Visiting Detroit? These Sights Are Worth Seeing
Tour The Town And See Some Of The Motor City’s Most-Famous Landmarks
Mar 24, 2009
Final Four weekend passes quickly, particularly if you’re in a new town with a lot to do and a lot to see. When college basketball fans converge on Detroit this year, the city will be welcoming in more guests than it has since Super Bowl XL rolled into town in February of 2006. And no doubt business owners, hungering for visitor dollars during troubled economic times, will do as they did three years ago and offer up as many entertainment options as possible.
The bars, restaurants, clubs and casinos, particularly those in the shadows of Ford Field where the semifinal and championship games will be played, will no doubt draw their share of traffic. But for a break from the standard thrills, visitors to Detroit would do themselves a favor by setting aside an hour or two and cruising the city to see some of its more famous landmarks up close.
The region is loaded with them, especially if you venture out into the suburbs to visit places like The Henry Ford, the Rouge Plant or downtown Royal Oak. But for a quick-trip tour, Detroit proper offers plenty. Below are just a few that are worth a fast look, even through your car window.
The Motown Museum
2648 W. Grand Boulevard
Maybe you saw it featured on American Idol. Now come see the Motown Historical Museum up-close. You’ll be stunned at how small and pedestrian a structure it is, particularly given the stature of the some of the classic songs that were generated within its walls. “Hitsville” is charmingly unpretentious, a reminder of a time when the entertainment industry wasn’t driven by size over substance. (In this light, American Idol’s visit might seem ironic.) From downtown, take the Lodge Freeway north to the W. Grand Boulevard exit and drive a few blocks west.
The DIA
5200 Woodward Ave.
The art is on the inside, but really, with the Detroit Institute of Arts, the building itself is an awesome spectacle. Its beauty is heightened even further by the fact that it resides in a neighborhood that has, thus far, eluded the redevelopment efforts happening in Detroit. From the Ford Field Entertainment District, just take Woodward Avenue a short drive north and look for the DIA on the right.
Tiger Stadium
2121 Trumbull Ave.
When “The Corner” closed up shop following the 1999 baseball season, it was one of the oldest ballparks still standing. Now it's barely standing at all. Baseball fan or not, the sight of a nearly demolished Tiger Stadium is almost eerie. Plans to salvage the remaining portion (the portion that once circled behind home plate from first base to third base) continue. While conservationist groups scramble to find funding to turn what’s left into a baseball museum, take the opportunity to see a truly remarkable sight. From downtown, it’s just a short drive west down Michigan Avenue.
The Manoogian Mansion
9240 Dwight St.
The scandal surrounding former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick made this already-famous house recognizable across the country. The Manoogian has served as the home to every sitting Detroit mayor since the mid-1960s, but the Italian-style mansion built in 1928 has never been viewed quite the same since “urban legends” and “stripper parties” made headlines in recent years. From downtown, it’s just a short drive out E. Jefferson Ave., and worth a quick trip to satisfy the tabloid-lover in you.
Eight Mile Road
The road made famous by hometown hero Eminem borders the city to the north, separating Detroit from suburbs like Grosse Pointe, Warren and Ferndale. Make it an interesting trip by taking (from downtown) E. Jefferson along the river to Eight Mile. Head west on Eight Mile and take it to the famous Woodward Avenue, Bob Seger’s old stomping grounds. Take Woodward back into the city and you’ll wind up right back at Ford Field without missing a basket.
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