I recently had the chance to visit the Detroit Institute of Arts. The museum is a great balance…read morebetween being expansive and still manageable. You can easily spend a few hours here without feeling overwhelmed. What stood out most was the diversity of the collection. From classic European paintings to modern and contemporary works, there's something for every kind of art lover. The layout of the museum is intuitive, and I appreciated how easy it was to move between galleries without getting lost. Staff were friendly and helpful without being intrusive, and the overall atmosphere felt relaxed rather than stuffy. Overall, I'd highly recommend the Detroit Institute of Arts to anyone visiting Detroit or even locals who haven't been in a while. It's a thoughtfully curated, enriching experience that feels both accessible and inspiring.

As a lifelong dilettante of the arts, I have long held the DIA in the highest esteem. I revere the…read morecathedral hush of the galleries, the grandeur of lunching beneath the vaulted glass of the Kresge Court, the solemn historical weight of Rivera's murals, and the operatic extravagance of The Officer of the Hussars, whose horse appears perpetually moments from stealing the entire painting. I am, in short, a woman of superb taste. And then, of course, there are The Nut Gatherers. Now, it is a little-known fact that William-Adolphe Bouguereau's renowned oil painting, The Nut Gatherers, was originally conceived with adult women as its subjects. I happen to know this for a fact because, for a very brief and professionally ill-advised moment, I was one of those women. Allow me to share my personal contretemps. This was during the period in which I was actively exploring new employment opportunities following my regrettable trist with Greenfield Village, a chapter that may or may not have included an order of protection against a certain biotch ex-coworker from the tinsmith shop whose pathological lying was rivaled only by her raging case of oral herpes (see my previous review for further details). The job description for "nut gatherer" was as Delphic as they come, not to mention entirely en français. It promised "live modeling for a classical composition," "physical stamina," and "comfort with prolonged, natural poses." Experience preferred. Discretion required. Wardrobe, it noted coyly, would be "minimal and historically faithful." "Nut gatherer" was not a title I was accustomed to, but I assumed this was simply the romance of translation at work. Surely this was the literal phrasing from the French. Besides, the industry has always found new and creative ways to sanitize its nomenclature: exotic dancer, adult entertainer, webcam model, etc. My curriculum vitae was already extensively "fluffy," shall we say, so I entered the interview supremely confident in my qualifications. I reclined slightly on the wide leather casting couch, crossed one leg with intention, and cleared my throat in preparation for what I assumed would be a frank but professional discussion. Although I studied French for many years, I confess that my fluency had deteriorated into a cocktail of menu-deciphering, shampoo-label translation, and occasional Québécois profanity shouted at ice rinks. Still, I came prepared with questions. How many nuts require gathering? What is the varietal? Are they fleshy? What is the circumference of said nuts? Will I be gathering one at a time or two at a time? Will they be husked or au naturel? Should I be prepared for any crème de noisette clean-up? There was a pause. A long one. Then a polite but visibly alarmed gentleman slid a portfolio across the table. Inside were charcoal studies of hands, baskets, fabric folds, and several extremely wholesome agricultural diagrams. No bodies. No boudoir. No anything remotely resembling what I had been preparing to offer. It was at this moment, I regret to inform you, that I attempted to clarify my enthusiasm. The precise phrasing is not something I will be memorializing in print, but I will say this: it began as an inquiry about whether "full commitment to the role" was encouraged, an anxious sense that I was in danger of losing the part for not adequately demonstrating my range, and ended with a sentence that began with, "Here, it's easier if I just show you..." immediately followed by an all-out yet borderline desperate demonstration of "flexibility." The silence that followed was immediate, total, and devastating. I was escorted out with the efficiency typically reserved for museum patrons who touch the artwork. My termination was not so much delivered as performed, in the hushed, mortified tone one uses when explaining to someone that they have catastrophically misunderstood the assignment. In the end, the artist decided to use children instead of adults for the final painting. The finished work was revered by the masses. Let me tell you some other things that are revered by the masses: Marvel origin stories, compulsory monogamy, "Live, Laugh, Love" decor, and Bud Light. In my learned opinion, the end result was saccharine, jejune even, no more original than a palimpsest and twice as eager to be liked, the visual equivalent of a museum gift shop postcard that reassures rather than challenges. In other words: not fucking sexy. At all. And yet...le sigh. I will still return to the DIA. I will still linger beneath Rivera's murals. I will still lunch in the Kresge Court like a minor European despot fallen on Midwestern times. I will still bring out-of-towners and speak in reverent tones about brushwork and composition, because even when it rejects me, this institution remains magnificent.

I knew the Detroit Historical Museum was going to be good because I had already cried in the…read moreparking lot. The lot itself was convenient and not overpriced, which put it solidly in the top tier of my day's experiences. I sat there long enough to have an existential crisis, which briefly escalated into a nervous breakdown, before resolving itself in a ten-minute cry followed by a fifteen-minute makeup repair. By the time I opened the car door, I was technically functional. My beloved nonagenarian Gram is in failing health. My personal life is a façade at best and a derelict shambles at worst. Mental health? Eh, not great, but I've had worse. The drugs are still doing what they're paid to do. When this happens, I tend to end up at museums. This is 100% God's honest truth. My family did museums the way other families went to Tiger games and had ski trips. They have been our natural habitat for at least four generations. When life feels unstable, I go somewhere that has survived longer than me. And here I was, in a city I had spent years of my life in close proximity to, sitting in the convenient parking lot of a museum I had somehow never visited. Despite grabbing my fair share of brochures from the "Things to Do in Metro Detroit" rack at the Michigan Welcome Center, I had nearly forgotten this place existed. Thankfully, the Red Wings reminded me. Repeatedly. More on that later. The front desk staff were especially kind and helpful, and there was a reassuring number of people waiting to get in. I started my tour in chronological order with "Origins: Life Where the River Bends" until I realized I was talking to myself and essentially reenacting Pee Wee's tour of the Alamo."Inez is holding a clay pot, which she seems very proud of, and Pedro is working on an adobe. Can you say that with me? Ah-doh-bee." I decided it was time to go downstairs. If you like narrow hallways and secret turns, this is your place. Imagine a mini version of Greenfield Village except you don't have to go outside, smell any horse crap, or narrowly avoid death as a Model T nearly takes you out. You can linger in quaint shops and cozy parlors, the kind of spaces that slow you down without asking permission. I almost grabbed a table to start writing this entry in my journal, but I knew I had more ground to cover, so I kept moving. There were charming model trains with plenty of interactive buttons to press, a new exhibit called "Heroes vs. Villains: Detroit's Comic Book Story", and even a small theatre. This was just the basement, and my nerdery was officially piqued. Back on the main floor, I skipped a few exhibits because I had a feeling the Red Wings centennial exhibit deserved my full attention. Boy was I right. Here's the thing. In the world of Red Wings and hockey knowledge in general, I am like a second grader at best. I am eager to learn, but I still don't know shit about fuck. This exhibit was neither over my head nor boring in the slightest. I stayed for ages learning about everything from the red wooden seats at Olympia Stadium, to Darren McCarty's impressively chaotic ratio of goals to fights over the years, to how Justin Abdelkader proposed to his wife at center ice at The Joe. When I finally left, I believe I had been promoted to at least fourth grade at Stephen G. Yzerman Elementary School. But I never leave a museum without visiting the gift shop. After a two-hour cranial workout, I felt I deserved some retail therapy. There was a great selection of Detroit sports shirts, books, stickers, knick knacks, and of course Better Made chips. Armed with facts and snacks, I walked back into the same parking lot I had cried in earlier, noticeably steadier than when I arrived. Detroit's motto kept echoing in my head as I walked out: Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus. We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes. It's a line that makes perfect sense for a city like this, and it turns out it works pretty well for a person who just cried in a parking lot and then wandered through history until she felt steadier again. I briefly considered getting it tattooed somewhere deeply regrettable before deciding to simply take the win and go home. It fixed me for the afternoon, which is all I ask of a museum.

I came here on a group tour and it was so wonderful! Jayden was our tour guide and did such a great…read morejob. I couldn't believe how much I learned about Detroit! It's so much more than just car manufacturing here! The museum was informative and curated well. I would recommend a visit if curious about Detroit!

MOCAD is a great little spot located off Woodward in Detroit…read more It is quaint & the time to get through the museum is quicker than most museums. The set up is perfect for the featured artists. There are discounts for veterans also. There is a cafe located at the end of the tour. This is also an event space!

Here's another gem in the city. I've visited this museum on several occasions as well. The first…read moretime was to see the artwork on display. They were featuring a local artist from Detroit at the time. The museum is big on the outside but inside there isn't many pieces of art. It's contemporary which I enjoy. The other portion of the museum is used for shows/events. I went a few weeks ago to see Terri Lyne Carrington and Mickalene Thomas do a collaboration. It was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! I would definitely recommend visiting when there's an event taking place.

I brought my almost 4 year old granddaughter here recently. They have a toddler area and a Kids…read moreTown area. The Kids Town area was her favorite with water activities and some interactive exhibits. The toddler area was ok, with some large building blocks and a few other things that she enjoyed. The motion gallery and several exhibits were non-functioning, but for a 4 year old it didn't matter, but it would to older kids. The colorful escalator, the numbers hopscotch and even the small scale Mackinac Bridge were a hit. She LOVED the science show with the gases, fire and exploding balloons although she covered her ears for the 'booms'. Pricing is outrageous I think - $69 for 2 adults and a toddler. What?! I can go to the Outdoor Adventure Center for $5 a head (senior price), and $5 for her. The Nature Center on Belle Isle is FREE. Parking is free but limited, I got the last spot, my bf who met me there had to find street parking. The gift shop was nice and of course on the way out so we ended up with a stuffed animal and some mystery sand adding another $20 to my bill, so $89 for a 2.5 hour visit. OUCH.

What an awesome museum for kids to explore and learn! We had free tickets to come visit and check…read morethis place out and we were not disappointed. The kids were free because they are 2 as well. The parking in the lot next to it was $8 and its gated so it felt really safe. They have a ramp if you have a stroller. They offer stroller parking too. We walked around the main floor and checked out the exhibits. Then we went to the lower level and played in the kids area. The kids loved it. They do clean 12:30pm to 1:00pm. We were able to play for an hour. They loved the water section. There was dancing fruit in one of the rooms and my son was dancing a lot. Another room had soccer balls that he was throwing. They had a pretend kitchen area and a seated area with magnetic blocks. My kids did not want to leave. When we walked out they had a demonstration at the science stage at 12:30pm about fire. That was really cool. They also have IMAX theatre shows. We did not want to participate in that because our kids would just scream. We did go to the dinosaur exhibit on the third floor as well. Overall, it is a nice, clean, and fun museum for kids. We will definitely be back!

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is truly one of Detroit's crown jewels…read more This museum represents history, resilience, excellence, and Black culture in a way that few places in the country can. Every time you walk through its doors, you feel the weight, pride, and importance of African American history -- not just for Detroit, but for the world. This is a place every Detroiter should experience at least once, and honestly, more than once. The exhibits are powerful, emotional, and educational. The slave ship exhibit in particular is incredibly moving and immersive. It's the kind of experience that makes you stop, reflect, and really sit with history. That final walkthrough is something you don't rush -- it's heavy, important, and deeply impactful. This museum does an amazing job telling our stories, honoring our ancestors, and preserving truth. Detroit should be extremely proud to have an institution like this. That said, my visit was unfortunately severely tainted by a completely unacceptable interaction with an employee that should never happen in a place of this caliber. On a Sunday near the end of the day, when there were barely any visitors left, I was doing a final walkthrough of the slave ship exhibit. The audio from the exhibit was playing, and because of that, I genuinely did not hear anyone saying the museum was closing. Suddenly, a female employee began yelling at me from the balcony, aggressively shouting for me to "Get the fk out**." I was shocked. When I explained that I didn't hear her and would never intentionally ignore staff, she continued to be disrespectful, hostile, and used excessive profanity with a nasty attitude. There was no professionalism, no empathy, and no understanding -- just anger and disrespect. That moment was jarring and deeply disappointing, especially given the sacred nature of the space I was standing in. An employee behaving that way in such a historically significant exhibit is completely unacceptable. It took what should have been a reflective, emotional ending to my visit and turned it into something upsetting and uncomfortable. I love, love, love this museum, and I believe it is vital to Detroit and our culture. That's exactly why this situation hurts so much. Employees like that are not a good representation of the Charles H. Wright Museum, its mission, or the city of Detroit. A place that stands for dignity, history, and respect deserves staff who embody those same values. This museum is incredible, powerful, and necessary -- Detroit pride all day. But management seriously needs to address behavior like this, because one employee should never be allowed to overshadow the greatness of such an important institution. Detroit deserves better, and this museum is too important to be disrespected from the inside.

While visiting Detroit, I stopped by The Wright Museum of African American History. I visited on a…read moreSaturday and surprisingly, it was not crowded! Admission was $15. I like that the main exhibit begins with African and leads into the history of enslavement, civil rights, into present times. As with most museums that provide such a wealth of history, you'll have to visit multiple times to get the full scope! I recommend if you are in Detroit to visit this museum!

As a native Detroiter who loved Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum and enjoys automotive…read morehistory, a tour of the Ford Piquette Avenue plant was a joy. This museum has the largest collection of model Ts on display. Fun fact: there were actually two model As, and no model P for, well, I think obvious reasons. Not only is every model Ford built at the plant on display, but also competitor's vehicles of the time, including an electric car that Mrs. Ford is reported to have loved driving. There are many surprises I will not spoil. If you love cars, history, old architecture, and friendly knowledgeable tour guides, this is a must see place on a visit to Detroit. Or for folks who live in Detroit who want to know more about its rich history.

We paid $20 admission & started with a short film about the factory, Ford & this plant. Tom, a…read moreretired engineer led us through a :75 tour including time for questions. The Model-T Automotive Heritage Complex, Inc., aka the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, was organized in 2000 as a nonprofit to preserve the Plant & keep it from being demolished. It's a museum & education center offering special programs & events. There are weddings here on weekends. In 1996 it was dedicated & was placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. We spent about 2 hrs here & looked out the window at how part of this factory was converted to apartments. Over 1,600 men worked here over 100 years ago manufacturing Fords. There are over 65 rare automobiles including Henry Ford's "Letter Cars," unique Model T conversion vehicles, and other antique cars manufactured in Milwaukee Junction. We visited Henry Ford's office and Secret Experimental Room where the Model T was created in 1908. We experienced one of the world's oldest surviving automotive plants through a guided tour led by museum docents.

I see the staff say good morning every morning on the news and finally got to visit on a field…read moretrip. I was with the littles, young elementary school aged kids, and they absolutely had the best time. This place was adorable, packed with so much for young kids to touch, see, experience, play with and play on and we were able to get through and do most of it. They loved the tree, the camp site, the plane, the kitchen, the waterfall area, the bunk beds, the fish, and fishing simulation, the driving simulations, this was a magical place for them. Since we had limited time and a big group, I did not get a chance to try the driving experiences, but it is only $5 admission. The only thing I wish they would have as a parent, and maybe this feasible for them would be to have a cafeteria where they actually sold food and drinks. You have to bring your own food and if you have a water bottle, they put it away for you since nothing is allowed on the attractions.

This is a great place to bring a toddler to pre-teen age to spend an hour or two. There are enough…read moreactivities from pretend camping to a real airplane kids can explore inside. Even I like the small plane, it really makes you wonder how pilots can remember all the buttons and knobs. The waterfall was nice to add an outdoor touch to things. They had a ATV and a snowmobile to pretend 'drive'. Lots of sensory items to touch and see. I'll be bringing my granddaughter back.

This is one of the must see buildings on the historical detriot tourist list! The Guardian Building…read moreis one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. It was completed in 1929 during the city's automotive boom. It is also often referred to as the Cathedral of Finance. It's a breathtaking Art Deco design inside and out. Make sure to take time to appreciate the detail, that makes it so special. The bold colors, the amazing tile work, and vaulted lobby are stunning. It history and beauty makes it so much more than "office building". We lucked out and found street parking but would have paid for a garage. It is absolutely worth stepping inside to look around. Website: www.guardianbuilding.com

It opened in 1929 as the world's tallest masonry structure. It was a cathedral of finance, a 40…read morestory red brick building with green & white accents. The interior is a colorful explosion of marble, mosaic & murals that draws from the Aztec, Art Deco & local influences.