18 Top-Rated Detroit Tourist Attractions
Many visitors choose to enjoy the aura of Detroit which is referred to as “The Motor City”. Detroit is a city that features an array of museums, art galleries, zoos, as well as major league sporting events and the nation’s largest urban island park. Some of the main attractions within the city are the Renaissance Center, Greektown, the Detroit Theater District, and the Cultural Center.
Traveling with the kiddies and don’t know where to go? There are theme parks and zoos in the area, ready to entertain and satisfy your little ones. Stop by Belle Isle on East Jefferson Avenue, which can be found east of downtown. This 1,000-acre island park was designed by the same architect that designed New York City’s, Central Park. A beautiful view of the downtown Detroit Skyline awaits your arrival, as well as a variety of activities, including guided nature walks, swimming, tennis, and a nature center. If you are lucky to visit during June, you will be able to enjoy the Detroit Grand Prix, which is held for three days.
The Ambassador Bridge
This marvelous busiest suspension bridge lies over the Detroit River and was built in 1929. Its height was about 150 feet and 9,200 feet in length, which allows the tallest ships to pass below it. Yearly more than 10 million vehicles pass through it. The scenic beauty of the cities, lakes, and rivers can e viewed from this bridge.
Motown Historical Museum
The Motown Historical Museum is one of the most well-known attractions in Detroit. This building was once home to the famous Motown Records and Tamla Records in the 1960s. Popular artists such as Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye and the Supremes were known for recording some of their chart-topping albums at what is now the Motown Historical Museum. View the recording studio and get a feel for the classic era of Motown Records.
Henry Ford Museum
The first ford car was built in Detroit in 1896 by Henry Ford. The inheritance of Henry Ford is identified at each turn of his native. Henry Ford, the nation’s largest indoor-outdoor museum complex is situated in Detroit, occupying more than 90 acres. There are about more than ten thousand of exhibits including illustrations and documentation.
Museum hours vary in the Detroit area, but you will notice that most of them are open by 10 or 11 am and trend to close in the evening. Some of the smaller museums will be closed during the lunch hour. You will also find that many museums will be closed on Mondays. A special treat is when they stay open late on Wednesdays and sometimes offer free admission.
Automotive Hall of Fame
Detroit’s Automotive Hall of Fame draws car buffs from all over the world. It is located very near to the Henry Ford Museum. Visitors can design their own cars and can involve in safety displays.
Detroit Historical Museum
Not only does this location offer a delightful history dealing with the automotive industry throughout Detroit, but it also features many other historic tales. A few perks of the museum include Lawrence Scripps Wilkinson Toy Collection, the Glancy Train display, as well as an interesting exhibit tracing African American businesses.
The museum offers a chance to tour through the city’s history. Allow the visitors to explore 19th centuries streets, shops, and the underground railroad. Little and aged persons are delighted by the Glancy Trains toy train.
Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Michigan; Phone: 313-833-1805
Henry Ford Estate
The home of famous automotive pioneer Henry Ford and his wife Clara both lived here from 1915 till 1950. It was built with 56 rooms of carved stone and wooden artworks. It also includes his own garage, his best collections of car, and a wonderful garden with waterscapes.
The Metro Beach
The Metro Beach lies along Lake St.Clair covered with sand for about 1000 feet. The beach was surrounded by 770-acre property which provides lots of isolation for the visitors. The swimming pool, paved bike trails, a pool with slides, a golf course, and marina facilities makes the trip pleasurable.
Belle Isle Park
The park occupies about 1000 acres and engaged by enough outdoor funs and games. It was a nice retreat for the natives for the past 150 years. People mainly utilize it for walking and hiking. Two yacht clubs, a swimming beach, a zoo for children’s, a fabulous aquarium, handball courts, tennis courts, and many other enjoyable places are situated near this park.
Heidelberg Project
It was a street art exhibition created out of wastes such as junks and abandoned cars, clothing, shoes, vacuum cleaners. Mr. Tyree built this during the year 1980s.
The Eastern Market
This market is the main place for farmers, for delivering their products. It includes the largest outdoor flower market in the US. More than 150 foods and a variety of businesses are exhibited here.
Detroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of the Arts is known to have one of the best art collections in the entire country. Here you will find more than 65,000 beautiful works of art, each offering something different and amazing to look at. Through a tour of the museum, visitors will see mummies, Monet paintings, African tribal masks, modern art and much more. The African American Art center within the institute showcases hundreds of pieces by famous African American artists from around the world. These exhibits will provide visitors with educational experiences unlike any other in Detroit.
It ranks fifth in America with 65,000 illustrations and boasts about 100 galleries. The display includes mummies to Mattisse, antiquities of Asians to impressions of America. The stunning masterwork includes Brueghel the Elder, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Rubens, Cézanne, Caravaggio, and Picasso.
Comerica Park
This is the home of the Detroit Tigers, which are charter members of Major League Baseball’s American League. Here you will not only be able to enjoy a good game, but you will encounter huge sculptures of tigers, bats, and balls, as well as a carousel and Ferris wheel.
Come out and watch a baseball game at the ever-popular Comerica Park. This ballpark is home to the Detroit Tigers. Unlike any other ballpark, Comerica Park combines amusement attractions and museum exhibits with a baseball field and arena. Celebrate the culture of Detroit and enjoy riding the Ferris wheel, carousel, and more, each themed around the majestic Tiger species.
Comerica Park, 2100 Woodward Ave, Detroit, Michigan; Phone: 313 471 2555
Fox Theater Building
The Fox Theater Building, located in downtown Detroit, was first built in 1928. This movie and performing arts center are one of the oldest in Detroit that still runs plays and movies today. From Broadway performances to classical concerts, different events may vary from season to season at the Fox Theater. With over 5,000 seats in this auditorium, it is also the largest movie and performing arts theater within the city of Detroit.
This gem can be found in the heart of the Theater District. This location features 5,000 seats and beautiful 1920s architecture that has since been restored. The style of decoration is considered Siamese Byzantine and features a variety of cultures, such as Persian, Burmese, Indian, Siamese, as well as Chinese. This is the place to seek out when you want to enjoy a touring Broadway musical, concert or any other special event.
Fox Theater, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Michigan; Phone: 313-596-3200
Old St. Mary’s Church
Old St. Mary’s Church was first constructed in 1841 and is the third oldest parish center within the Detroit area. The Romanesque-Venetian style architecture of the building is a must-see while visiting the city. Beautiful columns and granite work make up the church, school, and rectory. This grand old church is truly one of the most beautiful in the country.
Final Word
Other attractions that you can explore throughout the city deal with the area’s historic accomplishments, culture, as well as music. You may choose to visit the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History or take the kiddies to the Detroit Science Center. Other notable sights include The Detroit Public Library and Wayne State University.