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Detroit History Tours

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Detroit History Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Detroit History Tours

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Detroit History Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

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Detroit History Tours

Detroit History Tours invites you to immerse yourself in the incredible tales of adventure, experimentation, activism, showmanship, and quintessential Detroit determination. Let us be your guide to the concealed history of our magnificent city. Whether you're a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan or a newcomer to the Motor City, our in-depth, meticulously researched, expert-led tours offer something for everyone. Alongside our exceptional guides, you will delve into history, explore architecture, taste local cuisines, enjoy a drink, and discover why we were described as:

"the most fun you'll ever have while learning and the most learning you'll ever do while having a drink" by Seen Magazine

Detroit History Tours can handle any size group for a short walking tour or a multi day excursion. We are excited to present you with a historic Detroit adventure over 320 years in the making. Operating our own fleet of motorcoaches, buses, vans, and a boat we are pleased to also provide everything you need for a tour of Detroit by foot or transportation. We also offer “hop on services” to visiting groups with their own transportation where our guides “hop on” to your vehicle and perform an award winning tour.

Detroit History Tours is honored to have been awarded the Michigan State History Award - Business of the Year for 2019! Furthermore, we are proud recipients of the 2020 Person of the Year award for our Executive Director, Bailey Sisoy Moore.

Detroit History Tours 3103 Commor St, Hamtramck MI 48212 Hamtramck, Michigan 48212

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The whole world knows it – Detroit is THE Motor City. From Henry Ford to…

Aside from being known as the Motor City, Detroit is also commonly known as Motown…

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Yacht cruises, pub crawls, home tours, bike rides and beyond. Set yourself up with hassle-free…

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Our Experience Will Make Your Detroit Tour Experience Memorable!

Welcome to Detroit – a world-class city with enough innovation and imagination to fuel a nation with  attractions, entertainment and character to charm even the most discerning urban explorer. Customize your own tour or choose from one of Destination Detroit Tours authentic city tours, along with your knowledgeable local guide, you will  experience the best the Motor City has to offer.

Get a unique  perspective on Detroit’s amazing architecture. Your guide will point out Art Deco skyscrapers and One Woodward, a precedent design for the original World Trade Center designed by Minoru Yamasaki and many more architecturally significant buildings designed by Albert Kahn and others. Detroit  is considered a hub for industrial design and the beating heart of creative industries in the state of Michigan. In the light of its industrial past, Detroit has built itself as a cradle of American contemporary design and as a global center for prolific designers, including Eames, Knoll, Saarinen and Yamasaki.

Stroll around captivating pieces of public art, including the Joe Louis Fist and the Spirit of Detroit by world famous sculptor artist Marshall Fredericks, and make sure to leave time to visit the Detroit Institute of Art, whether you have an hour or a day you not want to miss the DIA.  If you’re in need of retail therapy, explore Midtown and the many new shops along Woodward Ave. or Parkers Ally, and don’t forget to indulge in one of Detroit’s Coney Island restaurants; your guide will make sure you know how the local’s order! Whether you want to take in a game at Comerica Park or Little Caesars Arena or a performance in the Entertainment District, or sing your heart out at Hitsville USA aka Motown, Kim will customize a Detroit city tour to suit your unique travel interests.

Detroit Tour Provider

Group tour and step on guide

• No public tour schedule. Call to book your private tour.
• Destination Detroit Tours works with Tour Operators and with tour groups of all types, sizes, and ages:
• Adult & Senior Adults
•  “Reminiscing” Tours
•  Mystery Travel
•  Convention and Spouse Tours
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•  Church Groups
• Girlfriends
• Shore Excursions, etc.-

We provide tour guides to “Step-On” your chartered bus.

To make charter bus arrangements, consider:

• All Star Transportation
• Indian Trails

• Deluxe Private Van Tours for 1-5 guests. Families, friends and colleagues who want a more individualized Detroit tour this is the perfect option for you. We will come to your hotel or other prearranged location to begin your tour. No need to navigate the city on your own or pay for parking. Touring van is equipped with microphone, Full View Sunroof, heated seats and USB ports. This is as easy as it gets!

• Choose from 6 unique Detroit tour itineraries or we will help you create your own custom itinerary.

Our experience will make your Detroit tour experience memorial!

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History x Design   was   launched by the Detroit Historical Society and Design Core Detroit in early 2021. Both institutions, listening to the  community and deeply questioning their role in bringing rich and inclusive content to Detroiters, found partnership and a solution. By merging smart and  accessible outdoor public design and the rich and layered history of Detroit, a mobile optimized experience was born. 

Invoking the Spirit: Detroit’s Historic Black Bottom  is a dynamic, self-directed walking tour of Detroit's historic Black Bottom neighborhood, told through the  lens   of former residents  and their descendants. The tour was created by the Detroit Historical Society, Design Core Detroit and Octane Design  for the 2021 Detroit Month of Design , with community partnership from Bailey Park Neighborhood Development Corporation and Black Bottom Archives . 

Experience the tour anytime by walking through Detroit's Lafayette Plaisance Park (1592 Antietam Ave, Detroit, MI 48207). Find it in  the north end of Lafayette Park, near the tennis courts. Street parking available on the west side of the street. 

Each stop on the tour is indicated by a colorful marker with historical photos, information and QR codes. To explore further, just scan the code with  your smart phone. S ome elements can be accessed using any mobile devi c e (no smart phone needed).   Tourgoers will b e in ‘conversation’ with  Black Bottom  residents through  oral histories, images, video  and ev eryday  neighborhood  narratives  from the ones who knew it best – the neighbors .      

The Detroit Historical Society  thanks   the  Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan   and Culture Source  for their generous support of  Invoking the Spirit: Detroit's Historic Black Bottom .   

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What was Detroit like in the 1920s? These vintage photos take you back in time.

Between 1920 and 1930, detroit's population soared from 993,678 to 1,568,662. that's a nearly 58% increase..

It's hard to imagine what life was like about 100 years ago in the city of Detroit.

Going back a century in time, the Motor City was experiencing a period of significant growth and prosperity, largely due to the booming auto industry.

Detroit's population was skyrocketing, as people from all over the country flocked to the city in search of employment opportunities in the auto factories, including Ford's $5 work day . Between 1920 and 1930, Detroit's population soared from 993,678 to 1,568,662. That's a nearly 58% increase.

There was also an incredible building boom during this time, resulting in a transformed city skyline. The Penobscot Building, the Book-Cadillac Hotel, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Guardian Building and the Fisher Building were all constructed in the 1920s and still stand today as architectural marvels of the city.

Detroit has always been a great place for a party, too. In 1924, Hudson's started downtown Detroit's Thanksgiving parade, a tradition the city still enjoys today. The first parade featured horses pulling a float decorated with Mother Goose, four papier mâché heads and seven marching bands, according to the Detroit Historical Society .

Our photo gallery will take you deep into Detroit's history, when the city featured an amusement park with rollercoasters, construction was booming, crowds of people swarmed the Boblo Island steamers for a trip down the Detroit River and Campus Martius was much different than you know it today.

Detroit in the 1980s

Feeling like a trip to 1980s Detroit? This photo gallery takes you back in time.

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Detroit Historical Museum

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Detroit Historical Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Michigan Central Station to celebrate reopening with 10 days of tours, concert

Detroit — As restoration of Michigan Central nears the finish line, plans are moving forward for the former train station's grand opening in early June, which will include a concert for 15,000 people and several days of free public tours.

Michigan Central's team on Tuesday asked the Detroit City Council for permits to host the grand opening. Events will run from June 6-16 with performances, station tours, discussions and family-friendly activities, said CEO Joshua Sirefman.

"Our celebration is going to have two core pieces, a free concert we call 'Open Live' on June 6 to celebrate all the station has meant for the city and what it will mean going forward," said Sirefman. "We anticipate an audience of 15,000 for this. This will be free and we will make sure the residents in the immediate neighborhood have priority access to tickets."

The station's public opening comes 36 years after the last train left the station on Michigan Avenue in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. Ford Motor Co. purchased the building and its surrounding campus in 2018 and has spent hundreds of millions of dollars restoring the area and station.

Sirefman said Michigan Central expects 60,000 people to tour the station over 10 days in June.

"The goal of that experience will be to celebrate the restoration and revitalization of the building," he said.

The station will open to media first on June 6 and an event to thank those who supported the Michigan Central Children's Endowment, led by Bill and Lisa Ford, begins at 5 p.m.

There will be a 90-minute outdoor free concert at 8:30 p.m. Gates for the concert will open at 6 p.m. The event will also be streamed globally, though performers haven't been announced. Pre-registration will be required for all events.

Then on June 7, there will be VIP and general entry tours, an open forum with leadership of the tower and Newlab at Michigan Central. There also will be food service, performances, displays and activities expected.

The station will host free ticketed tours from noon-10 p.m. June 7; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. June 8; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 9. The open house and festival continues noon-8 p.m. June 10-13; from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 14-15; and from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. June 16.

The weekends will have programming with multiple performances per day, demonstrations and music. Weekdays will have a light programming approach with a few spikes of interest each day, according to the permit request.

Open houses will continue June 21 through Aug. 31 from 5-9 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

An "OPEN" sculpture will guide visitors to the entry point of the open houses alongside empty frames people can pose with the train station in the background. Food trucks will line the streets to serve a variety of options from around the surrounding communities.

There also will be a shuttle service and more parking for festivities, Sirefman said.

In 2018, Ford acquired the station and several nearby buildings for $90 million from the Moroun family, the billionaire owners of the Ambassador Bridge. With the state approving tax breaks at the time estimated at $207 million, there was the promise of a revitalization of the shuttered icon.

That year,  40,000 visitors  waited to see the vacant 1913-built rail stop before extensive renovations began.

The 30-acre Corktown mobility innovation hub anchored by the station eventually anticipates one day being home to 5,000 tax-paying jobs, as Ford promised in 2018. Half are expected to come from the Dearborn automaker’s advanced technology teams and the rest from startups and suppliers. Fulfilling the vision, though, is likely to take years, according to the project's leaders, who promise more details will be shared in June.

Ford has estimated the price tag to restore the entire Corktown campus at $950 million, but it wouldn't say how much has been spent restoring the 500,000-square-foot train station. Over the last six years, 3,100 workers put in more than 1.7 million hours into its construction.

Although restoration will be complete in time for the open house in June, the station won't immediately be the buzzing center of shops, restaurants, Ford employees at work and overnight visitors.

"We will start after that, the long process of activating the building over time," Sirefman said.

Still, Ford is expected to occupy several floors in the station's tower, according to two sources familiar with the situation. There are plans for a still-to-be-named hotel to occupy the top three stories. Other businesses will have some tie into advanced tech, electrification or mobility.

More: Michigan Central about to open, but what will be inside?

Restaurants and shops on the ground floor are being curated by Roslyn Karamoko, founder of Detroit Is The New Black apparel brand. Art installations will pay homage to the station's history, and there'll be space for public gatherings and live music performances on its campus. There's also potential for the  return of passenger rail service nearby .

District 6 Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero said the NFL Draft was not as successful near Corktown and Southwest Detroit as previously expected and asked how the station would make more efforts to boost nearby businesses outside their campus.

"We want Michigan Central to feel a part of the neighborhood," Sirefman responded. "We're going to have a partnership with all the local businesses. ... We are going to have limited availability for food and beverages on site but we want to make sure local businesses are highlighted. We are still working on shuttle services for the event but I think that could create opportunities and ensure people are in the neighborhoods."

The petition for the grand opening permits was sent to the council's Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee for a vote before returning to formal session next week.

[email protected]

X: @SarahRahal_

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Historic Former Church in Detroit Is Poised for a Real Estate Resurrection

A red-brick house of worship in Detroit needs some creative intervention. The former church just hit the market for $399,000.

Built in 1949, this 4,000-square-foot sanctuary formerly operated as the Mount Olive East Missionary Baptist Church until it closed its doors in 2009.

The building is said to have been home to St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church before that.

“It was a former church built in the late 1800s, but there was a fire years ago, and it had to be completely rebuilt,” says listing agent James Bufalino , of Premier Property Services. “The city now owns it in conjunction with a private company.”

The one-time church could be remodeled into a residence, but will a buyer be up to the challenge?

(Realtor.com)

Seeking a savior

The listing is currently accepting proposals through June 15 from potential buyers looking to restore some life to the place.

“The best use of the property, in my opinion, would be a single-family home; but it could also be a great live-and-work space, or a community center, or educational center,” Bufalino says, adding that the “biggest hurdle” to the property’s transformation will be ensuring that the buyer’s vision for the place is in keeping with his historic qualities.

In addition to preserving the character of the property, which is in the Indian Village Historic District, there are a few other conditions for buyers.

“It does lack parking, but people are used to street parking,” Bufalino notes. “You also couldn’t have a multifamily [structure]. You have to get approval from both the Detroit Land Bank and Historic District Commission, but they are truly open to any type of ownership that is conducive to the neighborhood.”

Bufalino also points out that in a remodel, certain details must be preserved as part of the historically sensitive rehabilitation project, especially if the proposal is to convert the space to a single-family residence.

He adds that a prospective buyer should consider the renovation costs as a first step.

“Realistically, you are going to spend $400,000 to acquire the property and then another $600,000 renovating it,” he says. “You need about $1 million to do it right, with the proper finishes, the right stones, marbles, and countertops.”

According to the listing, a new roof and gutters were recently installed, and some interior and exterior modifications have also been made.

Despite the significant work that will be required to revamp the building, prospective buyers are swarming.

“We have had a ton of interest across the board, with a lot of people looking to transform it into a single-family use,” Bufalino reports. “The stained-glass is phenomenal. It’s a clean palette for someone to come in, put some finishing touches, and make it their own without extreme modifications.”

• For more photos and details, check out the full listing.
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Kellie Speed has more written for a variety of publications, including Haute Living, U.S. Veterans magazine, DiverseAbility, and JustLuxe. She can be reached at [email protected].

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