DETROIT GUIDE
WELCOME DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Downtown is alive with culture, and entertainment. The GM World exhibit gives
an auto-show look at many of the company's new and classic vehicles
and renovation at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center ... More
CULTURAL SITES
Charles Wright Museum of African American History, founded in 1962,
began in two houses on West Grand Blvd. Its present $38 million building
represents a marked achievement in Black Culture ... More
RESTAURANTS and NIGHTCLUBS
Motown has its fair share of traditional and upscale Soul Food and
Creole restaurants. But the real treat is
its nice collection of Jazz and R&B nightclubs ... More
SHOPS and GALLERIES
Given its large white collar population in the metro area, Detroit has a
robust array of bookstores, art galleries, framing shops,
clothing and accesory boutiques catering to sisters and brothers ... More
THE MOTOWN SOUND
In the 1930s, Detroit developed a healthy share of national Jazz bands. Jump Blues
bands arrived in the 1940s. Borrowing heavily from its Gospel, Blues and
Jump Blues heritage, in the 1950s you could find many a Doo Wop trio ... More
BLACK GENESIS
For hundreds of years, the area was so important to commerce between
Native American tribes that only well-known fur traders were allowed into the
territory. Then in 1701, French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac ... More
PARADISE VALLEY
Bounded by Gratiot (pronounced "Gray-sha"), Vernor, Brush and Hastings Streets,
Paradise Valley--also known as “Black Bottom”--offered African American
Detroiters from the 1920’s through the 1950’s ... More
PLACES OF WORSHIP
Detroit is known for its marvelous collection of Black churches. The Nation of Islam
was founded here before moving headquarters to Chicago ... More
FAMILY ATTRACTIONS
Detroit Science Center is among the largest science centers in the country and
Detroit Zoo includes many start of the art habitats. But if you are auto fans,
the Automotive Hall of Fame has many unique treats in store ... More
GENERAL ATTRACTIONS
Renaissance Center, Greektown, and a bunch of downtown casinos hosting
nightly entertainment amplify nightlife options in the Motor city ... More
ART and HISTORY MUSEUMS
With automative industry benefactors, Detroit is blessed with two of America's
best art and history museums, Detroit Instittue of Art and Henry Ford Museum.
The underrated Detroit History Museum also has its charms ... More
PERFORMING ART VENUES
Possessing one of the largest theatre districts in America, Detroit boasts of the
Fox Theatre, Fisher Music Center, Detroit Repertory Theatre, Music Hall Center for
the Performing Arts, Majestic Theatre, Gem and Century Theatres ... More
FAMOUS MEETING OF THE GREAT ABOLITIONISTS
Frederick Douglass met John Brown here in March 1859. Brown informed Douglass
and other abolitionists attending a meeting at William Webb’s house,
that national insurrection was the only way to abolish slavery ... More
TRIVIA and FAMOUS RESIDENTS
At one time, Detroit probably had more former Tuskegee Airmen residents than
any other city. In fact the former Mayor Coleman was an Airman ... More
RESEARCH CREDITS:
Leonard Dorsey
Thomas Dorsey
Sheila Umolu
Lysa Allman-Baldwin





