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.

I wished I paid attention to the KIND of museum it was. I grew up with a father who was a professor…read morewho taught art history. I know my way around art and their time periods. Needless to say I have some periods I detest. This museum filled that RAGE BAITING once again. Do not get me wrong, I appreciate these time periods and why they exist, the influences we have today are a result FROM these movements. I was hoping for some more recent movements of the 1920's to the 1950's. Detroit is a beautiful city, if you know where to look and where to see. A huge amount of art deco and mid century designs galore. Too bad this city needs to move it around/away to make room for the new wave of living in Detroit. I'm just glad there was an outfit of art in this city. Not my to liking but I did feel my dad surrounding me again was a nice memory...

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!

When your in beautiful Birmingham take a few minutes away from the vibrancy and shopping and visit…read morea little piece of History. I have seen amazing places like Medowbrook Hall, Vizcaya Gardens in Miami and this place is not quite there but its a great place to visit to add another element to a shopping trip in Birmingham. The staff working were so friendly and helpful and happy to see us. It does not take long to look in the museum but the house is lovely, and the grounds out back in a beautiful view. You see tidbits in the museum about who lived in the house, old maps of the region, pictures, exhibits and a small store. When your down in the Museum they take you across the way to go through a historic home from the early 1900's for another learning experience and piece of culture. Would definitely go back int he summer when an event is going on!

We came as tour with Veterans group. Words can't really express my heart being so heavy with the…read morehistory of this place. Out of respect I won't post any more pictures.

I don't feel five stars is enough for this museum. My youngest son and I arrived around 10:30 AM…read moreon a Sunday. I couldn't envision a situation where I would spend more than an hour or two here but boy am I glad I was wrong. Upon entering , the woman working the counter told us at noon Irene Miller, a Holocaust survivor would be speaking at noon, and she was a great speaker. I politely said thank you, questioning if we would still be there. At 11:50 we were around 75% of the way thru. I'm thankful to have been blessed to listen to Irene Miller. This is an amazing museum. The attention to detail, the build up of information leading up to the Holocaust paints an extremely detailed picture of the thought process of many Germans. There are a lot of artifacts, but listening to a survivor was beyond awe inspiring. We spent over three hours here and honestly could have been here longer. I was on information overload but this is an amazing experience, and I've been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. This museum is beyond moving and informationAl. This is an amazing gem in the greater Detroit area. I didn't take any photos during my visit but was just extremely moved during my visit. VISIT.

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!

My husband and I stopped into the Park West art gallery during our Norwegian Breakaway cruise…read morerecently. While we were not entirely sure what to expect, we ended up attending three of their lively afternoon auctions. The gallery consultants David Fussy Art Auctioneer Director from Hungary. and Tsholofelo, Art Gallery Manager from South Africa, were incredibly welcoming, making the experience fun and educational even for beginners. The team clearly explained shipping costs, framing fees, and the delivery timeline to our home. They offered complimentary champagne and really took the time to explain the background of the different artists they feature. We decided to purchase over eleven framed prints and paintings as a memento of our vacation. It was the best experience and the highlight of our cruise. The selection of art was incredible, and the ambiance and the gallery walkthrough. And we purchased paintings from Matt Beyrer, Ashton Howard, Chris DeRubeis, Sam Park, and Thomas Kinkaide. Highly recommend checking out the gallery -even for the educational talks. Thank you, Park West Art Gallery for a wonderful experience during our cruise. Cathryn & Greg DeRosa

So, I went to the auction for the free drink. That's it. I had no idea art auctions were even a…read morething on cruises. I ended up going back. And then again. I kept asking about piece after piece and Ronél Ströh never made me feel like I was wasting her time. Over the course of the trip she really learned my taste and found a stunning painting by Jim Warren. She Tracked it down in the catalog, wasn't even on the ship. She just knew I'd want it. Over different days she explained the difference between lithographs, serigraphs, hand-embellished pieces. I price-checked in front of her, never felt embarrassed. Didn't buy until basically the last day. Zero pressure, ever. I Left with two Kre8s, a Peter Max, a Fazzino, and that Warren. About the pricing, yes it's above street market, but the frames alone are stunning. I tried framing the complimentary lithographs I received and got a reality check fast on what framing actually costs. So honestly, the framing alone and when you include shipping is already at least 250+ everything arrived faster than I expected, beautifully packed. No issues whatsoever. One thing nobody mentions: once you buy, suddenly everyone on the ship has an auction story. There's this whole little art community that forms onboard. Genuinely fun. Go for the free drink. See what happens. I sincerely smile every time I see these prices and am so glad and feel cool to say I own fine art. Thanks Park west and thanks especially Ronnie.

Was in Detroit for the weekend and stopped by to sightsee. It was a great experience, the place is…read morewell kept and in great condition. There is street parking right in front of the museum and it didn't seem as if the street was a busy one--maybe I just lucked up that day idk. They have the Motown music playing over the speakers outside which I thought was pretty cool. It was a Sunday when I visited so unfortunately it was closed and there was no one onsite working, so the only option was to take pictures and soak up some of the history. But try to be courteous to other visitors who are also waiting to take pictures. Next time I'm in Detroit again I'm definitely gonna stop by for another visit.

The museum was closed but we did visit the gift shop. Everyone was friendly. We were greeted by…read moresecurity outside and greeted when entering the gift shop.

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!