Detroit Tourist Attractions
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Detroit, by far the largest city in the state of Michigan, lies on the north-west bank of the Detroit River and on Lake St Clair, between Lakes Huron and Erie.
Detroit Institute of Fine Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts displays a representative cross-section of man's artistic creation from the earliest cultures to the present day. Its strong points are the art of China; the art and culture of the Near East and classical antiquity; works of art, arms and armor of medieval Europe; and American art and culture (including 18th c. domestic interiors in Whiteby Hall, a mansion of 1754). The collection includes many masterpieces of European painting, including works by Rembrandt, Van Gogh (self-portrait), Matisse and Picasso.
Belle Isle
Grand Boulevard and the General MacArthur Bridge over an arm of the Detroit River lead on to Belle Isle, an island in the river (3 mi. long and up to 1 mi. wide) laid out with beautiful parkland, hiking trails, sports facilities and other attractions, including an Aquarium (freshwater fishes), a Safari Zoo, a Botanical Museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum (numerous ship models and other exhibits illustrating the history of shipping on the Great Lakes).
New Detroit Science Center
The Detroit Science Center has Michigan's only IMAX Dome Theatre, the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium, live science demonstrations and hands-on exhibits. The five exhibit galleries include the General Motors Motion Laboratory, Dow Foundation Life Sciences Laboratory, Waves and Vibrations Laboratory, Matter and Energy Laboratory and a Children's Gallery.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History
The Museum of African-American History, which illustrates the role of blacks in the history of the United States and their position in the city of Detroit. An interesting feature is the "underground railway" that enabled slaves to flee from Michigan into Canada.
GM Renaissance Center
Along the Detroit River are huge skyscraper complexes. Dominating them all is the Renaissance Center, with the 73-storey Westin Hotel and five other 39-storey towers containing hotels, shops, theatres, restaurants and public institutions.
Motown Historical Museum
The Motown Museum, the small shingle-clad building that was occupied from 1957 to 1972 by the studio where records of the "Motown sound" were produced. Visitors can see the actual recording studio where Marvin Gaye and others produced hit songs.
Civic Center
Mariners' Church (1849), the oldest in the city, was moved to make room for the Civic Center with its extensive congress and conference facilities and exhibition halls. Among them is the Convention Arena which, with the Cobo Hall, forms one of the largest exhibition halls in the United States, with numerous conference rooms of all sizes. Immediately west of the Cobo Hall is the Joe Louis Arena; in front of it is a bronze statue of the Detroit-born boxer whose name it bears. Between the Renaissance Center and the Civic Center is Hart Plaza, designed by the Japanese sculptor Isamu Noguchi, which is a popular meeting place in spring and summer (concerts and other performances, including part of the Montreux-Detroit Jazz Festival in May).
Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena, located along the banks of the Detroit River, is a 20,058-seat arena - Detroit's largest indoor venue. The arena hosts professional sports, college hockey, concerts, ice shows, and circus events.
Children's Museum
The Detroit Children's Museum began back in 1917 as a venture between the Board of Education and the Museum of Art. Galleries in the museum feature a mounted Bengal tiger, bird room, art gallery, American Indian artifacts, and natural history displays. It is part of the Detroit Science Center.
Detroit Public Library
The Detroit Public Library formally opened to the public on March 25, 1865. The initial collection included 5,000 books and was located in a room in the old Capitol High School. The library moved its present location on March 21, 1921. There are currently 10 departments within the main library and 23 branches.
Fisher Mansion
Completed in 1927, highlights of the Fisher Mansion include ornate stone and marble work, door and arches, along with rare black walnut and rosewood parquet floors. More than 75 ounces of pure gold and silver leaf highlight the decorative ceilings and moldings.
Grand Circus Park
Grand Circus Park features two notable statues as well as a fountain that honors Thomas Edison and is illuminated in the summer.The Detroit Opera House touches this park as does the Comerica Baseball Stadium home of the Detroit Tigers. The Stadium appropriately is decorated with Tigers.
Historic Trinity Lutheran Church
Historic Trinity Lutheran Church was founded in 1850 as the first Missouri Synod Lutheran Church in Detroit. The present church was built in 1931 of vari-colored granite and Indiana limestone with oak woodwork and stained glass. The style of Historic Trinity is 16th Century Pier-and-Clerestory Gothic.
Old Mariner's Church
The Old Mariner's Church was built in 1849 and originally stood on Woodward Avenue. It was moved to its present location in 1955 to make way for the construction of the civic center. The stone Gothic Revival church incorporates 19th century nautical design into Christian symbolism in the interior.
Pewabic Pottery
Pewabic Pottery was founded in 1903 by Mary Chase Perry Stratton and her partner, Horace Caulkins. The studio, operated by Stratton, continued until her death in 1961 and then few more years after that by her assistant. Today Pewabic Pottery operates the ceramics museum, gallery workshop and studio.
Comerica Park
Comerica Park is a combination ballpark, theme park and baseball museum. A carousel, a ferris wheel, a mammoth water feature in center field and a museum of baseball history on the main concourse are featured.
Detroit Historical Museum
Opposite the Institute of Arts is Detroit Historical Museum, with reconstruction of old Detroit streets, model railways, dioramas and periodic special exhibitions on the history of the city.
Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Gospel Music Hall of Fame is dedicated to the father of Gospel, Thomas A. Dorsey and the pioneers of Gospel. Portraits of contributors and original compositions are on display.
Historic Fort Wayne
Built in the 1840s, Fort Wayne includes the star-shaped fort, dry moat, tunnels, barracks, and garrison, an immense parade ground and the restored Commanding Officer's House.
Masonic Temple of Detroit
The Masonic Temple of Detroit is classical Gothic architecture built with Indiana limestone. The temple was dedicated in 1926. The building has three major divisions: the ritualistic tower, the auditorium and the Shrine Club.
Maybury Living Farm
Maybury Living Farm features animals, seed displays and crops on a working farm. The petting area includes farm animals such as horses, rabbits and chickens.
Rivertown
East of the Renaissance Center, the storage sheds and quays dating from the 1880s have been given a new lease of life with conversion to restaurants and shops.
Map of Detroit Attractions
Map - Detroit
