Everybody Put Your Hands Up for Detroit's....Museums! (Museums & Art Galleries in Detroit)

Member Name: i_heart_elo

Product:	Museums & Art Galleries in Detroit
Date:	14/02/09 (77 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Most are in the City Center with one only 30 miles away, all are relatively inexpensive or free!

Disadvantages: There's not a whole lot to do in the surrounding areas of the museums other than restaurants

The name of Detroit isn't synonomous with "Museums & Art Galleries". Instead, many only think of it as "Motown" or, "Motorcity". They all must envision everyone in Detroit singing Stevie Wonder songs while making cars. This however is not the case. You'd be pleasantly surprised to find out that Detroit boasts some pretty topnotch Museums. Two of which, I like better than any other city in the U.S. (save N.Y.C. who still rivals London and Paris for best Museums/Art Galleries).

In order for you to get an idea of how cultured (or almost cultured) the City of Detroit can be, i've managed a list of the best Museums/Exhibits/Art Galleries I could think of. Most of these i've visited first hand or have at least heard about them quite a bit. And don't worry, you won't get shot if you go to visit them. I'd just recommend you go with friends after dark =)

5.) The New Detroit Science Center:

Where would any midwestern American town be without a Science Center? It strikes me as a little ironic that American's are the worst performers in most of the Sciences at school, yet we have these *cool* gadget type museums that we go to all the time as kids. You'd think we'd all want to grow up and be Chemists or Astronomers. Instead, everyone just wants to be an Engineer (can we say boring), or in "business" (even more boring).

After seeing these types of centers/museums as a child, they all start to blend together a little. Every single one had that static ball on a stand, where you rubbed your feet against the carpet and then touched this fortune-tellers type ball, and whamo....your hair stood up on end. You'd go through one EW and AH exhibit after another always asking your dad, "Hey Dad, how'd they do that? ", whilst your dad answers " Umm why don't you look that up when you get home". I hated that answer with a passion. Why couldn't my dad just tell me!? He was an engineer, that's probably why.

I'm not really making this place sound that fantastic am I? Sorry 'bout that. Actually, it really is a fun place for kids, and even adults as a bit of nostalgia. There's new things you can learn about and loads of stuff you wish you studied more when you were in school/college.

I have to say the coolest things (in my mind) about this Science center is the Planetarium and the IMAX theatre. The Planetarium is first rate and has "light shows" on the weekends for I think only $5.00 per person over 13 yrs old. The time I went they played Pink Floyd to the light show which my boyfriend and I were giggly and surprized about.

The IMAX theatre of course it pretty much like any IMAX but it does show more movies and 3D shows than others i've been too. We saw the Dark Knight there (the newest Batman Movie) in 3D and wow, that was a little freaky for me. I'm a wimp when it comes to anything remotely scary. Although, everyone in the theatre said it was the best movie they'd ever seen . My friends said they wished they could go to more IMAX theatre movies if they're weren't a little pricey at $15.00 a ticket. =(

Overall Experience:
***.5

Yup , 3.5 stars. That's mainly for the Planentarium and Nostalgia. If I were a kid I might have given it a 4.5, but since i'm a grown up, I take these places in a more of an adult light. This is a must see place though if you ever are passing through Detroit with children. (Although, honestly, who passes through Detroit???=)

4.) Hitsville USA / Motown Historical Museum

Ok soooo I lied. Motown is a huge part of Detroit. Who doesn't love Marvin Gaye? Stevie Wonder? Smokey Robinson? Aretha Franklin? Otis Redding? Al Green? 3 of my top 10 favourite singers are in that group of people I just mentioned, and there all what made motown music....motown music. It's sad that something so great that came out of a city so huge, could fall so quickly. The racial riots in the 1960's really hurt the cities climate and people started thinking it was a "rough" town. Because of this, businesses started leaving, tourism stopped and everyone was left to pick up the pieces. Yet, this music has survived and will survive for decades to come.

There are two exhibits/museums here but they're actually in the same building. Hitsville USA is just the "house" of Berry Gordy who was the man who started it all and was just a lowly factory worker. He decided to take a chance on his own dream as a music producer and recorded albums that made history. Bands like the Temptations, Four Tops, Supremes, and the Jackson Five.

The Motown Historical Museum portion of the house shows several iconic pieces that are "motown". Marvin Gaye's piano is there, as are many other music stars of that times, instruments. They also have recreated several of the recording studios exactly as they were in the 1960's.

Overall Experience:
****
Four stars are for the Ambiance, History, Artifacts, and the "Idea". I like that they took the original recording studio and house and turned it into this museum, BUT......It really could be a LOT better. The house needs work on the outside especially. They have it fixed up "ok" on the inside, but that could be improved as well. It has a long way to go to be a "five star" type of exhibit. I think anyone that has a real love of the music that is "Motown", would kill to see this place! It's open from 10am to 6pm and is $10.00 per person.

3.) Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit:

One of the main reasons this is at number three is because it's FREE, and a "work in progress". It's a place that has great potential and a TERRIFIC Cafe/ Bookstore. It's a huge loft type area that was an old auto dealership. It's more of a culteral center than a real contemporary art museum, but it's worth a look-see. I would go several times to meet friends at the cafe for our little book-club we had. If your with a group of friends, this is a great place to stop off before you go to....

2.) Detroit Institute of Art (DIA):
The DIA, believe it or not, is considered by some to have the more "prestigous" and extensive art collections in the country. Yup, even being out the MET of NYC, in several exhibitions and artifacts. The building itself is a gorgeous Art Deco Building from the 1920's and is kept up so maticulously inside, that your almost afraid to wear dirty shoes.

A few years ago, they has a huge Degas exhibit that my friends and I went to. It was simply breathtaking. I got to see the same exhibit at the D'orsey in Paris, but I was shocked that I was more impressed with the presentation at the DIA than I was from the D'orsey!

In addition to great exhibits every month, the art contributions are off the charts. There are a few Whistlers, Van Gogh's, Picasso's, and all the other big names you can think of. I really want to gush more about this place, but I'm sort of an Art Gallery junkie so I don't want to wax too poetic here.

It's open from 10 am to 4pm During the week and on the weekends, but Friday it's open from 10am to 10pm. Admission is $8.00 for Adults and $4.00 for 12 and under.

Overall Experience:
****.5

I really want to give this 5 stars. On the surface, it deserves it. The Building itself is a piece of art. Then, the pieces of art inside are also phenomenal. There are also great jazz, classical, and other musicians that play in the cafe area inside on different days. It really is sort of the "highlight" of the city. The reason it lacks that extra half a star is that they haven't built up the area around it, haven't expanded as expected (there are whole levels completely empty). Just remember that if you are in Detroit THIS is a MUST see.

1.) The Henry Ford Museum

People come from all over the United States to go to this Museum, and it is a sight to behold. I've been there myself at least 5 or 6 times and I still see something new everytime I go. The amount of historical items in this MASSIVE museum is too numerous to go over. You have specialty planes, trains and automobiles. The chair that Abraham Lincoln was shot in. The model of the first car Henry Ford ever made. I can't even remember how many times I went "Wow, they have this here??". Half of the items there really probably do belong in the Smithsonian.

The Henry Ford museum is similar to the Smithsonian in that it's great for all age groups. Even bored, never happy, restless teenagers would like it. There's a reason they call it "America's Greatest History Attraction". The prices vary depending on finding coupons online or special discount days etc...

It's open 9:30am to 5:30pm, 7 days a week. It's $15.00 for adults and $11.00 for 12 and under. Believe me though, it's well worth it!

Overall Experience:
****5

Here is yet another one I REALLY wanted to give the best rating possible. AGAIN though, there are a few things that hold this museum back. For the mass amount of space available, they haven't taken advantage of it very well. The museum shop is pretty small, and the cafe is 2nd rate. The museum itself DOES deserve 5 stars, it's everything else around it that deserves only about 3, so it evens out.

Honorable Mentions:

National Museum of The Tuskegee Airmen: The famous African-American airmen that fought in World War II are finally given some recognition. You'll see various aircrafts, uniforms, and plenty of other items related to these brave men that are often disregarded.

Automotive Hall of Fame: I think the name of this place, says it all. I mean, it is the motor city. You have to have an Automotive Museum type place. I'm a little disapointed though in this one. There are some good cars here, but it's not as well done as you'd expect it should be.

Detroit Historical Museum: Have never been to this one so don't know much about it but that it really is all about the Detroit from the day of it's inception to modern times.

Detroit Childrens Museum: Again, another one I don't really know about but have heard from various people that it's an "ok" children's type museum.

*****In Conclusion*****

Detroit's various museums really are the "bright" spot of the city. I know 99.9% of you reading this probably never been to Detroit, and never will be. But, for that 0.01% of you that will go to the "D", as it's affectionately called, make sure you check out at least one of two of these. =)

Summary: Detroit's museums are a surviving art form in themselves and not to be missed if you visit