Your Guide to Detroit Metro Area Museums
Story by Amanda Shaffer
Whether you are looking to make a full day of fun or just spend an afternoon at the museum Detroit is bursting at the seams with opportunities for you to explore. If you are wanting to learn more about things of the past by the sea, air, or railway you can find it all here in the tri-county.
Wayne County Museums
Detroit Institute of Arts
With over 65,000 works at Detroit Institute of Arts there is something for everyone who visits. Whether it is photography, sculptures, paintings, or more. Cost is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties and for others out of the tri-county area tickets are $14 for adults and $6 for youth between the ages of 6-17. The museum is located at 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202. Museum parking is available for $7 or find street parking for $1 an hour or free on Sundays. Make sure to check the calendar for their drop-in workshops for some hands-on art experience.
Motown Museum
If you are ready to experience where the signature Motown sound originated then Motown Museum for you! Also known as Hitsville, USA this is the birthplace of Motown music and a visit here will have you walking through the studio where some of the greatest Motown artists recorded their songs. Adults can purchase tickets for $20. Seniors, Students, Veterans and children from the ages of 5-17 can purchase tickets for $17. Please keep in mind that tickets are first come, first served and times and tours do sell out. You can visit the museum
Wednesday-Sunday and find street parking near the museum located at 2648 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48208.
Detroit Historical Museum
Are you a local looking to find out more about the history of your city? Visiting from out of town and want to find out what makes Detroit special? You'll find it here at the Detroit Historical Museum. The museum is open Thursday-Sunday (make sure to check for upcoming summer hours!) and admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and $6 for children six and older. It is located at 5401 Woodward Ave, Detroit MI.
Dabls MBAD African Bead Museum
If you have ever passed the stunning corner of Grand River and West Grand Blvd you most likely are already familiar with the Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum. It includes the African Bead Gallery, N'kisi House, African Language Wall, as well as 16 outdoor installations that give the Detroit community a better understanding of African heritage. You can find the African Bead Museum at 6559 Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI. The gallery and store are open Monday-Saturday.
Michigan Science Center
For families looking for hands-on STEM fun for their children and adults alike, the Michigan Science Center is where you will find it. Located at 5020 John R St., Detroit, MI you can enjoy the museum Wednesday-Sunday for $18 for adults and $14 for children ages 2-15. The exhibits, shows, and presentations at the center explore many different STEM topics and you’ll hardly realize how much you are learning with all the fun you are having.
The Henry Ford Museum
With three amazing attractions The Henry Ford Museum, The Greenfield Village, and The Ford Factory Rouge Tour you are able to build your visit to include the interests of everyone. Located at 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI 48124. The museum is open seven days a week, the Village is open Wednesday-Sunday, and the Factory Tours run Monday-Saturday. There are many ticket purchasing options, with big screen experience add-ons as well. To save the most money on your visit consider looking at their membership options.
Automotive Hall of Fame
Are you ready to learn about and celebrate the men and women who revolutionized the auto industry? Located conveniently just across the parking lot from the Henry Ford Museum at 21400 Oakwood Blvd Dearborn, Michigan this is where you will do it! The museum is open Thursday through Sunday and tickets can be purchased for $10 for an adult, seniors and students are $6, and children 5-12 are $4.
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD)
MOCAD presents exhibitions and programs that explore the best of contemporary art, connecting Detroit and the global art world. MOCAD focuses on art as a means to nurture social change and human understanding, reflecting our community. We encourage innovative experimentation by artists, musicians, makers, cultural producers, and scholars to enrich all who participate and to educate visitors of all ages in the power of art.
Dossin Great Lakes Museum
While spending time on the beautiful Belle Isle State Park you absolutely have to add the Dossin Great Lakes Museum to your visit list. You'll find the museum at 100 Strand Drive, Belle Isle, Detroit, MI and pay $5 per person to explore the museum Friday-Sunday. There you will be able to “drive” a hydroplane boat or freighter through the harbor. Explore the S.S. William Clay Ford pilot house and so much more!
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
is located at 315 Warren Ave in Detroit, MI. It is dedicated to exploring and celebrating African American History and Culture. Expect to spend about two hours exploring the museum that is open Wednesday through Sunday. Adult admission (13-61) to the museum is $15, seniors and children between the ages of 3 and 12 will pay $12. Make sure to mark your calendars for their signature event this summer, the Annual African World Festival.
Tuskegee Airmen National Museum
The Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum is the dream of many individuals to capture the history of the exceptional aviators known as the Tuskegee Airmen – the first all African American fighter pilot squadron. The museum looks back to honor the Tuskegee Airmen while recognizing the importance of looking forward to inspire the next generation of aviators.
Arab American Museum
The Arab American Museum is the first and only of its kind. It is a museum dedicated to telling the American Arab story. The exhibitions at the museum explore the Arab world and the history of Arab Americans from the very first immigrants that arrived in the late 19th century to today. The museum is located at 13624 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, MI. You can visit the museum Thursday-Saturday with general admission being $8.
Yankee Air Museum
The Yankee Air Museum is located at 47884 D St. Belleville, MI. For $13 admission for adults, seniors, veterans, military, and children 2-17 will pay $10. There is a hands-on exploration station for children to simulate flights as well as the chance to climb in a cockpit in addition to an up close look at aircrafts and artifacts.
Oakland County Museums
Chi-Town Union Station
Chi-Town Union Station is located at 8275 Cooley Lake Rd, Commerce Charter Twp, MI. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children 5-17. Chi-Town houses the world's largest O-Scale model layout and is a must-visit for all the train lovers you know. Check their website for the most up-to-date open days and hours as they are a seasonal museum.
Zekelman Holocaust Center
The Zekelman Holocaust Center main goal is educate, engage, and empower its visitors to remember the Holocaust and apply its lessons to their daily lives. Many guests who visit the museum have left saying it is life-changing. The museum is open Sunday-Friday and closed on Saturdays. Admission for adults is $8, seniors and college students are $6, and students admission is $5. You will find the museum at 28123 Orchard Lake Road in Farmington Hills, MI.
Cranbrook Art Museum
Located at 39221 Woodward Ave, Bloomfield Hills the Cranbrook Art Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. General admission is $10, seniors and Detroit residents admission is $8, and students with ID pay $6. Children under the age of 12 are free and there is free admission to the museum on Thursdays. With a campus of 319 acres and nearly 6,000 artworks whether you love architecture, gardens, or sculptures, you will enjoy your visit here. In the summer, enjoy a round of mini golf inspired by the art and design of Cranbrook right on their grounds.
Cranbrook Institute of Science
Whether it is enjoying an add-on show at the planetarium, learning all about ice age survivors, or getting up close to dinosaur fossils, every budding scientist and scientist at heart will enjoy the Cranbrook Institute of Science. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $13 for adults and $9.50 for seniors and children 2-12. The museum offers admission to the for free after 5 pm the first Friday of each month. Space is limited and registration is encouraged. Walk-ins for the first free Friday are welcome but because space is limited entrance is not guaranteed. Located at 39221 Woodward Ave, in Bloomfield Hills which is just minutes from the Cranbrook Art Museum.
Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum
This is not your typical arcade. Instead, visitors are invited to take a step through mechanical history while visiting this one-of-a-kind museum but you’ll want to bring a roll of quarters. You will take in the sights and sounds from every angle at Marvin’s. Model airplanes, posters, and collector items hang from the ceiling and decorate the walls. The floor space is full of vintage coin-operated games and oddities as well as the newest video games. There is a cafe on site and visitors can turn in their tickets for prizes. Marvin’s is located at 31005 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills, MI and is open 365 days a year!
Macomb County Museums
Michigan Transit Museum
The Michigan Transit Museum, located at 200 Grand Avenue. in Mt. Clemens, Michigan is open on Sundays from 1-4. This is where you can visit where a young Thomas Edison spent some of his early invention days. This is actually where he learned how to use the Morse telegraphic system as a thank you from the station master for saving his child’s life. Summer train rides are available for $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 4-12. They run on Sundays only and do not depart from the depot but instead Joy Park.
The Ford House
At Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s estate you’ll find opportunities to explore the grounds, take a home tour, class, or dine at the lakeside restaurant. There are so many opportunities to discover the stories that are waiting to be uncovered at the estate. House and grounds admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, and $7.50 for children 6-12. Self-guided and staff tours are available as well as options for admission to just the grounds if you would like to take a summer stroll or have a family picnic. This lakeside home can be found at 1100 Lake Shore Rd, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236.
Selfridge Military Air Museum
At the Selfridge Military Air Museum, you can experience aircraft and equipment from all eras of military flight. The museum is located on a secure military installation so you will need either a Government ID card, Common Access Card (CAC), or Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) or will need to pass a security background check performed for a Visitor’s Pass before you will be allowed access to the military base and the museum. The base and museum are located at Selfridge ANG Base 27333 ‘C’ Street, Harrison Twp, MI. and is open for the 2023 season until October 2023 on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission for adults is $10, while seniors pay $8 and children 4-17 pay $5.
Anatomy of Death Museum
Michigan’s only death museum is open Wednesday through Saturday and located at 292 Cass Ave in Mt Clemens, Michigan. Visitors can expect to be educated about the death and dying practices and traditions from around the world. You can also visit the Laid To Rest Antiques and Oddities which is located in the museum’s gift shop. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults and $7 for children ages 6-14.
Stahls Automotive Foundation
The Stahl Automotive Foundation is located at 56516 North Bay Dr. in Chesterfield, MI and open on Tuesdays and the first Saturday of the month. There is no admission charge but donations are appreciated and accepted. At Stahls you will find a dedication to preserving and helping others learn the history of these stunning antique vehicles.
Discovery Center of Macomb
The discovery center is where you will find STEAM-based youth workshops, free family-friendly events, and educational kid’s activities all year long. STEAM Saturdays take place from 12-4, with interactive programming at 1pm and 2pm. Admission is free but donations are appreciated. The Discovery Center is located at 54 Cherry St, in downtown Mt. Clemens, MI.
No matter where you find yourself in the tri-county area, you are sure to find a museum nearby that will excite, entertain, and educate you or your family.
