Detroit is the biggest city in Michigan, and it lies on Lake St. Clair, between Lakes Huron and Erie, and on the northwest bank of the Detroit River. Downtown Detroit is located at the water’s edge and is full of things to do and attractions, as well as shops, restaurants, and interesting neighborhoods such as Greektown. The Dearborn Neighborhood is one of the most popular sightseeing destinations and is best known for its connection with automotive legend Henry Ford. It also has a few ethnic neighborhoods, one of which is an Arab-American area that has some amazing Middle Eastern dining options. The suburban Oakland district is well known for its high scale cafes and shops and it is also home to the Detroit Zoo. Its many outlying neighborhoods include Macomb, well known for its marinas, and the stylish Greater Noni neighborhood, which features many recreational facilities and golf courses.
The history of Downtown Detroit
The design for the downtown area was left open to a completely new vision after the devastating Detroit fire of 1805. A radial design for the post-fire city was proposed by Augustus B. Woodward. According to this plan, major streets such as Madison Avenue, Washington, and Woodward would spiral off Grand Circus Park.
Most downtown streets still vaguely follow Woodward’s original design. Downtown’s population and wealth increased following its growing automobile industry and business in Detroit boomed at the same time. During this boom of the late 19th century and early 20th century, much of the downtown area’s architecture was built, and it still attracts the attention of architects. Some of the buildings of the downtown were built by the famous Minoru Yamasaki, who is best known for designing the twin towers in New York City. The list includes the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the McGregor Memorial Conference Center.
The historic site of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley is where I-375 lies. Black Bottom, historically named by French colonial settlers for its rich soil, was one of the city’s biggest African American communities. Paradise Valley was the well-known entertainment and business district of Black Bottom, famous for its Paradise Theatre and Hotel Gotham. This is where notorious jazz figures such as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, and Duke Ellington performed and stayed respectively. Both neighborhoods were eventually demolished to give way to I-375, and have now been replaced with Lafayette Park.
Detroit Institute of Arts
The famous Detroit Institute of Arts exhibits a representative cross-section of people’s artistic creations from ancient cultures to the modern-day. Its regular collection incorporates over 65,000 works of art within more than a hundred galleries. This includes artifacts from Oceania, Africa, and the Indigenous Americas as well as the art of the Near East and classical antiquity, whole collections from medieval Europe, and American art and culture. Among the museum’s most prominent pieces are a number of masterpieces of European painting, including works by Van Gogh (self-portrait), Rembrandt, Picasso, and Matisse. There is also a vast collection of Islamic art that includes pottery, stone, bronze, and other works that span from ancient to present and a whole gallery dedicated to African American art, which features a variety of media. Besides the traditional art forms, the museum features a performing arts collection that exhibits theater and film memorabilia, as well as the famed Paul McPharlin Puppetry Collection.
The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
The Model T was born at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant and revolutionized the automotive industry. It famously shaped the way for the future of personal transportation. The building itself is a National Historic Landmark, and back in the days was the center of manufacturing for what was the world’s most popular car at the time. Tourists who decided to visit the building can walk through the plant on the original floorboards and see dozens of beautifully maintained early model vehicles, including not just Ford’s cars but also his competitors. You will also be able to see the “experimental room”, preserved just as it was when Ford and his team worked on creating and testing new ideas, including a drafting table and various tools.
Detroit Public Library
The Detroit Public Library was officially opened on March 25, 1865, at first had a collection of five thousand books, and was situated in the Capitol High School. On March 21, 1921, the library moved to its present location, and currently has 10 departments in the main library and 23 branches. The building itself is the main tourist attraction here and is featured on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors are able to take a free, one-hour tour of the main building, which highlights the library’s history, architecture, and art.
Detroit Historical Museum
The Detroit Historical Museum serves to celebrate the motor city’s incredible past. It is also dedicated to how the city got its nickname and the reputation of being the center of the automotive industry. Museum exhibits include various reconstructions of old Detroit streets and fascinating dioramas that provide a great overview of the city and the biggest events that shaped it. Other exhibits include many details about the essential role that the city’s people and factories played during World War II, as well as Detroit’s part in the Underground Railroad, and a lot of other defining features of the city. The Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle is operated by the Detroit Historical Society and explores the city’s great maritime history.
Masonic Temple of Detroit
The Masonic Temple of Detroit is a building of classical Gothic architecture that is built with beautiful Indiana limestone. The temple was opened in 1926 and is currently the biggest temple of its kind in the world. The building is divided into three major parts: the Shrine Club, the auditorium, and the ritualistic tower. The facility often hosts concerts and a variety of other entertainment events. If you would like a tour of this fascinating building you will need to call ahead to get a reservation.
