Michigan trivia & Detroit facts
Wright museum, Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Sault Ste Marie & zoo
United States: Trivia and information on Michael Moore in Flint, the largest polar exhibit in the world, Henry Ford's factory, Motown, the Great Lakes & Mackinac Island.
Visitors to the state of Michigan and city of Detroit have plenty of attractions to keep them occupied, including Detroit zoo’s polar exhibit, the Motown museum, Henry Ford’s factory and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. Here are some facts and trivia that may be of interest to those travelling there on vacation.
Detroit travel facts
- Detroit is known as the Motor City for a very good reason. It grew to prominence with the car industry, and suffered tremendously when it started to move elsewhere.
- Automobile aficionados and motoring maniacs will be in heaven on the Rouge factory tour – this was Henry Ford’s factory. It’s also possible to visit the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.
- Detroit’s other famous export is Motown music, and the Motown Museum is dedicated to the likes of Berry Gordy and Diana Ross.
- It’s also a good city to learn about African-American history. The Wright Museum of African-American History has excellent displays on slavery, whilst the bus seat that Rosa Parks refused to give up in Montgomery, Alabama, can be found in Greenfield Village.
- Detroit’s Zoo contains the largest polar exhibit in the world. If you like polar bears, but don’t fancy being mauled by one, try here instead of the wilds of Canada.
- Detroit is the only city in the United States from which you can look south into Canada. (Oh alright then… the only place excluding Alaska).
Elsewhere in Michigan
- Michigan borders Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio (United States) and Ontario (Canada).
- You are not allowed to take cars on to Mackinac Island.
- Whilst he may not have been the most dynamic of Presidents, Gerald Ford is still venerated in his home town of Grand Rapids. There’s a museum devoted to him there.
- Portly guerrilla movie maker – and massive George W Bush fan – Michael Moore hails from the town of Flint. His first feature film documentary, Roger and Me, was shot there. He would later go on to make Bowling For Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11.
- Sault Ste Marie, near the Canadian border, is the third oldest town in the United States of America. Whilst there, why not visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum? It’s full of the remnants of stricken vessels pulled out of Lakes Huron and Erie.
- For a taste of wilderness, visit Isle Royale. The National Park there is full of wolves and moose.
MORE TRAVEL FACTS AND TRIVIA
Countries: Austria, Australia,Bolivia, East Timor, Estonia, France, Indonesia, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Morocco, The Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Spain
Cities: Birmingham, Chicago, Detroit, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome, Sydney, Venice
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US States: Arizona,Kentucky, Michigan,Virginia
