A History Lover's Guide to Detroit

Baker's Keyboard Lounge

Located along Detroit’s historic Livernois Avenue of Fashion, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge is the world’s oldest jazz club. The lounge has hosted some of the most renowned jazz artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Nate King Cole, and Louis Armstrong. Baker’s Keyboard Lounge is a testament to Detroit’s historic contributions to jazz music nationwide.

Buddy's Pizza Flagship Location

Over 75 years ago, the original Detroit-style pizza was born at Buddy’s. Though the restaurant has expanded to locations across Metro Detroit, the flagship location on 6 Mile is where the story started. Historied and nationally acclaimed, Buddy’s Pizza tastes just as delicious after all these years!

The Whitney

Built in 1894, The Whitney is a charming historic mansion that has three separate venues: a fine dining restaurant, a walk-in ghost bar, and a beautiful garden area. Architecturally, the Whitney is a Romanesque Revival-style building and a popular landmark in the city. But patron be warned, The Whitney is also rumored to be haunted!

Giovanni's Ristorante

Originally a pizzeria that opened in 1968, Giovanni’s Ristorante is now an award-winning authentic Italian restaurant. The history of this restaurant is tied to broader histories of immigration, Detroit’s automotive industry, and neighborhood pride. Giovanni’s Ristorante has also boasted many famous patrons, including Frank Sinatra, George Clooney, and Celine Dion!

London Chop House

The London Chop House first opened in the 1930s, and for decades, it was a nationally renowned restaurant, ranked among the best in the country. Despite this success, the restaurant closed in 1991. Two decades later, the restaurant reopened, and it continues its tradition of fine dining today.

Nancy Whiskey

Nancy Whiskey is a dive bar that has been open since 1902. If you know your history, you’ll know this means the bar withstood the country’s Prohibition era! Located in North Corktown, this Irish pub is still a destination over 120 years later.

Garden Bowl

Inside the Majestic Theater in Midtown, Detroit, Garden Bowl is one of the oldest bowling alleys in the country. For over 100 years, patrons have been knocking down pins right on Woodward. Today, the bowling alley is actually listed in the National Registry of Historical Places.

Henry Hatter

Established in 1893, Henry Hatter holds the title of the oldest hat retailer in the country! The store has a rich and impressive history full of fun facts like this: U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower wore a Henry Hatter hat to his inauguration. Though the store has changed locations throughout its history, it remains thriving today in the Eastern Market neighborhood.

John K. King Used & Rare Books

At this four-story bookstore, you can both experience and find history. In a once-abandoned glove factory, John K. King Used & Rare Books first opened in 1965. With over a million books in store, it’s no wonder patrons are offered a map upon arrival. The store also contains a Rare Book Room, sure to intrigue any history buff!

Xochi's Gift Shop

For nearly four decades, Xochi’s Gift Shop has been selling authentic Mexican imports in the heart of Detroit’s historic Mexicantown. From Mexican folk art to Aztec deco, Xochi’s is perfect for anyone wanting to dig deeper into Mexican culture and history.

The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit

This restored, historic hotel first opened its doors in 1924 along Washington Avenue in downtown Detroit. The hotel has welcomed many famous guests throughout its history, including Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, this pet-friendly hotel has been restored to its original extravagance with a modern twist.

The Detroit Foundation Hotel

Built in 1929, this hotel is housed inside Detroit’s former Fire Department Headquarters. Meticulously restored, the hotel opened in 2017 and serves as a gorgeous reminder of the city’s past and a look into its future. Aesthetically, the Foundation balances modern features with aspects of its historic features restored and integrated into the design.

The Inn at 97 Winder

Located in Detroit’s historic and burgeoning Brush Park neighborhood, The Inn at 97 Winder was built in 1876 at a time when similarly French-style mansions were popping up across the neighborhood. Originally the home of a Scottish immigrant family, the mansion served various functions across time, including a rooming house during the Great Depression. In 2005, the building was meticulously restored into an upscale boutique hotel that embraces the mansion’s original grandeur and elegance.

The Siren Hotel

The Siren Hotel occupies a building that is rich with Detroit history, The Wurlitzer Building, which first opened in 1926. This tall, narrow, Renaissance Revival building was once one of the world’s largest music stores. You could also come to the Wurlitzer Building for music lessons or instrument repairs. For decades, the skyscraper sat empty, until it was reborn as the beautifully restored Siren Hotel in 2018.

The Atheneum Suite Hotel

The Atheneum Suite Hotel is deeply rooted (pun intended!) in Detroit’s seed production history. The building that now houses the hotel was once a Ferry Seed warehouse, a robust and renowned site for the production of flower, fruit, and vegetable seed packets. Converted to a hotel in the early 1990s, The Atheneum Suite Hotel sits nestled in Detroit’s historic Greektown neighborhood.

Detroit History Tours

This woman-owned, award-winning tour company is perfect for anyone interested in Detroit’s rich and impactful history. Detroit History Tours has specially curated tour options for all of your niche Detroit history interests: architecture, food, sports, and more. You can also enjoy Detroit History Tours by foot, bus, or even by yourself with their new Detroit History Tour app!

Detroit Historical Society's Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Behind the Scenes Tours, hosted by the Detroit Historical Society, offer weekly historic tours that range from 90 minutes to two hours. During these tours, an expert guide provides in-depth and informative tours of various Detroit sites and establishments. For a list of current tours, check out their website!

Pure Detroit Tours

You might be familiar with Pure Detroit as a store with Detroit apparel and home goods, but did you know the same company also provides tours of Detroit’s iconic Fischer Building? Known as “Detroit’s largest art object,” the Fischer Builder is a stunning feat of architecture with a fascinating history. With Pure Detroit tours, you’ll get a deep and intimate look into this art deco gem.

Ste. Anne de Detroit

The second oldest continuously operating Catholic parish in the United States, Ste. Anne de Detroit is a gorgeous parish with a storied history in the city. The church has received considerable recognition over the course of its 300-year history. In fact, in 2020, Pope Francis named Ste. Anne de Detroit is a minor basilica, a designation that only 89 other churches in the U.S. currently hold. This stained-glass-lined church is absolutely worth a visit.

Senate Theater

Located right on Michigan Avenue in Southwest Detroit, the Senate Theater first opened in 1926 as both a movie theater and a performance venue for comedians and entertainers. After closing down for a stint in the 1950s, the theater reopened in the 60s and continues to host performances, films, and private events to this day. The theater’s main claim to fame, though, is that it’s home to the rare and nationally recognized Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ.

Eastern Market

Lined with local vendors and unique murals, Detroit’s Eastern Market holds many impressive titles: Largest outdoor farmers’ market in the country and second best public market in the U.S., to name a few. The Eastern Market has been running since 1841. If you don’t mind the crowds, join the thousands of residents and visitors alike who explore and shop at the market every Saturday!

Detroit Historical Museum

The Detroit Historical Museum is mandatory for all history lovers. The museum is split into three exhibition types: Signature Exhibitions
(permanent exhibits that dig into different aspects of Detroit's history, including the city’s roles in the Underground Railroad); Changing Exhibitions (rotating exhibitions that feature local community organizations); and Traveling Exhibitions (exhibitions that are available for rent to cultural institutions and organizations).

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Named after a Detroit-based obstetrician and gynecologist, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History first opened in 1965. Over half a million visitors come to this museum each year to explore, appreciate, and celebrate African-American history, culture, and contributions. The 125,000-square-foot facility is filled with powerful exhibits, including the Ring of Genealogy and the And Still We Rise exhibit.

Motown Museum

Detroit is the home of Motown music, so it’s no surprise that the city has an incredible Motown Museum, otherwise known as Hitsville, USA, to pay respect to this history. The museum is located in Motown’s original headquarters and recording studio where legends like Marvin Gaye and The Temptations are recorded! Come experience a piece of Motown magic at this international destination for history lovers and music fanatics alike.

Dossin Great Lakes Museum

Located on Belle Isle, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum celebrates the rich history of the Great Lakes and Detroit’s unique contributions to that history. At this 16,000-square-foot museum that aptly sits along the Detroit River, visitors can learn about the region’s social and industrial history through the lens of water and maritime developments.

Hellenic Museum of Michigan

One of the newer museums in the city, the Hellenic Museum of Michigan first opened in 2013 in Detroit’s Cultural Center. The museum features many exhibits and permanent collections that uplift and celebrate Greek history, culture, and heritage. Additionally, the museum regularly features work from artists that are rooted in Hellenic traditions.

Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum

Founded in 1985, Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum has an incredibly rich history in the city. Though there have been several locations over the years, the museum currently sits near the corner of Grand River Avenue and West Grand Boulevard and includes a sprawling and dazzling outdoor exhibit of 18 art installations. Owner and founder Olayami Dabls has designed a space that attracts local and global visitors to witness African culture, history, and artistry.

The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

Given Detroit’s deep history in the automotive industry, the Henry Ford is an iconic global destination. Stretched across 250 acres, The Henry Ford is made up of four unique attractions: The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, and the Giant Screen Experience. With activities, attractions, and exhibits for all ages, The Henry Ford makes for an engaging day trip for the whole family!

Detroit Institute of Arts

Last but certainly not least, The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is ranked among the top 10 museums in the country. Founded in 1885, the DIA currently has over 100 galleries and 65,000 works. Perhaps most notable, the DIA features the first Van Gogh painting to enter a museum collection in the U.S., Self-Portrait. This renowned museum is mandatory for artists, art lovers, and anyone with an appreciation for history and culture.