Museums to Visit in Detroit

Detroit has many museums for every kind of age and interest. If you’re you’re an art, history, automobile or music lover- Detroit has you covered! Would you like to visit a world-class art museum? Or stand in the very same studio that produced Stevie Wonder?

Yes? Keep reading!

Detroit Historical Museum

©Bigstock/ ehrlif

You can’t visit Detroit without stopping inside of The Detroit Historical Museum. It’s what it sounds like – a complete, outlined history of Detroit. Here you will walk the streets of old Detroit from the 1840s to early 1900s, learn about the history behind the infamous Detroit riots, and some of the local businesses. Even Detroit natives might learn something new. Some permanent exhibits include Detroit: The “Arsenal of Democracy,” Doorway to Freedom – Detroit and the Underground Railroad, Kid Rock Music Lab and the Gallery of Innovation, plus much more.

Tuskegee Airmen Museum

A marvelous museum honoring genuinely exceptional and courageous men, and a piece of American history everyone should experience. The Tuskegee Airmen are a group of African-American military fighter and bomber pilots who fought in World War II. They formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces and were the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces. However, during World War II, black Americans in many U.S. states were still subject to racism and segregation both inside and outside of the army. How they were treated is unthinkable. And yet, they fought for their country. Here you will experience an introductory film, artifacts, and displays, as well as several interactive stations.

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant

If you love cars, this museum is the place for you. Hold on to your heart while you read this next sentence. Are you ready?

The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is where the Model T was born! It’s the oldest auto plant open to the public in the world and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Walk around this factory and see a selection of rare Detroit-built cars from the first decade of the 20th century. See the worn wood floors and where it all began back in 1904, which is almost entirely unchanged since Henry Ford’s day. And see the restoration of his office located inside. It is a one of a kind experience.

Motown Historical Museum

front of Hitsville USA, the Motown Museum in Detroit MI on a rainy, overcast day

What does Diana Ross, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and Michael Jackson all have in common? Motown, of course. And they all started in Detroit! Take a free tour at the Motown Historical Museum and learn some history behind one of pop music’s most famous sounds. Back in 1959, Berry Gordy started Motown Records inside of a little two-story home on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit. Today, it’s a true Detroit landmark. During the tour, you will walk around the house and find that it is still the same as it was when the big names were recording there. Marvel at all of the photographs, costumes, artwork, music and so much more.