Detroit may be considered past its glory days, but I can assure you there is still some duende in Motor City! Here are the top things to do in Detroit, Michigan covering music, murals and that very first Model-T plant. You can explore more Midwest city breaks, great for weekenders, here.
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See why Detroit is nicknamed “Motor City”
In June 1896 Henry Ford test drove his first automobile on Detroit streets. A couple of false business starts later, and Ford established the Ford Motor Company with investors that include brothers John and Horace Dodge. Chrysler and GM followed as motor companies sprung up in and around Detroit. This was the birth of the auto industry and won Detroit the nickname “Motor City.”
The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant where the first Model T was made, is now an excellent museum. Motor enthusiasts should not skip a tour of their collection of early and unique models. Even if you’re not really a car person (like me) the knowledgeble guides make it an interesting walk through history.
See Deigo Rivera’s monumental Detroit Industry Murals
Detroit Institute Art curator, Wilhelm Valentiner commissioned Mexican artist Diego Rivera (also known as Mr Frida Kahlo), to create a series of twenty-seven fresco panels. The theme would be ‘Detroit Industry’ and take eight months to complete across 1932-33. The Ford plant in nearby Dearborn, Michigan served as inspiration for much of the frescoes contents. The murals are heavily skewed towards the auto industry and were paid for in part by Edsel Ford, son of Henry.
The sometimes controversial artworks have been questioned and protested for accused Marxist, blasphemous and pornographic contents among other criticisms. They are also widely regarded as the finest examples of Mexican mural art in the U.S. Spend some time at the Detroit Institute of Art – one of the top things to do in Detroit, in itself – studying the narratives and symbolism within these panels.
Groove on over to the original Motown recording studios
If you’ve ever sung along to Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Jackson Five or Smokey Robinson among countless other recognizable voices, then you’re already well acquainted with the Motown sound. In 1959, songwriter Berry Gordy Jr set out to establish a label that would give black artists a place in the record industry that they had long been denied. The Motown Museum is housed in Berry Gordy’s former abode which was also the label’s original home and is absolutely one of the best things to experience in Detroit.
As the record label’s success grew, Gordy and his family purchased other homes in the street to accommodate different departments and purposes, until finally relocating to California in 1972. In 1985, Berry’s sister and Motown Senior Vice President Esther Gordy Edwards established the Museum which contains memorabilia and artifacts from Motown’s history.
The building conjoins “Hitsville U.S.A” – the residential home where it all began, preserved in its home/office/recording studio configuration. Stand in Studio A, “the Snakepit,” where some of the biggest artists of the time recorded. If you’re a music fan and you’ve never seen “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” – it is time! This documentary is great prep for what you will see and hear at the Motown Museum. Unfortunately, no photographs are allowed inside the building, so you’ll just have to visit and see for yourself.
Fist bump the monument to Joe Louis
The monumental sculpture of a swinging fist at 5 Woodward Ave, Detroit, is dedicated to professional boxer Joe Louis. The one-time Detroit resident, only lost 3 out of 69 professional fights and is regarded as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. As well as his achievements inside the ring, the African American heavyweight was known for breaking down racial barriers.
The monument in his honour, a 7.3m long arm and fist suspended from an equally high pyramidal frame, was commissioned by Sports Illustrated magazine and created by Mexican-American sculptor Robert Graham in 1986.
Tour some draw-dropping architecture
Pure Detroit runs free tours of some of the cities greatest architectural gems. You have to see the Aztec-inspired Art Deco of the Guardian Building, and “Detroit’s largest art object,” the Fisher Building. A tour is the best way to appreciate the unique eclecticism and opulence of these landmark structures.
Additionally, make sure you stop by the former Michigan Central Station. The opulent railway station-turned-tech hub preserves incredible Beaux-Arts architectural details.
Refuel at Eastern Market
Eastern Market dates back to the 1800s and is one of the oldest urban farmers markets in the US. Saturday is the biggest and busiest market day and runs all year round. Seasonal markets are held on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays – check the Market website for details.
Saturdays see over 200 vendors covering a range of products. They include fresh produce to crafts and clothing while Sunday markets are a showcase of local artists, jewellers, cooks etc. Tuesdays and Thursday nights are smaller affairs. Eastern Market is also the centre of Murals in the Market. The surrounding streets are worth a wander to enjoy many murals painted by local and global street artists each year.
Get lost in Detroit street art
Detroit isn’t the kind of place you want to go wandering off the beaten path in search of hidden murals on abandoned walls. However, with due caution and a little inside knowledge, there is some incredible street art within safe reach. I noted some particularly outstanding examples of wild style while in Motor City.
Try the Z Parking Garage for hours of mural fun by the likes of Maya Hayuk and Tristan Eaton. The Z and its neighbouring urban art gallery The Belt, are both located Downtown. As I mentioned, the streets surrounding Eastern Market are also a gallery of urban artistry such as the floral dreams whipped up by Ouizi.
Visit the beautiful Belle Isle
Finally, if you have time and weather on your side, or you’re looking for things to do in Detroit with kids, head to Belle Isle Park. The small island in the Detroit River hosts 982 acres of public space developed in the late 19th century. Belle Isle is home to an Aquarium, Conservatory, Museum, Nature Center, golf course and beach among various other attractions to explore. It is a wonderful green space with great views of the Detroit skyline.
Places to eat and drink
Here are our favourite restaurants and coffee shops from our long weekend in Detroit:
Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company
There’s a palpable undercurrent of pride in Motor City and I can’t wait to see how it evolves over the coming years. Enjoy these amazing things to do in Detroit and see why this powerhouse of the past is set to rise like a phoenix.
Peace, love and inspiring travel,
Madam ZoZo
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