The city of Detroit may not be one of the top travel destinations in the United States but is lively with lots of positive energy, and some hidden gems that not so many people know or talk about. If you know what to look for and where to look, your experience of Detroit will be different from what you have been hearing from those who have no experience of the city. If you thought there is nothing to this city, other than it being the largest city in the state of Michigan, then here is a look at some of the things Detroit is famous for. They will likely change your perception about the city. Make your Detroit trip the most memorable one yet, and stay at the top riverfront hotels and Airbnb vacation rentals in the city.
1. Comerica Park
If you’re a sports fan coming to Detroit, this attraction is a must-visit. Comerica Park is an open-air baseball park in downtown Detroit and is home to the Major League Baseball team Detroit Tigers. It opened to the public in April 2000 and is named after Comerica Bank, a Detroit-founded financial services company. It is built on the original site of the Detroit College of Law. Comerica Park’s seating capacity is 41,083 and its main use is, of course, for baseball matches, but it has also seen a few concerts, Hockeytown Winter Festivals, and a soccer game.
Comerica Park
Address: 2100 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
Website: Comerica Park
2. Guardian Building
One of beautiful buildings that make up Detroit’s spectacular skyline is the Guardian Building on Griswold Street in the Financial District. It is a landmark structure that is recognized as a class-A building. It features an Art Deco and Mayan Revival architecture and was built in 1929. Initially, it was named the Union Trust Building, after it was built by Detroit-founded Union Trust Company and was designed by Wirt Rowland. It is now a building owned by Wayne County, for which it serves as the headquarters.
Guardian Building
Address: 500 Griswold St STE 1600, Detroit, MI 48226, United States
Website: Guardian Building
3. The Riverwalk
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Posted by Detroit Riverfront on Friday, 15 March 2019
What is Detroit known for, you ask? The Detroit Riverwalk goes for nearly 3 miles (4.8 km) starting from Rose Parks Blvd up to the Belle Isle Bridge. This spectacular stretch comes with breathtaking views, especially when you make the visit at dusk when the city lights are just coming to life. The beauty of the stretch is comparable to none, and it is one of the few places in the state where you can lazy around and feel happy that you are doing nothing. There are restaurants and cafes as you enjoy your walk, jog, run, or bike ride.
4. Museums
Posted by Motown Museum on Monday, 5 March 2012
Detroit is not short of museums with various historical importance to the state and the nation as a whole. There are certain things in the United States whose roots are unique to Detroit and there is no better way to learn and know more about them than visiting the myriad of museums within the city. If you love music, then you can check out the Motown Museum to see the actual recording studios where Marvin Gaye & Co produced their songs. You can also check out the Ford Piquet Avenue Plant which was the production site of Ford’s famous Model T trucks. You can also check out the Detroit Historical Museum, and Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History to increase your knowledge of the city’s history and that of the United States.
5. Eastern Market
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Posted by Eastern Market Corporation on Friday, 2 March 2018
This is a historic commercial market in Detroit and it is worth visiting for the history and also to sample the various merchandise on sale by the vendors. On Saturday, vendors fill this market to sell everything ranging from fresh produce to tacos. On Sundays, it transforms into a jewelry market where local jewelers and artists sell their assorted crafts. There are cafes that serve the classic Coney Island hot dogs amongst other foods that are native to Detroit.
Eastern Market
Address: 2934 Russell St., Detroit, Michigan
Website: Eastern Market
Opening hours: Sat: 6am - 6pm; Sun: 7am - 5pm (closed from Mon - Fri)
6. Belle Isle Aquarium
Photo taken by Grow Detroit's Young Talent intern, Xavier Paige
Posted by Belle Isle Conservancy on Friday, 3 August 2018
You will find this public aquarium in Belle Isle Park. Its design was the work of George D Mason and Albert Khan – notable architects of the 19th century. The aquarium was opened in 1904, and until its closure in 2005, it had a reputation of being the oldest continuously operating public aquarium in the United States. Though there isn’t a lot to do in this thing Detroit is known for, you can visit for the history and have a glimpse of what the magnificent public aquarium looked like during its glorious days.
Belle Isle Aquarium
Address: 3, Inselruhe Ave, Detroit, MI 48207, USA
Website: Belle Isle Aquarium
Opening hours: Fri - Sun: 10am - 4pm (closed from Mon - Thu)
Price: Under 10 USD
7. Auto industry
Detroit will forever remain in US history books as the cradle of the auto industry, and there are so many exciting places you can visit to see just how Detroit is rich in the auto industry. To begin with, it is the home of the Henry Ford Museum. The museum is a hotbed of the United States automotive history with highly cherished artifacts such as lots of presidential limousines and the bus used by Rosa Parks when she refused to give up her seat for a white man. You can also check out the General Motors Renaissance Center, Ford Rouge Factory, and the Automotive Hall of Fame to understand the full depth of Detroit’s automotive history.
8. Greenfield Village
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Posted by The Henry Ford on Saturday, 20 April 2019
The Greenfield Village brings you face to face with sounds, sights, and sensations of the ingenuity and the resourcefulness of some of America’s greatest. The village is over 80 acres (32.4 hectares) and where nearly 300 years of America’s perseverance in trying to make the world a better place is preserved. Some of the fascinating attractions that await you here include the lab there Thomas Edison has his lightbulb moment, the workshop where the Wright Brothers made their breakthroughs in conquering the skies, and the Henry Ford Museum with the real legendary Model T truck amongst others.
Greenfield Village
Address: 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, Michigan 48124
Opening hours: 9:30am - 5pm (daily)
9. Detroit Arts Institute
Posted by Detroit Institute of Arts on Friday, 24 August 2012
In this place, you will find collections of man’s artistic creations that dates back to the very earliest cultures. The collection features more than 65,000 works of art residing in over 100 galleries. The collections came from far and wide, including Near East, Africa, Oceania, Medieval Europe, and the Indigenous Americas. You will find paintings by artists such as Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh, and Rembrandt, amongst others. The history housed in this institute is simply stunning and will make you appreciate the strides made by mankind.
Detroit Arts Institute
Address: 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
Website: Detroit Arts Institute
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 9am - 4pm; Fri: 9am - 10pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
10. Fowling
Posted by Fowling Warehouse on Monday, 8 October 2018
Detroit is the home to the very first fowling warehouse, and this is a place you may want to visit, especially if you love bowling. You can see and experience bowling in any of the available warehouses. You may also sample some of the fowling merchandise as a souvenir for your trip.
11. People Mover
Photo: Alanna St. Laurent
Posted by Detroit People Mover on Thursday, 19 April 2018
This is a unique public transit service, an automatic transportation system that operates on a single track and moves around the entire Downtown Detroit. It gives you a chance to enjoy an elevated ride through the city, and appreciate how technology and automation can be used to improve the public transport system. This unique concept is not available in most states of the United States and countries around the world, Detroit may present you with the only chance to check it out and experience its operation.
12. Corktown
This is a two-hour tour that will take you through a tour of the Corktown neighborhood. With it comes a rich history of the once-Irish neighborhood, a tour of some of the region’s best culinary joints, as well as a visit to the ruins of the once vibrant Michigan Railroad Station. The tour will also take you to some of the most vibrant parts of the city, while you enjoy an assortment of snacks such as hot dogs, bagels, and a variety of local brews. It is an exciting tour for anyone who wants to learn more about Detroit’s history and culture, as well as some of the less-mentioned facts about the city.
Corktown Tour: Historic Landmarks, Local Haunts and Pubs
Detroit has more gems than you could imagine
Evidently, you need to dig deeper to uncover the depth of the famous things that have a permanent home in Detroit. If you are passionate about history, especially history on inventions that changed the world and the auto industry, then Detroit will be an exciting destination for you. With the above, we have just scratched the surface about some of the famous things in Detroit. Check them out and appreciate how Detroit is truly blessed with attractions.
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