Detroit takes many a visitor by surprise with its vast array of excellent museums. While you may expect to find a decent auto museum in Motor City, you may not expect to see such beautiful cultural delights as can be found in the city’s art museums, or such important representation as in the number of heritage museums. Here are the 10 you must visit.
Detroit Institute of Arts
Where else to begin in Detroit? The Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the world’s finest art museums; its huge collection of art from across the globe features everything from Egyptian statuettes and suits of armor to paintings by Monet and Van Gogh. Set in 100 galleries, not forgetting Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry frescoes in the central court of the museum, you’ll need multiple visits to truly appreciate it all.
Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI, USA, +1 313 833 7900
DIA | © Quick fix / Flickr
The Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn | © Mike Steele / Flickr
The Henry Ford Museum
Far more than just a car museum, the Henry Ford Museum and adjacent Greenfield Village are full of historically significant objects, including the bus on which Rosa Parks defied segregation, the chair in which Lincoln was sitting when he was assassinated, and Thomas Edison’s laboratory. If you’re in Motor City for cars though, there’s the first car Ford ever built, and you can ride in a Ford from 1923.
The Henry Ford Museum, 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI, USA, +1 313 982 6001
Motown Museum | © Dig Downtown Detroit/Flickr
Motown Museum
The building where it all began is fittingly now a monument to the magic of Motown. Famously started with an $800 loan from his family, Berry Gordy’s Motown Records became one of the world’s favorite labels, and you can celebrate it all in this museum started by his sister in 1985. Tours include Berry’s apartment, the label’s offices, rooms of memorabilia, and even the legendary Studio A.
Motown Museum, 2648 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI, USA, +1 313 875 2264
Motown Museum | © Dig Downtown Detroit / Flickr | © Dig Downtown Detroit/Flickr
MOCAD | © kevin slavin / Flickr
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
Set inside an old, abandoned car dealership, the repurposed industrial setting of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit is perfect for reflecting not only the city but also the art on display. With no permanent collection, aside from maybe the graffiti outside, the art is always changing, and there are musical, literary and artistic events too, as well as educational programming. Admission is “pay what you can.”
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI, USA, +1 313 832 6622
MOCAD | © kevin slavin / Flickr
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History | © John S. and James L. Knight Foundation/Flickr
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Founded in 1965 by Dr. Charles Wright, the Wright Museum exists to document, preserve and educate the public on the history, life, and culture of African American people. It’s home to over 35,000 artifacts and archival materials and also features the largest exhibition on African American history in the world.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, 315 E Warren Ave, Detroit, MI, USA, +1 313 494 5800
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History | © John S. and James L. Knight Foundation / Flickr | © John S. and James L. Knight Foundation/Flickr
Detroit Historical Museum | © JasonParis / Flickr
Detroit Historical Museum
The primary museum from the Detroit Historical Society has been around in one form or another since 1928 when it occupied a single room in a downtown skyscraper. Since then, it has grown significantly, with exhibits depicting over 300 years of Detroit history, demonstrating how it evolved from a French fur trading post into a major industrial center.
Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI, USA, +1 313 833 1805
Detroit Historical Museum | © JasonParis / Flickr | © JasonParis / Flickr
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant | © Chuck Simmons / Flickr
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
The historic Ford Piquette Avenue Plant was the birthplace of the revolutionary Model T and became a museum in 2001 after the building was threatened with destruction. Guided tours teach you all about the early auto industry and what Detroit was like at the time; there are also plenty of classic cars to view.
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, 461 Piquette St, Detroit, MI, USA, +1 313 872 8759
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant | © Chuck Simmons / Flickr | © Chuck Simmons / Flickr
Dossin Great Lakes Museum | © el cajon yacht club/Flickr
Dossin Great Lakes Museum
Another free museum from the Detroit Historical Society, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle is dedicated to telling the story of the Great Lakes and the region’s rich maritime history. Permanent exhibits include a bow anchor from the famous SS Edmund Fitzgerald, the pilot house from a Great Lakes freighter, and a restored smoking lounge from the SS City of Detroit III.
Dossin Great Lakes Museum, 100 The Strand, Detroit, MI, USA, +1 313 833 5538
Dossin Great Lakes Museum | © el cajon yacht club / Flickr | © el cajon yacht club/Flickr
Michigan Science Center (MiSci)
If you prefer your museum a bit more hands-on, MiSci is a far more interactive experience, with live stage shows, a 4D theater, and lab activities and exhibitions with which to get involved. There’s also an IMAX® theatre, a planetarium, and After Dark events for those over the age of 21 to enjoy the museum with a drink or two.
Michigan Science Center, 5020 John R St, Detroit, MI, USA, +1 313 577 8400
Michigan Science Center | © Jeff Dunn / Flickr
Arab American National Museum | © Knight Foundation / Flickr
Arab American National Museum
The Dearborn area has the greatest concentration of people of Arab descent in the U.S., so it’s a fitting place for the country’s only museum dedicated to Arab Americans. Its collection is broken into art and artifacts documenting experiences of coming to America, making an impact here, and preserving heritage.
Arab American National Museum, 13624 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI, USA, +1 313 582 2266
Arab American National Museum | © John S. and James L. Knight Foundation / Flickr | © Knight Foundation / Flickr