Sightseeing OverviewDowntown Detroit is undergoing a rapid transformation, and is increasingly becoming a cultural hot spot. Nestled near the riverfront is the
Joe Louis Arena, home of the Detroit Red Wings hockey team, the
Cobo Conference Exhibition Center, which houses the
Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, and the
Renaissance Center, which houses the world headquarters of General Motors.
Move slightly to the north and visitors can experience the heart of the Downtown area, with numerous casinos, museums and galleries, not least the historic
Detroit Opera House. To the east is
Greektown, which is the lively setting for numerous Greek
restaurants and
bars. This is where Downtowner’s come to eat, drink, relax and in some cases, sing a bit of karaoke.
The culture hounds head to Woodward Avenue, with its plethora of monuments and theaters, as well as up-market clubs and bars.
Cutting through it all is the meandering Detroit River, which separates the US from Canada.
Tourist InformationMetropolitan Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau Suite 1000, 211 West Fort Street
Tel: 1 800 338 7648/DETROIT.
Website:
www.visitdetroit.com PassesThere are no longer any dedicated tourist passes in Detroit, but money saving coupons are available from the CVB’s website.
Key Attractions:Detroit Institute of Arts The surprisingly low-key Detroit Institute of Arts houses one of the largest fine arts collections in the USA. The museum is dominated by a number of murals by Diego Rivera, who was commissioned to produce frescos on the Detroit motor industry. The collection encompasses a wide diversity of genres and includes works by Rembrandt, Matisse, Picasso, Van Gogh, Degas and Francis Bacon.
5200 Woodward Avenue
Tel: (313) 833 7900.
Website:
www.dia.org Admission charge.
Charles H Wright Museum of African-American History The Charles H Wright Museum of African-American History was the vision of a black doctor who wanted a center to document and preserve black history, life and culture. Once a traveling museum housed in a mobile home, it has grown into the world’s largest museum dedicated to African-American history. Its exhibits focus on many aspects of black history, from the initial journey from Africa to the Underground Railroad, jazz, Malcolm X, Dr Martin Luther King, and the Harlem Renaissance. A must see.
315 East Warren Street
Tel: (313) 494 5800.
Website:
www.maah-detroit.org Admission charge.
Motown Historical Museum Motown (short for Motor Town) was born in Detroit in these two simple houses that now form the Motown Historical Museum. See the recording studio (complete with worn floor from toe-tapping) where legendary musicians like The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson developed the unique sound. Also on display are a number of personal items like the US$800 loan given to founder Berry Gordy to produce his first record.
2648 West Grand Boulevard
Tel: (313) 875 2264.
Website:
www.motownmuseum.com Admission charge.
The New Detroit Science Center The stars at this planetarium are even bigger than the ones at Motown Records. The Digital Dome Planetarium has Digistar technology and Sky-Skan automation, which allows the audience to take a virtual trip through the rings of Saturn or any other universe destination. This is the main attraction, although the center also has a variety of hands-on exhibits, demystifying subjects like matter and energy, waves and vibrations, life sciences, ecosystems and motion.
5020 John R Street
Tel: (313) 577 8400.
Website:
www.sciencedetroit.org Admission charge.
Automotive Hall of Fame No trip to the ‘Motor City’ would be complete without a visit to this museum. Opened in 1997, the strikingly designed Automotive Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements and innovations of the leading figures of the world’s auto industry. Interactive exhibits and displays recount the history of the automobile, especially as shaped by the individuals who brought it to the world - Ferdinand Porsche, Soichiro Honda and many others.
21400 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn
Tel: (313) 240 4000.
Website:
www.automotivehalloffame.org Admission charge.
Further Distractions:Belle Isle Once known as Hog Island, the now more aptly named Belle Isle is a picturesque island in the Detroit River connected to the city by a small bridge. It is designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who also designed New York’s Central Park. Albert Kahn, a well-known turn-of-the-century architect, designed the Belle Isle’s Whitcomb Conservatory (website:
www.bibsociety.org), which contains regional flora from all over the country. Year-round features include a nature center, beaches, waterslide, tennis courts and playgrounds. The island hosts the Detroit Grand Prix every June.
Jefferson Avenue and Grand Boulevard
Tel: (313) 852 4075.
Website:
www.ci.detroit.mi.us/recreation/centers/M/belle_isle/belleM.htm Free admission.
Dossin Great Lakes Museum The brainchild of Walter Dossin, a power-boat racing magnate, the
Dossin Great Lakes Museum chronicles the flavorful history of Great Lakes boating and shipping through models, exhibits, paintings and memorabilia. One of its most enticing attractions is the Gothic Room, which features 7.5 tons of carved gothic oak removed from the elegant turn-of-the-century river luxury liner
City of Detroit III.
100 Strand Drive, Belle Isle
Tel: (313) 852 4051.
Website:
www.detroithistorical.org/html/information/dossin.html Admission charge.
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The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
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