Detroit, Michigan, has some of the best museums in the world. Some people call it the Paris of the Midwest for its rich culture and its wide variety of available activities. Here are some of the best museums for kids and adults in the area.
1. The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is dedicated to innovation and America’s greatest minds. You can explore a reproduction of Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park lab, take a tour of an actual Ford factory, ride in a Model T, enjoy an IMAX movie, and see the bus where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat.
Check out a steam locomotive, a huge toy train display, the bike shop where the Wright brothers experimented with flight for the first time, and Ford’s first car: the Quadricycle. You can even watch glassblowers in action and get a custom gift for friends or family members. The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2. The Detroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts has one of the largest collections of art in the U.S. This 658,000-square-foot building contains more than 100 galleries and more than 65,000 works of art from all over the world. You can see pieces by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Degas, Renoir, and many other well-known artists.
The Institute also has games for kids and families, art classes, workshops, and frequently changing exhibits. Children will like the Paul McPharlin Puppetry Collection, and you can enjoy a movie at the beautiful Detroit Film Theatre. There’s a free guided gallery tour at 1 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, 6 p.m. on Fridays, and 3 p.m. on weekends. You can also enjoy a different live concert every Friday night.
3. The Detroit Historical Museum
The Detroit Historical Museum first opened in 1928, and it provides a detailed history of Detroit. You can learn about the city’s start in 1701, how it became the Motor City, and how it was involved in the Underground Railroad. Walk through reproductions of the streets of old Detroit to see the city’s transformation over time and create your own song at the Kid Rock Music Lab. The Detroit Historical Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4. The Michigan Science Center
Also called MiSci, this museum has more than 250 hands-on exhibits, including a miniature town for toddlers and a mock factory. You can also enjoy live stage shows, an IMAX theater, a planetarium, and fun adults-only events. The Michigan Science Center is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
These museums are ideal for a field trip or a fun weekend. Their changing exhibits mean you can go back again and again to have a great time and learn more about art, history, and science.
Image via Flickr by VasenkaPhotography used under CC BY 2.0
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