Did you know the first mile of concrete ever was paved in Detroit? Apparently, even old-timey Detroiters loved road tripping! Check out our favorite Fotospots in the Motor City.
LessThis open-air art project was envisioned and created by artist Tyree Guyton and his grandfather Sam Mackey. Located just north of a historically African-American neighborhood called Black Bottom, the Heidelberg Project is Guyton's answer to the deteriorating condition of the neighborhood he came back to after serving in the military. The colorful little Eden is a community project and has been visited by tourists representing 140 countries. It has recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The curator of this museum, Olayami Dabls, is an expert on the history of African materials and mediums. The museum has the oldest collection of such materials, some of the beads dating back 400 years. Paintings, sculptures, and artifacts from Africa depict the different cultures spanning the continent and some of them are several hundred years old.
A four-story building houses over 1 million books including an impressive collection of used and rare. This colossal store founded by John J. King in 1965 has been described as "one of the largest and strangest collections in North America." Not necessarily a bad thing...but what makes it so strange? You'll find volumes such as 1920s German erotica and original photos of Mark Twain next to Mao's "Little Red Book" written in the original Chinese.
This converted 1900s railway station with high ceilings and a unique, old-timey interior is now a pub that serves over 170 craft beers. Diners love the tasty food and a great beverage selection. It's indeed a wonderful place to grab comfort food and wash it down with a microbrew. There is also a great selection of top-tier liquor for those who like a bit more strength to their drinks.
Artist Dmytro Szylak worked from 1992 to 1999 to complete his fantasy land. The yard of folk-art is his interpretation of Disneyland as well as the cultures he drew inspiration from - American, German, and Ukrainian. His collection included wind-powered ducks and repurposed lawn ornaments, ceiling fans, and other salvaged parts. Unfortunately, he died in 2015 leaving his estate in probate.
Boxer Joe Louis's heavyweight punch is memorialized in bronze. It was commissioned by Sports Illustrated in 1986 and sculpted by Robert Graham. It symbolizes not only the Alabama-born boxer's strength inside the ring, but his dedication to fighting Jim Crow laws that were prevalent in his era.
The giant, bronze statue was created by Marshall Fredericks and Coleman Young in 1958. Its 9-ton, 26-foot frame was first cast in Oslo, Norway and placed at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center atop a 60-ton marble base. The figure's left hand holds a gilt bronze sphere while the right gently supports a family, symbolizing the importance of human relationships.
Located in the center of Hart Plaza this futuristic fountain was envisioned by Isamu Noguchi more than four decades ago in 1978. It was sponsored by Anna Thompson Dodge and installed in 1981 in memory of her automobile-pioneer husband and son, both of whom passed before she did. The stainless steel fountain is 30 feet high, composed of a ring supported by two slanted columns with 300 water jets and 300 lights.
A part of Wayne State University, the institute was founded in 1885, although the Beaux Arts building was built in 1927. It encompasses 658,000 square feet that houses over 100 galleries, a 1,150-seat theater, and a 380-seat concert hall. This world-class museum has one of the largest art collections in the United States with pieces from all over the world and spanning human history from ancient times to modern.