One of the best ways to get to know a city is to spend time visiting some of the free activities that are provided. It gives insight into what type of people call that city home. Detroit is a unique city with a diverse population; it shows in the eclectic and often bizarre menu of events.
Museums
On the shore of picturesque Belle Isle is theDossin Great Lakes Museum. Dedicated to preserving the history of transportation on and life along the shores of the Detroit River and the Great Lakes, the Dossin is a great place for a fun and educational family outing. They appreciate donations to help offset the cost of maintaining the museum, but there is no charge for general admission.
Two of the most popular exhibits there are the Pilot house from the SS. William Clay Ford and the Gothic Room. The pilot house which was removed from the vessel just before it was scrapped in 1987 is the only display that is not fully accessible to visitors. The Gothic Room is the first thing visitors see upon entering the museum. Not unlike stepping back into a lost era. The gentlemen’s lounge was removed from the City Of Detroit III before her demise in 1956 and reconstructed through the work and support of many volunteers. This room is so unique that is often rented for weddings and special events.
Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum, located at 31005 Orchard Lake Road in Farmington Hills, isn’t large by square foot terms, but is huge in popularity and distinctiveness. Nestled between the two halves of a shopping mall in on of Detroit’s northern suburbs, it is a tribute to gaming and the bizarre. Exhibits range from the oddest collection of coin operated antiques to a ceiling full of model planes, some with a wing-span of as much as 9 feet.
There is a creepy old electric chair rumored to have been used in Sing-Sing in the 1930’s and 1940’s and a large enough collection of modern arcade games to keep almost anyone happy, including a token rewarding kids section with a well supplied prize counter. There is even free WiFi to keep the parents entertained while the kids have a blast.
While visiting Detroit the Heidelberg Project is a must see. You will bring away a greater sense of what Detroit is if you experience this treasure of the city. At 3600 Heidelberg St Tyree Guyton has shown that one person can make a difference. In a run-down city neighborhood, he is a man with a vision. He works with the inner-city youth and is driven to find new ways to inspire hope and provide life-sustaining values.
With gallons of paint and even more imagination, Guyton has taken junk form the hood and proclaimed a vision of something better. The Dotty Wotty House, decorated with every size and color of polka dot, denotes the diversity of the areas people and culture while the Oval Room, actually the side yard, with its ever-changing collection of gaily paint vacuums represents the desire of the neighborhood to clean up the blight and despair that surrounds them.
Hart Plaza is definitely one of the top tourist attractions in Detroit. With festivals, concerts, and other events throughout the summer and ice skating in the winter there is always something going on. Located at the foot of Woodward Ave this huge span of concrete affords visitors excellent entertainment options as well as access to the Riverwalk and some of the shoreline’s best fishing. There is a breathtaking view across the water to the Canadian coast complete with sunrises for the early birds, a fountain and sculpture add class and beauty to the surroundings.
The “other” outdoor entertainment venue in downtown Detroit is Campus Martius Park, quite possibly the most beauty to be found in Detroit. Lush lawns with available free WiFi, ample seating areas, stunning gardens with granite water wall backdrops, and the Woodward fountain, which is the main feature of Campus Martius Park, all come together in a stunning display. The fountain sets the mood of the park with its light and water presentations, shooting water over 100 feet in the air to a background of shimmering lights, and music. It is a must see for Detroit visitor’s.
Known by locals as “Detroit’s Gathering Place”, it hosts admission-free events all summer long. Live concerts, free film festivals, and tours of the historic downtown area highlight this entertainment extravaganza. What could be better than music to dance in the streets by, performed by Motown’s newest great stars? See you there.
