Detroit Historical Museum

Outstanding museum for a trip down memory lane or to get acquainted with Detroit history. Exhibits cover everything from native American inhabitants, the founding,and right up through modern times. I especially loved the music section, highlights all the things invented in Detroit. You'll need a couple of hours to see everything, and entree costs are budget friendly. Neat gift shop too.

What a fantastic museum! Although some of the reviewers complain about the aged displays, this museum is a gem within Detroit. It houses thousands upon thousands of items and displays, with some amazing things I’ve never seen before. It’s a must visit if you’re in the area!!! 👏🏻

Had a wonderful experience at the museum. Great information about Detroit. Learned a lot. Poor city has been through a lot. Very resilient city. Keep hoping the best for it. ☮️

My parents took me here when I was a young boy, so I wanted to take my young son here. He had a great time and so did his grandpa! They really enjoyed all the sports memorabilia, but there is so much more to see and learn about. Overall, it was a great experience for the family.

Great time. Plenty of historical items and facts to learn from about Detroit and it's history nationwide related and otherwise. Auto industry sports history. Excellent learning experience and disabled accessible friendly for people like myself. I hope those interested in learning about our mitten states most influential city's history to come visit. Give yourself plenty of time allocated to go through plenty of things to see and read about.

The museum is a family tradition for us. Our grandchildren - like our children did - are learning history, but they think they're just having fun! :) There are experiences for every age. Go. Learn. Have fun!

Its amazing it isn’t a day trip definitely recommend a couple days. To really absorb everything and start at the top first and work down in my opinion. Wish they had more actual artifacts from time periods not just recreations. Needs a food court but other than that it’s a lot of fun. Especially for History buffs.

If people don’t know how cool this museum is then they need to check it out, it’s interactive in many ways you wouldn’t expect that make its impact that much more felt. Highly recommend

Super cool museum with a wide ranging history of the city of Detroit from the 1800s through the 90s. Definitely very cool to see all the auto stuff, the sports section and the riot stuff.

I recently learned about this museum from someone's social media post and decided to check it out. It's a great museum! The old streets of Detroit were fun to walk through. The brewology exhibit was informative; I had no idea that Detroit was a hub for smuggling alcohol during prohibition. The Underground Railroad trail was enlightening and detailed how Detroit was pivotal in the quest for freedom. There are plenty of other exhibits too that showcase various subjects (the auto industry, Motown, sports, riots, etc). I thought the museum was going to be small and arrived about 2 hours before close. I rushed through some exhibits because of the time; you can definitely spend a few hours there!

A great small museum. This is a good starting point to learn more about the city and the area. The museum is super affordable and the staff is kind. Because the museum is small, I would recommend this to be your first stop in learning about Detroit.

The history museum comprised several levels and comprised a good variety of topics. They had free entrance for locals, but charged for visitors. The content varied, but I found it a bit underwhelming, often more style than substance. A brief rendition of the early history of Native American, French, British, and eventually American settlements in the area served as a decent opening. The halls on cars and music were obligatory, but didn't really give a ton of depth and the specialized museums on those subjects are probably better for anyone interested in the subject matter. Other exhibits included a bunch of portraits with names oddly handwritten on duct tape beneath them, an compelling if visually uninteresting hall on the Underground Railroad, and an adjoining series of rooms on various social movements. What stood out to me was that much of the museum portrayed industrial and WW2 era Detroit as a powerhouse, but it didn't seem to want to touch the state of the city now. And whatever broader observations one might have about civilizational decline, Detroit presents an especially compelling picture of urban decay. Is there a story of renewal in the works? One hopes, but I didn't get any sense from the museum of the city as it is today. A lot of what it focused on instead felt like fluff. It was a big enough museum that you could find some interesting things in it, but I expected more.

Such a fun museum to go to. You really get to see a lot of history especially in the music industry. Who knew so many artists came from Detroit. There are so many mini rooms it is like walking through a maze.

Small building but every inch is filled with the story of Detroit. From its founding to industrial powerhouse to the tough times as the economy change and racism cause the white flight that caused the tax base to disappear. It also didn't help that for the last 70 years the unspoken by many but understood by all that anything that benefits Detroit will not be done in this state. So the museum has sections on many people, creations that are world known, special exhibits to highlight the famous and interesting events that helped shape a city that is special to those who stayed, moved to, and even those who traveled far to visit. I got a membership so I can come back. They have a parking lot that cost $9 while the museum is open and $10 when not. It is on the Q Line and just on the north end of the cultural center. I look forward to visiting soon

Today was a sponsored field trip to this museum to view the temporary exhibit about Hasting Street. From 1890 to 1940s, Hasting Street was an important area of Detroit for the immigrant Jewish population, then the African-American population. Artifacts and photographs from this time period are displayed. I really enjoyed seeing this, learning about these two groups in Detroit. This is a temporary exhibit and will be gone sometime in July so make it a point to get there.

Wow wow wow!!! This place was so great and the event we attended was absolutely amazing!! What a great evening!!! We had tickets for a murder mystery even here in 2020, but because of covid it was postponed. Then postponed again, and then eventually cancelled. We love doing these sorts of things. Super fun and gives us an excuse to go into the city. Ok. This was both our first time here. If you love Detroit as much as we do, you will love it here. This museum really celebrated Detroit's history and gives you a unique look at why the city is so amazing! I feel like they need to expand it in the future to feature the current turn around that Detroit is having! This event was the Pure Spirits Tasting. That's right! You get to walk around the museum and get sloshed hahaha. We got the VIP tickets because that's how we roll. Well that's how I do. Lol. He's always telling me I spend too much. But hey! Why not splurge? We are worth it! The VIP tickets allowed for early entry and 15 drink tickets. Yes. FIFTEEN!! I will tell you that had we used all 15, we would not have gotten home! We have done events like this in the past, but we stayed in the city, so note to self, get a room next time! We were advised to start on the lowest level, which I also recommend. The lowest level takes you back to the streets of Detroit to the 1840-early 1900s. The flooring is made like the roads would have been. There are shops and restaurant fronts lining the streets. I would not recommend wearing heels! I nearly broke my neck! Now I'm not at all graceful. But this was especially challenging (especially when we came down at the end of the night and had about 12 drinks haha)! The remaining areas are dedicated to different eras of Detroit. There is an area dedicated to the automotive industry that featured the history of the auto industry and even has an electric car that was first built in 1913 (I think)! It's crazy to think they had this kind of technology back then but we are just now starting to use it!! This is a small museum but was packed with content! We will be back for sure! I would love to come here sober and really get the opportunity to look at everything because it was quite crowded. The upper floors were so hot that I was feeling a bit lightheaded. I thought about how cold it was out when I got dressed for the evening and did not consider the fact that it would be crowded and warm inside. I'm always freezing so if I was hot it was hot in there! There were likely over 100 vendors there making drinks for you and explaining their products. We got a lot of great ideas and learned about new drinks that we will definitely start making on our own. We also ran into some friends of ours. Both of us ran into people we knew. Haha. Detroit is coming to life now that covid has subsided a bit. I guess you can tell that I recommend coming here and we will be back, especially if they have another similar event!!

You have to remember that once upon a time, Detroit was quite a spectacle; a testament to American achievement and ingenuity, symbolic of the hard working blue-collar spirit whilst simultaneously becoming the richest city in the US. The museum does a great job of giving you a holistic insight into the rich 300+ year history of Detroit. The layout is a bit questionable at points but that's such a minor gripe. For the $10 of admission it's well worth it, easily an hour's worth of stuff.

Mr.Dudley in the Glance train exhibit was my favorite part. A live body to talk to and give you history!!!

This is a really solid historical museum. It's kind of small but definitely has very substantive exhibits. It gives you a great snapshot of the various eras in Detroit history It compares very well with other similar museums in that it even has an indoor version of what a Detroit Street might've looked like in downtown Also need exhibits about music and sports as well as the auto industry. Definitely worth a visit

I walked in expecting a car museum but there is so much more. Vintage Holiday Inn room was cool, presidential limos and diner serving Sloppy Joe's and apple pie are not to be missed. Not everything was super exciting but well worth a trip if you are in Detroit.

Free, free, and free. Did I mention admission is free? The museum does have parking but it costs upon your arrival to the welcome desk. We went on a Sunday and it was $9.00 to park. We were greeted by a friendly worker who explained the museum and provided us with a map. Admission as mentioned is free but donations are encouraged. WiFi also is free! There are three levels with the basement level being the infamous cobblestone old timey Detroit that starts in the 1840s and goes up to the 1900s. Now the cobblestone is not great for those in walkers or wheelchairs. There is a wood plank and cement boarder perimeter in order to avoid the cobblestone. The basement level also includes mini-trains and information about the railway system, trolley cars, etc. There is also a coat rack area which I was not expecting but appreciative of it, especially in the winter. We worked our way up to the assembly line area with of course a ton of automobile history! I did notice some exhibits were closed which was a bit disappointing. Other exhibits included the Players (changing exhibit), Underground Railroad, History of Detroit, and early beginnings with American Indians/fur trade. The most powerful exhibits were the Underground Railroad and Detroit 67. Slavery, the 67 riots, and social justice issues are all powerful topics and events that all should know about and understand. If you want to sum up the chronological history of Detroit then spend some time at the Allesee Gallery of Culture. The exhibit also leads to the Kid Rock Music Lab. This was interesting with all the musical greats but the Kid Rock influence was not really there. We spent about 2.5 hours here and honestly could have spent longer if we really took our time reading and experiencing everything little thing. Some interactive areas for kids but not a ton. I would suggest a bit older type of kiddo visit here who can appreciate the historical context. Otherwise, I see it as being a little bit boring for younger kids. Great and mighty museum. I learned a ton and I have even more appreciation for Detroit!

First of all, you need interest in Detroit history - or why go - it isn't history overall - it is Detroit history. The main floor used to have a section on the first years when it was a French settlement - that's either gone - or wasn't open. It was called the Frontiers to Factories exhibit, which depicts Detroiters at work in the city's first 200 years, from 1701 to 1901, as it grew from a French fur trading post to a midsize manufacturing city. The rest of the floor focuses on 1901 - current - as Detroit moved from a midsize city to the auto capital of the world - to today. That was open - and shows Detroit's fast growth, hey day, and then decline with an eye toward resurgence. The second floor is changing exhibits - currently a large focus in on the 1967 riots - seems a lot like the current Black Lives Matter riots - just 53 years ago. :-( The basement is a complete recreation called "Streets of Detroit". The first section is 1840s, the next is 1870s, the last is 1900ish. Each time, the streets get better, the lights get better, and you really can feel immersed since you're in the basement with no outside windows. As a family of four (2 young adults, 2 middle-aged sorts) - we spent 3 hours here before hitting information overload. Highly recommend.

So much fun! I've loved this place, since I was a child. Now my kids love it. So much information and so much to learn

This was an amazing experience. It's great to think that something like this is free, and it makes me wonder why more people do not come here. We got to experience different things and learn about Michigan. I learned things I never knew before. I got to read actual stories and listen to them. It all felt so real. I felt bad that I didn't stop in sooner. I didn't really know it was free. I always go to the DIA, and that's how I learned about this musuem. My favorite section has to be the ground floor. I loved the little street area. I thought that it was so interesting and beautiful. The rocky pavement and wood pavement areas. There was sidewalk, post lamps, trees, etc. You could even walk into some of the shops. The detailing is absolutely amazing. We were impressed. We definetely had a great time. I do want to come again and bring my siblings, so that they can learn more abot our state. They also have a cool musuem shop with some old fashioned items. I thought that was pretty cool. Alp the employees are super nice and helpful.

Really well done local museum! We had a lot of fun in the walk through streets and they had two great exhibitions on the Underground Railroad and then on the summer of 1967. Also in media representation and differing perspectives on historical events and the impacts that summer had on the city and people. They also had a great car exhibition of course and much more!

I have bit been here in quite a while. I'm going to go back before summer is out where I'll be able to fully share my experience

Had no idea how cool this place was until I visited for the Noon Years Eve celebration. So much to explore! The Dancing in the streets of the D was so much fun for my daughter. Would never have guessed a small scale walk through of a city was within the walls. Everything was very well organized and clean. Will definitely be back to check it out more.

I thought I was so special getting in the DHM as a resident of the tri-county area but it wasn't until I logged onto Ye Olde Yelp Site that I realized it's free to everyone. Nice deal for tourists, especially if they've already shelled out for the Detroit Institute of Arts, conveniently located across the street. It's an interesting looking building, mid twentieth century style, looking like a cross between Frank Lloyd Wright and a big concrete bunker. There's a plaza out front on Woodward with the different flags that have flown over Detroit heralding the institution. The entrance is on the side, though, off of Kirby. When I was a kid The Streets of Old Detroit in the basement seemed magical and otherworldly. Now, as an adult, I dare say they might almost verge on cheesy, but even if I don't feel transported back to the 1840s or 70s or 90s on cobblestone streets, they are a nice nostalgia trip and educational for the young folks. There's also an impressive model train set in the basement and a ton of artifacts from Detroit's late, great sports bar the Lindell AC. I frequented that establishment in the tail end of it's history, after the Tigers had moved from down the block at Michigan and Trumbull to their current digs over off Woodward. It was very pleasant reminiscing over the myriad framed autographed photos of pro athletes, mostly baseball and hockey players. My favorite though is the pic of Andre the Giant. I'll never forget the owner telling me the story of how Andre wolfed down 9 burgers and 9 orders of fries when he was there! The burgers I could totally see but 9 orders of fries? My God, that's a lot of starch! The main floor has colonial history, documenting Detroit being on French trade routes, a gift shop, a mock assembly line, more Motor City car stuff and ahem, Kid Rock's Music Lab. Fortunately, there's plenty of non-Kid Rock stuff in the music lab, covering the basics of Motown, Seger, the Coop, The Stooges, MC5, Detroit techno, The White Stripes, Eminem, Madonna, J Dilla and more. There's plenty of rich music history in southeast Michigan but Bob Ritchie, son of a Cadillac dealer and most certainly not straight out of a trailer in Romeo, MI ponied up some sizable ducats for this section of the museum, so we do get stuck with a lavish Kid Rock display. Outside of the Music Lab there's a decade by decade section with little TVs you can punch up videos on, including classic DIA and Detroit Zoo ads from the 80s. There's a small Boblo Island section documenting Detroit's late, great amusement park, accessible only by beautiful steamers that took visitors up and down the Detroit River. Sure, it wasn't half the park Cedar Point was, but damn it! It was ours! Upstairs you'll find special exhibits. Currently, there's a large exhibition documenting the civil unrest in 1967. It's grim but illuminating, and a necessary look at a crucial chapter in Detroit's history. There's also another exhibit documenting the USA's ugly racial history, looking at the Underground Railroad of which Detroit was a final American stop before crossing into Canada. While there's tons of visual artifacts done up in eye popping 60s style for the 1967 exhibit, the Underground Railroad exhibit has precious little beyond wooden silhouettes and very sparse mock ups giving glimpses of scenery. Printed words do most of the heavy lifting here so it seems like it might be hard to keep kids focused on the history lesson. There is a third special exhibit space on this floor, which was most recently much more light-hearted focusing on the 1968 Detroit Tigers storybook season culminating in a championship over the St. Louis Cardinals, a much needed breath of fresh air after the tumultuous events of the previous year and ongoing heaviness of the Sixties. It's currently walled off, though, in transition to whatever exhibit is coming next. That's how it goes on this floor and I have no idea how long the other two will be around. There's also a small auditorium here - and I do mean small, it's no Detroit Film Theatre like you'll find across Woodward - where they occasionally show historical documentaries. This is a great museum to spend two or three hours at, or maybe even four if you're super into history. It seems like it could be a bit bigger, but you can't really complain for the price, and if you couple the DHM with the DIA across the street, let alone with the Charles H Wright Museum over on Warren or the Michigan Science Center on John R you can definitely have a full day of getting your museum on. And honestly, I don't have any frame of reference to compare the Detroit Historical Museum like I do with the Detroit Institute of Art. See, I always go to art museums when I travel to other cities, but I never go to historical museums. Maybe eventually I will and then I can revisit this review. But more likely that will happen when the next special exhibit rolls around.

Definitely worth visiting while in Detroit. Not only is it free all year around. But it's actually very cool to see and learn just about Detroit's history. My daughter and I loved it! Things that stood out: the ford assembly lane (old school cars and how started to now), to the lower level of an actual little town downstairs it was like we were transported into a different era, too the cool huge train set that you can see move with a touch of a button, and to the cool history of music section as well. There is a private parking lot next to the museum which was $7 upon entry. This is must see.

Not worth the price for parking of $9.00. Our senior entry fee was $8.00 each, we spent a total of $27.00 for 2 hours. The high light of the visit was the main floor, The lower floor and upper floor were both a disappointment. It was over 30 years since we last visited, we won't be back for the next 30 years. The DIA across the street is a better value. I can think of a lot of additional Detroit history subjects to add value to the museum.

We had such a good time at the Detroit Historical Museum. We actually had planned to go to the Science Center but it has changed so much and is really only geared to young children these days. Not knowing what to expect here, the price tag of FREE lured us in. Being that I'm not a Detroit native and grew up on the east coast, my Detroit history is limited. I actually learned so much by attending this museum. One of the rooms that stuck out the most to me was the decades room, it broke Detroit down by decade and had all sorts of memorabilia and a video at each station. The videos were well done and included lots of actual footage of what was happening at the time. I learned that Detroit has surely had a lot of heartaches and come backs. The Kid Rock Music lab was pretty cool. Surprisingly, the lab isn't just focused on Kid Rock Music but all of the Michigan made musical superstars like Jack White, Bob Seger, Eminem and Aretha Franklin. I really enjoyed the music in there. Another spot I enjoyed was the Underground Railroad exhibit. This traced Michigan's role in the Underground Railroad and how we helped slaves to find freedom, super cool! I can't wait for my parents to visit to bring them here!

Free Entry! Free Entry! Being detroit there is of course an exhibit dedicated to cars. Theres even an assembly line replica that replays periodically. Kid Rocks Music lab shows detroits music timeline in pictures. I enjoy the trivia. My favorite is the Old Detroit Streets. I always go straight to the basement to walk the cobblestone streets. I love to enter the general store and examine all the findings. The small cast iron tea sets, the sale in colanders etc. I Visit Glancys trains and then Wrigley field before making my way upstairs to the rest of detroits history. Be sure to pay attention to Michigan's Role in the underground railroad. Its so fascinating to see how we were a part of something so big.

Free, they accept donations and parking is $7 (they accept credit card). The Kid Rock section is pretty cool. They have the history of Detroit from beginning to today. The basement had cobblestone streets from before paved roads and concrete. There are 3 levels of Detroit history. Definitely worth taking the family down to learn about the City.

I find the Detroit Historical Museum an interesting and important place to visit. They have a wide variety of items pertaining to the Detroit in particular, Michigan in general and related to the United States overall. It is easy to get to. Usually there is reasonably priced parking on the street. For a small fee you can park in the convenient parking located behind the museum. Before entering or before you leave be sure to visit the attraction they have at the front of the building facing Woodward. It is a nice plaza with references to historical characters and the State and City. The displays in the museum are tasteful and informative. They are a bit heavy on auto manufacturing, though this is the 'Motor City'. I say this because there are many other things that have been manufactured in Detroit - not just cars. Many things have been invented in the city and developed here as well but they get short shrift, if at all. Nevertheless this is a great place to visit. Lots to learn. It is a wonderful place to bring children, a date, your family or to visit on your own for reverie or research. There are often events here so take advantage of them when you can. If you are seeking a pleasant and interesting venue for your own large even then I suggest you talk to the management and staff about it.

One of the things that I love the most about this place is the free admission! I finally had a chance to check this place out during Noel Night and we weren't disappointed. The first level has plenty to see and do including a history of Detroit in a large circular room and a ton of cars and other information about the Motor City. Downstairs you'll find the replica of city streets from a historical perspective. There are all kinds of storefront that you can go into and the cobblestone streets make you forget it's not real. Keep going through that exhibit and find yourself in a room full of trains. Five or six trains run through an enclosed room and you can watch the conductor make adjustments and keep an eye on things. The gift shop has some nice options too!

What a gem with the exception of the high parking fee in the lot, this place I guess isn't too bad considering it's free! My sister in law suggested that we stop by as it was free and an indoor activity during the wintery cold so it would be a nice walk around the different levels of the museum. The parking I believe was $7, so instead we parked at the metered parking which was considerably less for the amount of time we spent inside which was around 1.5 hours. On the bottom level you get to see a recreation of old time Detroit. Second level a little more current history with Motown and also a car assembly area. I liked the exhibit with fashion but I think that's just seasonal, but not sure. Overall for a few bucks, we enjoyed our time reading and seeing a little bit of Detroit history.

There's one thing that's different with this museum compared to other great ones in downtown Detroit. This one is totally free. For everyone. The DIA is free only to the tri-country residents. The Michigan Science Center requires payment. The Museum of African American History requires payment. But the Detroit History Museum requires not one penny. It's located just slightly off Woodward but well within the educational corridor of Wayne State University. We found convenient and cheap parking on the nearby streets. There's also a pay-to-park lot just next to the museum. We felt safe and the area around it was well kept and clean. With Detroit, like any major city, you should always be mindful of your surroundings and the people in it, but we felt at ease the whole time we were outside or inside. About the inside, you'll be treated to cool exhibits like the streets of Detroit back in the old days, an old automotive assembly line, a display showcasing the great Michigan inventors and pioneers, and a somber exhibit about the evils of slavery. The one that impressed me the most was the exhibit about the Detroit riots in 1967. The interactive displays gave us a "been there" feeling and puts you on the scene of those scary days where the city burned and tanks shot at buildings (and people inside them). All in all, this museum is definitely worth the visit. It is a lot of history packed into a quaint and cool building. If you're a Michigan native or just visiting from out of town, stop by and take a peek.

I was almost put off by the $7 parking (and should have poked around more on the streets but they were packed.) Still, admission is free, so it works out fine, and is well worth the price. The design of the building is weird, with a lot of dead ends instead of a nice flow through displays. But there is a lot of cool stuff in there, and it's worth exploring. Definitely geared more towards kids, but worth a visit for adults too. Downstairs there's a "street" of old shops, with a reproduction of the original Kresge's general store (now K-Mart, which, well, used to be big...) There are galleries about industry (obviously focusing on cars, but also Freuhauf trailers, planes, and other industries.) There was an Underground Railroad exhibit while I was there which was interesting and touching. There was a fashion exhibit upstairs which is not my thing, but was well put-together. There's a little gift shop with local items. I had a nice visit but left underwhelmed. I feel like it could be better organized and that there is a lot more to learn about Detroit history, but that it wasn't conveyed very well. That's coming from a history buff and museum maven, and really, it's a fine mid-size museum for a short visit, especially with kids.

I've had this place on my list of things to do for some time. Now that the weather's nice, I finally got a chance to swing down here. For starters, the place is free to get into, which was awesome! Parking was iffy, but there are lots available around. When I walked in, I was amazed at the whole place. Colorful, and loaded with Detroit history. The first exhibit that I walked into was a history of Detroit in the form of Decades. It shows the growth and sprawl of the city with all kinds of historical artifacts. They have video monitors that you can watch clips of, which helps out a lot. As I walked through, I noticed the Kid Rock Music area. It was chuck full of music icons that came from Michigan, and was awesome! They were playing clips of music videos, and had guitars and other things from artists like Kid Rock, Bob Segar, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson and much much more. The displays here are colorful, interactive, and well designed. I absolutely loved it here. There was a section in slavery, with the routes that they took to escape. They also had some awesome displays of the fur trades in the upper peninsula, and an awesome display of the automotive assembly lines that are the heart of Detroit. The only disappointment was the gift shop. It was small, and didn't have a good selection of stuff to choose from. They had a few things, but I've found better Detroit replica stuff at the Detroit Shoppe and other places. I wish they would beef this up! I would have gladly bought a few things if the selection was larger. Also, I didn't see any staff on the floor. I was greeted when I walked in, but maybe a staff member or two to answer questions, give directions or just walk around would have been nice. Overall, this place is a must see, and I would love to return in the future. Good for all ages, and extremely well done. GO DETROIT!

OK, I am a history nerd, so I wandered all three floors of exhibits ranging from the early settlers to the men who captained Detroit's industrial revolution. There's quite a bit here to see. Three levels in total with each having something interesting to look at. There's plenty here for everyone. but I would say this would appeal especially to kids, which there were a lot of that day. Lower level especially has a moderately interesting "street of yesteryear" and model train exhibit - the Glancy Trains. I did kinda question the way that all the professionals IE Dentist / Pharmacist and Doctors were all portrayed as African Americans. The street is supposedly circa 1840 to the early 1900's. Political Correctness? Second level has a couple exhibits worth mention, America's Motor City, Frontiers to Factories - Detroiters at work and the Kid Rock Music Lab. Third level presents one of my favorite exhibit: Detroit: The "Arsenal of Democracy" which shows how Detroit was impacted by the war and vice versa. There's a small gift shop to buy some souvenirs. Admission is free but feel free to leave a few dollars.

You don't have to be a self-proclaimed history nerd to appreciate the beauty of this museum. You don't need to know much about Detroit, either. But you'll definitely come away with loving the city a bit more as you take a step back into its vibrant past. My favorite hands down was the Streets of Old Detroit, walking through the cobblestone-type streets and peeking into all the little shops. You also have to watch the "body drop" of a car. You'll have to wait depending on when you get there since it happens every 15-ish minutes, but the wait is definitely worth it. Unfortunately, the Kid Rock music lab was a bit of a dud. I mean, it was definitely interesting, I just feel like if I didn't know any better, I would've thought he defined the history of music in the city, rather than be a microcosm of it. But who really thinks that anyway, that he is what defines the history of music in a music-rich city? No one. I understand he poured money into it and all that good stuff so it doesn't surprise me that he'd be the attraction of the room, but it made me roll my eyes. I'd recommend paying the $5 parking fee to park in the lot since the museum is free. I feel like even though we weren't rushing, we saw everything under two hours.

I think it's great that we have a museum dedicated to Detroit. But there is very dead dull vibe in this place. There is very exciting to this place, yes some tidbit about motown music and the Detroit RedWings and watching a very lack luster car being dropped onto the Chassis. The old Detroit city layout on the ground floor lacks some life or vibe to it, it appears very much like the dead old town of yester-year. I think I could have gone through this whole museum in less than an half hour if I weren't with my niece and mother. It didn't make me want to return anytime soon or not in the next decade at least.

I had my wedding here 8/31/19. EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT!!!!. Wedding ceremony took place in auditorium. Diner reception was in Gallery of Culture. Afterglow was in Streets of Detroit. Shout out to staff, caters and decorators. My day was a truly MAGICAL

This was my first time visiting the Detroit Historical Museum, how I'm not sure. I am not the biggest history buff but I do find it interesting and enjoy exploring. The Museum is free although they do welcome and hope you will make a donation that helps to keep things running and maintained. There's even an area where you can leave a message for people in 2067... Felt a bit eerie to imagine how old you would be then, or if you would even be alive. But it was definitely an interesting concept which we participated in. This is not the largest Museum I've ever been to but it was a fun visit. They have many things to see and learn from here. Famous people and musicians from Detroit on the first floor. Including memorabilia from many of them. There's a car manufacturing exhibit that was interesting to see and learn how things work. But the main reason for our visit and my favorite exhibit was the Streets of old Detroit. We just recently visited the History Museum in Grand Rapids. After seeing how much I loved their exhibit that is similar to this, my husband wanted to bring my to see the one here in Detroit. I'm not usually into old movies or drawn to things from the olden days as I love all things modern. But there's just this nostalgia you get from walking around and feeling like you somehow are in a different time and place. I wish the area was even bigger! I love how you could go into the different shops and see the different tools, cooking utensils, phones, etc. Such a great set up they have to really demonstrate to younger generations how things were and looked and the things they used back then. My husband mentioned that sometimes they have people actually inside the shops "working" which I would have loved but they weren't when we were there. Hopefully we will catch that sometime. If you haven't visited and have a couple of hours to spare you definitely should come for a visit.

To begin with, there is a lot more there than you think. We had budgeted 90 minutes but could likely have spent twice that time there. There is an incredibly diverse selection of material, and we had an excellent docent as well.

This place is still top notch! It is a great size museum. It isn't huge, but it certanly its a place you are in-and-out in 20 min. They have done a lot of remodeling and updating exhibits and it has made this place even better!! Its still FREE!! So go check it out!

- Of all the museums in the district, this gets my vote as the best (I know, blasphemous) - An awesome way of showing the distant past, the recent past, and the modern era - Remodeled in recent years which have added a much needed and appreciated face lift - Most people will recognize a number of pieces including sports memorabilia, cars, and pizza - Be sure to visit the basement to get a taste of old Detroit! Seriously, it's a must do! - Way too much Kid Rock for my liking

This is a really neat place with a full size replica of an old time Detroit street in the basement. There was a similar exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, but here in Detroit - the storefronts are open, so you can go inside at get a better look at the stuff (as long as you don't touch.) Maybe I wouldn't have gone if it wasn't free. . . but I did go in, and started to get all enthralled in the stories of Detroit: the music industry, the automobile industry, the sports, the politics, there is a lot to learn. Good stop for kids and adults alike!

We came here for a cocktail night where we sampled different alcohols. The design pieces in the museum were a nice backdrop to getting inebriated. I'll have to come back another time when I can actually remember most of what I saw.

I'm a history nerd so walking into the Detroit Historical Museum is like walking into Disneyland for me. So many exciting things to see and do, I can't stand it! The first level has a wonderful motor city exhibit that I genuinely love gazing at. I have to admit I don't know much about cars but I love learning/hearing about the way they came to be and how they impacted society. I was also impressed by their acquisition of the first electric car which was produced in 1914. 1914! That blew my mind. It's a shame it wasn't so expensive back in the day otherwise we would all probably be cruising around on electric powered vehicles today! The generator is HUGE and also impressive to see (also makes me grateful for every single outlet in my house). Their new exhibit, Detroit Toy Stories, is a blast from the past. Walking through I was taken back to my childhood a number of times as I saw a ton of toys that I had played with when I was a wee tot. Many preceded my youth by decades and it was fun looking at all the tin, wood, and cloth toys that our elders enjoyed. The real treat for me here is The Streets of Old Detroit exhibit. It's amazing to see what our city looked like in the time from the 1840s to the early 1900s. The docents are also amazing and know a TON about this town and it's history. Make sure you stop to chat with them if they're in. And I hope you're lucky enough to catch the druggist who can tell you all the sordid details about old timey pharmacy and even watch him make some asprin! There are many other exhibits that are just a delight: the Glancy trains, weddings, etc. Definitely plan to spend a day here and take it all in. You won't regret it!

I came here for a wedding which was quite a snazzy shindig. Tables across the cobblestone in the basement and being able to go through the museum "after hours". Pretty cool event! The museum is pretty clean and well organized. I'm wondering what is like during operation hours. The open floor space probably helps keep the flow going and eliminates crowds. Parking is $7. You can find parking elsewhere if you want, but considering the museum is free and the lot is fenced...you won't find better. Don't be a cheapass.

Very unhappy with the policies that are in place for having events. Being unethical isn't acceptable.

I hate to be a bummer, but somehow I expected 'more'. Maybe I am overly critical, being a big time museum loving nerd - I don't know. What I do know is that you can't deny the incredible hard work that is put into the place by everybody associated with it, and that you can't beat the price: free. Of course, be a good sport and leave a donation if you could. We (my man and I) visited here with my mom whom was visiting us from overseas. My Michigan born husband had never been here either, so it was a fun new experience for all of us. We started on the bottom level with a pretty cool reconstructed streets of Detroit historic replica. It was neat to wander through the many little stores and to see all the real artifacts from back in the day. The many Sanders and Vernors relics are crowdpleasers, I am sure! I found it odd that the further you walk, the later back in time you go.. You'd think you'd start out in the real olden days and work your way up through time. Which leads me to my main disappointment with the museum; it feels very 'broken up' and somewhat haphazardly filled. I realize that there are many facets to the history of this great city, but because everything has its own section (industrialization, war, auto industry, music, 'every day life', the underground railroad, etc.) walking through doesn't really flow that well. But that might just be me. There is a wealth of knowledge, history and historic artifacts to be found here and all in their own right are awesome. I definitely had a great time looking at everything which they had on display, and I enjoyed that the museum had a lot of things to view, rather than just to read. One thing you shouldn't miss is the incredibly impressing grandfather clock, this was meticulously hand built by a terrific, talented individual. I'd wish I could see it running, but the video they show of it is the next best thing. This is a great museum for families with children of almost any age, there is plenty to see, do, and explore for visitors of all kinds.

We had some time before out dinner reservation after visiting the Auto Show and was able to make it here and check it off our to do list, and it was better then expected! There are so many interesting aspects to this place from the "Streets of Old Detroit" (bottom flood and my favorite) from the Sports Sports Collection, Making of Old Cars, Kid Rock section, and many other displays and areas of culture. Take your time to enjoy the beauty, and ambiance of this museum and all it has to offer! There are so many interesting things to see in do in Detroit and Metro area, I just wish more people would realize it!

For those of you who are museum and history geeks like myself, this is a 5 star place. You can't do much better, considering the cost: It's free. It is a well laid out museum with plenty of different areas and subject matters, all having to do with the history of Detroit and the local area. If anyone ever visits the area knowing nothing about Detroit, I would tell them to start here. I was as amazed as anyone to learn just how big a role Detroit played in the growth of this nation. It turns out Detroit was one of if not THE central hub for the distribution and transport of all things out to the states. This museum will give you a great look at that past and the people who all participated in it. You can spend a couple of hours here easily, and if you're so inclined the Detroit Institute of the Arts is right across the street.

This is a wonderful (FREE) activity for an afternoon in Detroit! My husband and I took about 2-3 hours on a Saturday to enjoy the museum. It's really impressive given that it's a free museum. My favorite part was the downstairs area which showed the "streets of Detroit" it takes you through a timeline of Detroit storefronts. It reminded me of a mini condensed version of greenfield village. The main level had some neat artifacts/timeline of Detroit. There was a special section dedicated to music and despite the name "Kid Rock Music Lab" was mostly Motown! Upstairs the exhibit was about the Detroit race riots. All in all a great activity, definitely recommend.

If you're new to Detroit or have lived here all your life the Detroit Historical Museum is a must. It's an informational and fun venture through the history of a city and the places, people, and happenings that made it what it is today. And the staff is excited to share their knowledge with museum goers whether it be about the fur trade, the auto industry, or the riots. I often find myself going for the special exhibitions that the museum holds like the Tuskegee Airmen display they held several years ago as well as the Gowns of Motown exhibit, that showcased the beautiful and nostalgic gowns of Motown singers and girl groups. They offer one of a kind exhibits that get to the heart of a city often second guessed. One trip to the Detroit historical Museum and you'll have a new found respect and adoration for the once Auto Capital of the world.