas devoted to African Americans and their stories.

• And Still We Rise: Our Journey Through African American History and Culture, the museum's 22,000 square foot, interactive core exhibit.

• The Ford Freedom Rotunda and its 100 feet in diameter by 55 feet high glass dome; this architectural wonder is two feet wider than the State Capitol dome.

• Ring of Genealogy, a 37 foot terrazzo tile creation by artist Hubert Massey surrounded by bronze nameplates of prominent African Americans in history. 

• 92 flags displayed alphabetically by country and origin; these nations are places where significant numbers of African descendants reside.

• The General Motors Theater, a 317-seat facility for live performances, film screenings, lectures, presentations and more.

• A Museum Store that sells authentic African and African American art, books and merchandise.

Hours: Tue-Sat 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Sun 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Admission: $8.00 Adults, $5.00 Seniors & Youth 3-12

Detroit Historical Museum

5401 Woodward Avenue  |  Detroit, MI  |  313.833.1805  | www.detroithistorical.org

The Detroit Historical Museum, established in 1928, is one of America’s oldest and largest museums dedicated to metropolitan history.

Over 80,000 square feet of exhibition space house more than 600 historic artifacts in the heart of Detroit’s Cultural Center district.

You, your family and your friends will stroll through more than 300 years of metro Detroit history, including a 19th century street scene known as The Streets of Old Detroit, and an authentic auto assembly line known simply as The Motor City.

Hours: Wed-Fri 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, Sat 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Sun Noon to 5:00 PM

Admission: $6.00 Adults, $4.00 Seniors and Youth 5-17

Detroit Institute of Arts

701 Arch Street  |  Philadelphia, PA  |  215.574.0380  | www.dia.org

The DIA has been a beacon of culture for the Detroit area for well over a century. Founded in 1885, the museum was originally located on Jefferson Avenue, but, due to its rapidly expanding collection, moved to a larger site on Woodward Avenue in 1927. The new Beaux-Arts building, designed by Paul Cret, was immediately referred to as the "temple of art." Two wings were added in the 1960s and 1970s, and a major renovation and expansion that began in 1999 was completed in 2007.

    The DIA's collection is among the top six in the United States.

The museum covers 658,000 square feet that includes more than 100 galleries, a 1,150-seat auditorium, a 380-seat lecture/recital hall, an art reference library, and a state-of-the-art conservation services laboratory.

The DIA's collection is among the top six in the United States, comprising a multicultural and multinational survey of human creativity from prehistory 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. Among the notable acquisitions during his tenure are Mexican artist Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry fresco cycle, which Rivera considered his most successful work, and Vincent Van Gogh's Self Portrait, the first van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum collection.

A hallmark of the DIA is the diversity of the collection. In addition to outstanding American, European, Modern and Contemporary, and Graphic art, the museum holds significant works of African, Asian, Native American, Oceanic, Islamic, and Ancient art. Among these are the masterpiece sculpture Nail Figure from Zaire and a rare Korean Head of Buddha. 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.

The museum's director is Graham W. J. Beal, who arrived in 1999 from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. During his tenure Beal has established the General Motors Center for African American Art (2000), instituted a reorganization of the development and curatorial departments, and oversaw a six-year building renovation and gallery reinstallation project.

Hours: Wed & Thu 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Fri 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Sat & Sun 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Admission: $8.00 Adults, $6.00 Seniors, $4.00 Youth 6-17

Detroit International Riverfront

East Riverfront, Dequindre Cut and West Riverfront  |  Detroit, MI  |  313.566.8200  | www.detroitriverfront.org

The Detroit International Riverfront is an area of Detroit, Michigan that borders the Detroit River. It is managed by the nonprofit city sponsored Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization.

The Conservancy was formed with the mission of developing access on the Detroit International Riverfront. The entire vision is 5 ½ miles of Riverfront property, from the Ambassador Bridge to Gabriel Richard Park, just east of the Belle Isle Bridge, and will include the construction of a continuous RiverWalk along with plazas, pavilions and green spaces.

Once completed, the Conservancy is responsible for the improvement, operations, maintenance and programming of the Detroit International Riverfront in perpetuity.

The International Riverfront area extends from the Ambassador Bridge in the west to Belle Isle in the east, covering a total of 5½-mile (8.8 kilometer) and encompassing a multitude of parks, restaurants, retail shops, skyscrapers, and high rise residential areas. The comprehensive project has raised hundreds of millions of dollars to develop and manage the riverfront which has complemented the architecture and urban development of Detroit. The Marriott at the Renaissance Center and the Omni Hotel at Riverplace face the International Riverfront. The area features a variety of annual events and festivals including the North American International Auto Show.

Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

9311 Groh Road  |  Grosse Ile, MI  |  734.692.7608  | www.fws.gov

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only International Wildlife Refuge in North America. The refuge includes islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and waterfront lands along 48 miles of Detroit River and Western Lake Erie shoreline. Its location is unique -- situated in the heart of a major metropolitan area. Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is one of over 540 National Wildlife Refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within the Department of the Interior.

Call for hours, programs and costs.

Detroit Science Center

5020 John R Street  |  Detroit, MI  |  313.577.8400  | www.sciencedetroit.org

The Detroit Science Center is a hands-on museum that inspires its visitors to pursue and support careers in engineering, technology and science. The Science Center features five theaters, including Michigan’s only Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre, the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium, the Toyota Engineering Theater, the DTE Energy Sparks Theater and the Chrysler Science Stage; a 9,000 square-foot Science Hall for traveling exhibits; hands-on exhibit galleries focusing on space, life and physical science; the United States Steel Fun Factory; an exhibit gallery just for pint-size scientists; and a Special Events Lobby. It is the official home of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Hours: Tue-Fri 9:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Sat & Sun 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
 
Admission: $13.95 Adults, $11.95 Seniors and Children 12 and Under, $4.00 DSC Members

Detroit Zoo

8450 W 10 Mile Road  |  Royal Oak, MI  |  248.541.5717  | www.detroitzoo.org

    * Situated on 125 acres with many naturalistic habitats
    * Major exhibits include the Arctic Ring of Life, Australian Outback Adventure, Great Apes of Harambee, National Amphibian Conservation Center, Holden Museum of Living Reptiles, Penguinarium and Butterfly Garden
    * Open daily 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM November through March, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM April through Labor Day, and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM the day after Labor Day through October; closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
    * Admission is $12.00 for adults 15 to 61, $10.00 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $8.00 for children ages 2 to 14; children under 2 are free
    * Largest family attraction in Michigan with over one million visitors each year
    * Home to over 1,500 animals of 260 species
    * Mission of “Celebrating and Saving Wildlife”
    * Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums

GM Renaissance Center

200 Renaissance Center  |  Detroit, MI  |  313.567.3126  | www.gmrencen.com

Rising 73 stories above the Detroit River, the GM Renaissance Center dominates the glittering downtown Detroit skyline.  The Ren Cen is five and a half million square feet in size, has seven towers, dozens of stores and services, four movie theaters, a financial center, two foreign consulates, a fitness center, a 1,300 room Marriott hotel, four of the city’s hottest restaurants and an 1,100 seat food court.

The Ren Cen is about business too. It’s General Motors’ global headquarters with 5,000 GM employees, as well as over 4,000 additional people who work in the Ren Cen for tenant companies, retailers, restaurants and professional service organizations.

And it’s all about having a great Detroit experience.  Dine, shop, play and stay and tour at the Ren Cen and enjoy the new 3-mile RiverWalk, concerts on the Plaza and leisurely riverboat cruises.  Hop on the People Mover and discover all the fun “The D” has to offer – great music, theaters, festivals, restaurants, gaming, sports and more.

For more information, click to view the Store Directory and to get Directions to the GM Renaissance Center.

The Henry Ford

20900 Oakwood Boulevard  |  Dearborn, MI  |  313.982.6001  | www.thehenryford.org

The Henry Ford, a National Historic Landmark, (also known as the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, and more formally as the Edison Institute), in the Metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, USA, is the nation's "largest indoor-outdoor history museum" complex. Named for its founder, the noted automobile industrialist Henry Ford, and based on his desire to preserve items of historical significance and portray the Industrial Revolution, the property houses a vast array of famous homes, machinery, exhibits, and Americana. The collection contains many rare exhibits including John F. Kennedy's presidential limousine, Abraham Lincoln's chair from Ford's Theatre, Thomas Edison's laboratory, the Wright Brothers' bicycle shop, and the Rosa Parks bus. (Wikipedia.com)

The museum houses many notable features such as: an IMAX Theater, a model of the nuclear-powered Ford Nucleon automobile; an Oscar Mayer Weinermobile, the 1961 Lincoln Continental, SS-100-X, that President John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated; the rocking chair from Ford's Theatre in which President Abraham Lincoln was sitting when he was shot; George Washington's camp bed; a ten-person safety bicycle made in 1896; Thomas Edison's alleged last breath in a sealed tube.

Hours and admission vary by attraction at the The Henry Ford.  To find the latest hours, offerings and prices at this must-see Detroit destination, click here.

Motown Historical Museum

4454 Woodward Avenue  |  Detroit, MI  |  313.833.7900  | www.motownmuseum.com

Motown Historical Museum is one of Detroit’s most popular tourist destinations. Each year, the museum attracts thousands of visitors from across the nation and around the globe. The museum was founded in 1985 by Esther Gordy Edwards. Its mission is to preserve the legacy of Motown Record Corporation and to educate and motivate people, especially youth, through exhibitions and programs that
promote the values of vision, creativity and entrepreneurship.

The museum exhibits trace the roots of Motown’s remarkable story and chronicle its impact on 20th century popular culture and musical styles. The story begins with Berry Gordy, Jr. and a small house in Detroit that he christened, Hitsville USA (now home to Motown Historical Museum). The story continues as Motown evolves into a major entertainment enterprise that was among the most diverse and influential in the world.

The exhibitions include a fascinating collection of historical photographs, artwork, music, costumes and other memorabilia from this booming musical era. Each item tells a story – from the $800 loan given to Berry Gordy, Jr. by the Gordy family savings club (the Ber-Berry Co-op) to produce his first record – to the explosive popularity of Motown’s artists throughout the world. Visitors take a step back in time as they walk through the fully restored apartment that was once home to Berry Gordy, Jr, and stand in the original recording studio “Studio A” where Motown’s greatest hits were recorded.

Hours Tue-Sat 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Admission: $10.00 Adults, $8.00 Seniors & Children 12 and Under

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit

4454 Woodward Avenue  |  Detroit, MI  |  313.832.4665  | www.mocad.org

Located on Woodward and Garfield between the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Institute of the Arts, Wayne State University and the College for Creative Studies, the museum is an innovative addition to Detroit's vibrant Midtown neighborhood, and functions as a hub for the exploration of emerging ideas in the contemporary arts. The 22,000 square foot building, a former auto dealership, has been simply renovated to maintain its historic character. With its raw, flexible and cavernous spaces, the building is well suited to the exhibition of contemporary art. Our ambitious series of public programs includes lectures, musical performances, films, literary readings and educational activities for children.

The MOCAD Store includes merchandise not sold in the metropolitan area, including specialized art and culture magazines, journals and books, as well as limited edition artists t-shirts and other functional objects.

The mission of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit is to present art at the forefront of contemporary culture. As a non-collecting institution, MOCAD is responsive to the cultural content of our time, fueling crucial dialogue, collaboration, and public engagement.

Hours: Wed, Sat & Sun 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Thu & Fri 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Admission to Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit is free unless otherwise indicated.