Authored by Jennifer Burss in Michigan
Published on 09-19-2009
Detroit may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of a city with lots of attractions or things to do. On the contrary, Detroit is a city brimming with culture and history. Multiple historical sites and museums preserve the city’s history and entertain visitors from all over the world.
One such place, The Detroit Historical Museum opened in 1928, chronicles the history of Detroit with exhibits about the city’s past. Among them there is currently an exhibit replicating a 19th century street of the city. The automotive industry has always played a gigantic role in Detroit history, this museum also has a genuine automotive assembly line display called The Motor City after one of the city’s most well known nicknames.
New exhibits coming soon include Detroit Trivia, an interactive trivia exhibit about the history of the city. The Fabulous Five is an exhibit of five Detroit based snack foods and their history. Velocity, an exhibit about the Michigan obsession with speed, dates back centuries starting with horses and culminating in the automobile.
Those with a taste for fine art may want to visit The Detroit Institute of Arts. The institute carries art from all around the globe including African and Asian Art. Modern art and photography are not forgotten here, as there are whole sections of the museum dedicated to these arts. Photographs from a hundred years of photographic history are displayed in the new exhibit Photography – The First 100 Years: A Survey from the DIA’s Collection. The DIA also has a gift shop with art inspired items.
The DIA and its members believe that art is for people from all walks of life and that learning is something that takes a lifetime. These are the reasons behind the institute starting an art learning studio. The DIA art studio offers classes and workshops both free and paid. Many of these courses take place on weekends and on a drop-in basis. For more information, visit the DIA’s art studio blog.
Music has been another part of Michigan’s history for years. One of the most well known forms of music is Rhythm and Blues and Soul based Motown. The Motown Historical Museum holds a unique place in Detroit history. The house named “Hitsville USA” on West Grand Boulevard is the site of the actual recording studio and offices of Motown Records in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s.
Costumes used by the Supremes and other Motown acts are on display. The site has also maintained the original recording studio used by artists such as The Temptations, The Four Tops, and The Jackson 5. When visiting people will learn the history of each artifact and area of the museum. “Hitsville USA” also has a gift shop with Motown related items . As you can see, there are plenty of places to visit in Detroit. This article really only mentions a few places to visit. Detroit has stadiums, restaurants, and casinos to visit also but if you want something out of the ordinary, one of these places may fit the bill.
