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[[File:Thomaspaine'smontageofDetroit request1.jpg|300px|thumb|Left to right: [[Cranbrook Art Museum]] in [[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan|Bloomfield Hills]], [[The Henry Ford]] in [[Dearborn, MI|Dearborn]], the [[Detroit Zoo]] in [[Royal Oak, Michigan|Royal Oak]], the [[Detroit International Riverfront|International Riverfront]], [[Col. Frank J. Hecker House|Hecker House]] in [[Midtown Detroit|Midtown]], [[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport|Metro Airport]], and the [[Detroit Institute of Arts]] in [[Midtown Detroit|Midtown]]]]
[[File:Thomaspaine'smontageofDetroit request1.jpg|300px|thumb|Left to right: [[Cranbrook Art Museum]] in [[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan|Bloomfield Hills]], [[The Henry Ford]] in [[Dearborn, MI|Dearborn]], the [[Detroit Zoo]] in [[Royal Oak, Michigan|Royal Oak]], the [[Detroit International Riverfront|International Riverfront]], [[Col. Frank J. Hecker House|Hecker House]] in [[Midtown Detroit|Midtown]], [[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport|Metro Airport]], and the [[Detroit Institute of Arts]] in [[Midtown Detroit|Midtown]]]]


'''Tourism in metropolitan [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]''' is a significant factor for the region's [[Culture of Detroit, Michigan|culture]] and for its [[Economy of metropolitan Detroit|economy]], comprising nine percent of the area's two million jobs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-Midwest/Detroit-Economy.html|publisher=Advameg, Inc.|title=Detroit: Economy Major Industries and Commercial Activity|access-date=2008-06-12}}</ref> About 15.9 million people visit [[Metro Detroit]] annually, spending an estimated $4.8 billion.<ref>Michigan's Future - (July 10, 2007).[http://www.michiganfuture.com/2007/07/metro-detroit-v.html Metro Detroit visitors, spending at the highest level since 9/11].''Michigan's Future'' citing CIC Research Inc. study for 2006. Retrieved on November 6, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209071701/http://www.michiganfuture.com/2007/07/metro-detroit-v.html |date=December 9, 2007 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.visitdetroit.com/visitorcenter/aboutdetroit/statistics/ Metro Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau statistics] Retrieved on April 4, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061228113712/http://www.visitdetroit.com/visitorcenter/aboutdetroit/statistics/ |date=December 28, 2006 }}</ref><ref>Yousseff, Jennifer (March 25, 2009).[http://www.detnews.com/article/20090325/BIZ/903250351 10-year tourism plan is on track].''The Detroit News''. Retrieved on April 10, 2009.{{dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref> Detroit is one of the largest American cities and metropolitan regions to offer casino resort hotels.<ref name=Mink/> Leading multi-day events throughout Metro Detroit draw crowds of hundreds of thousands to over three million people.<ref name="Visitor poll"/><ref name=Winterblast/> More than fifteen million people cross the highly traveled nexus of the [[Ambassador Bridge]] and the [[Detroit-Windsor Tunnel]] annually.<ref name=TradePoint/> Detroit is at the center of an emerging [[Great Lakes Megalopolis]]. An estimated 46 million people live within a 300-mile (480&nbsp;km) radius of [[Metro Detroit]].<ref name=citiesclose/><ref name=tourimmarket/>
'''Tourism in metropolitan [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]''' is a significant factor for the region's [[Culture of Detroit, Michigan|culture]] and for its [[Economy of metropolitan Detroit|economy]], comprising nine percent of the area's two million jobs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-Midwest/Detroit-Economy.html|publisher=Advameg, Inc.|title=Detroit: Economy Major Industries and Commercial Activity|access-date=2008-06-12}}</ref> About 19 million people visit [[Metro Detroit]] spending an estimated 6 billion in 2019.<ref>Metro Detroit’s Hospitality Industry Employment Hits Record Highs Before COVID-19 - July 7, 2020. Retrieved on July 22, 2023. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605203951/https://visitdetroit.com/media/press-releases/metro-detroits-hospitality-industry-employment-hits-record-highs-before-covid-19/ | date=June 5, 2023}}</ref> In 2009, this was about 15.9 million people in 2009, spending an estimated $4.8 billion.<ref>Michigan's Future - (July 10, 2007).[http://www.michiganfuture.com/2007/07/metro-detroit-v.html Metro Detroit visitors, spending at the highest level since 9/11].''Michigan's Future'' citing CIC Research Inc. study for 2006. Retrieved on November 6, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209071701/http://www.michiganfuture.com/2007/07/metro-detroit-v.html |date=December 9, 2007 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.visitdetroit.com/visitorcenter/aboutdetroit/statistics/ Metro Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau statistics] Retrieved on April 4, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061228113712/http://www.visitdetroit.com/visitorcenter/aboutdetroit/statistics/ |date=December 28, 2006 }}</ref><ref>Yousseff, Jennifer (March 25, 2009).[http://www.detnews.com/article/20090325/BIZ/903250351 10-year tourism plan is on track].''The Detroit News''. Retrieved on April 10, 2009.{{dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref> Detroit is one of the largest American cities and metropolitan regions to offer casino resort hotels.<ref name=Mink/> Leading multi-day events throughout Metro Detroit draw crowds of hundreds of thousands to over three million people.<ref name="Visitor poll"/><ref name=Winterblast/> More than fifteen million people cross the highly traveled nexus of the [[Ambassador Bridge]] and the [[Detroit-Windsor Tunnel]] annually.<ref name=TradePoint/> Detroit is at the center of an emerging [[Great Lakes Megalopolis]]. An estimated 46 million people live within a 300-mile (480&nbsp;km) radius of [[Metro Detroit]].<ref name=citiesclose/><ref name=tourimmarket/>


Detroit's [[Culture of Detroit|unique culture]], [[Architecture of metropolitan Detroit|distinctive architecture]], and [[Planning and development in Detroit|revitalization and urban renewal efforts in the 21st century]] have given Detroit increased prominence as a tourist destination in recent years. ''[[The New York Times]]'' listed Detroit in its list of ''52 Places to Go in 2017'',<ref name="52 Places to Go in 2017">The New York Times (January 4, 2017). [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/travel/places-to-visit.html 52 Places to Go in 2017] NYT Travel, ''The New York Times.'' Retrieved on February 7, 2018.</ref> while travel guide publisher ''[[Lonely Planet]]'' named Detroit the second-best city in the world to visit in 2018.<ref name="Top 10 cities to visit in 2018">Lonely Planet. [https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel/cities] Lonely Planet, ''Lonely Planet.'' Retrieved on February 7, 2018.</ref>
Detroit's [[Culture of Detroit|unique culture]], [[Architecture of metropolitan Detroit|distinctive architecture]], and [[Planning and development in Detroit|revitalization and urban renewal efforts in the 21st century]] have given Detroit increased prominence as a tourist destination in recent years. ''[[The New York Times]]'' listed Detroit in its list of ''52 Places to Go in 2017'',<ref name="52 Places to Go in 2017">The New York Times (January 4, 2017). [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/travel/places-to-visit.html 52 Places to Go in 2017] NYT Travel, ''The New York Times.'' Retrieved on February 7, 2018.</ref> while travel guide publisher ''[[Lonely Planet]]'' named Detroit the second-best city in the world to visit in 2018.<ref name="Top 10 cities to visit in 2018">Lonely Planet. [https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel/cities] Lonely Planet, ''Lonely Planet.'' Retrieved on February 7, 2018.</ref>

Revision as of 22:42, 22 July 2023

Left to right: Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills, The Henry Ford in Dearborn, the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, the International Riverfront, Hecker House in Midtown, Metro Airport, and the Detroit Institute of Arts in Midtown

Tourism in metropolitan Detroit, Michigan is a significant factor for the region's culture and for its economy, comprising nine percent of the area's two million jobs.[1] About 19 million people visit Metro Detroit spending an estimated 6 billion in 2019.[2] In 2009, this was about 15.9 million people in 2009, spending an estimated $4.8 billion.[3][4][5] Detroit is one of the largest American cities and metropolitan regions to offer casino resort hotels.[6] Leading multi-day events throughout Metro Detroit draw crowds of hundreds of thousands to over three million people.[7][8] More than fifteen million people cross the highly traveled nexus of the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel annually.[9] Detroit is at the center of an emerging Great Lakes Megalopolis. An estimated 46 million people live within a 300-mile (480 km) radius of Metro Detroit.[10][11]

Detroit's unique culture, distinctive architecture, and revitalization and urban renewal efforts in the 21st century have given Detroit increased prominence as a tourist destination in recent years. The New York Times listed Detroit in its list of 52 Places to Go in 2017,[12] while travel guide publisher Lonely Planet named Detroit the second-best city in the world to visit in 2018.[13]

Market overview

Tourists can ride in a Model T in Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford, a National Historic Landmark.

The metropolitan region's tourism industry depends on drawing large crowds with quality attractions and entertainment in order to positively impact the local economy.[14] As the world's traditional automotive center,[15][16] the city hosts the annual North American International Auto Show in January, a multi-day event. Other major multi-day events that reflect the region's culture such as the Motown Winter Blast and the Windsor–Detroit International Freedom Festival, typically held the last week of June, can draw super sized-crowds of hundreds of thousands to over three million people.[7][8] A 2007 poll, conducted by Selzer and Co., reported that about two-thirds of the millions of residents in the suburban area occasionally dine and attend cultural events or take in professional games in the city of Detroit.[7] In 2006, the four-day Motown Winter Blast drew a cold weather crowd of about 1.2 million people to Campus Martius Park area downtown.[8] Metro Detroit is one of thirteen U.S. cities with teams from four major sports. Besides its casino resort hotels, the region's leading attraction is The Henry Ford, America's largest indoor-outdoor museum complex,[17][18] a National Historic Landmark museum entertainment complex with an IMAX theater next to the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn. The Detroit Institute of Arts in the cultural center downtown is another leading attraction and national historic site.[19] The Detroit Festival of the Arts in Midtown draws about 350,000 people.[20] The Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak has an Arctic Ring of Wildlife exhibit with an underwater viewing tunnel that includes the largest polar bear exhibit in the U.S.[6] Together, The Henry Ford, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Zoo attract about 2,500,000 visitors annually.[21] Detroit is also home to the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant. Built in 1904 and now running as a museum, it is the oldest car factory building in the world open to the public and was the birthplace of the Ford Model T.

The historic Edsel and Eleanor Ford House on Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe is open to the public for guided tours.

An estimated one million spectators attended the 2009 Woodward Dream Cruise held annually in August.[22] Another automotive attraction cataloging the history of the industry is the Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills. The mansions of the auto barons that are open to the public for guided tours include the Dodge-Wilson estate Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester Hills, Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe, Henry Ford's Fair Lane Estate in Dearborn, and the Lawrence Fisher Mansion in Detroit. Cranbrook House and Gardens in Bloomfield Hills, the estate of publisher George Gough Booth, is also open to the public for guided tours. The New York Times listed Detroit among its 53 world travel destinations for 2008[23] and again in 2017.

Greektown Casino Hotel overlooks Greektown Historic District in Detroit

Detroit's Greektown is a busy entertainment district. The city is a center for the major casino resort hotels - MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino, Hollywood Casino, and Caesars Windsor just across the river in Canada - which support an active nightlife. The metropolitan region's potential to attract super-sized crowds should not be underestimated. Just across the river, Caesars Windsor attracts about six million visitors annually.[24] Detroit is one of the largest American cities and metropolitan regions to offer casino resort hotels.[6] The Detroit International Riverfront hosts an events including the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival in late June with one of the nation's largest displays of fireworks and the Electronic Music Festival on Memorial Day weekend. More than fifteen million people cross the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel annually.[9] Detroit is at the center of an emerging Great Lakes Megalopolis. An estimated 46 million people live within a 300-mile (480 km) radius of Metro Detroit.[10][11] High-speed rail proposals between Chicago and Detroit and for the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor would further increase access to Metro Detroit. The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $244 M in grants for high-speed rail upgrades between Chicago and Detroit.[25] The 710-mile (1,140 km) Quebec City – Windsor Corridor contains over 18 million people, with 51% of the Canadian population and three out of the four largest metropolitan areas in Canada, according to the 2001 Census. Movie studios in the metro area help establish the state as a legitimate contender in the 12-month-a-year film business.[26] Motown Motion Picture Studios (2009) with 535,000 square feet (49,700 m2) will produce movies at the Pontiac Centerpoint Business Campus for a film industry expected to employ over 4,000 people in the metro area.[27]

Cruise ships, hotels, and resorts

Detroit Princess Riverboat charter hosts regularly scheduled public cruises.

The Passenger Terminal and Dock of Detroit on Hart Plaza near the Renaissance Center receives cruise ships and tall ships. Cruise liners include vessels marketed by the Great Lakes Cruising Company: Yorktown, Grand Mariner, and Grand Caribe and has included Hapag-Lloyd's MS Hamburg operated by Plantours (formerly MS Columbus).[28][29] The Great Lakes Cruising Coalition has attempted with limited success to support passenger ship cruises through a joint U.S-Canadian venture to Great Lakes ports and the St. Lawrence Seaway. Passenger cruise liners depart from and journey to ports throughout the Great Lakes including Chicago, Detroit, Mackinac Island, Toronto, and Montreal.[30] William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor in downtown Detroit offers public docks for boaters.

MGM Grand Detroit.

The city's hospitality industry, with thousands of hotel rooms, routinely hosts major conventions and sporting events.[14][31] The Marriott corporation and Starwood Hotels (Westin and Sheraton) have a significant presence in the region. In addition to its casino resort hotels, the area has many full-service hotels and resorts, including the historic flagship Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit's Washington Boulevard Historic District, restored in 2008, the historic Doubletree Guest Suites Fort Shelby Hotel downtown Detroit, restored in 2009, and the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center on the waterfront which is one of the largest hotel conference facilities in the U.S. The centrally located Westin Southfield Detroit Hotel contains one of the region's major conference centers and Westin operates a hotel and conference center inside the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Downtown Detroit has about 5,000 hotel rooms, with 4,000 in walking distance of the convention and exhibit facility TCF Center.[31] The suburb of Novi has about 5,300 hotels rooms within a 10-mile (16 km) radius and the suburb of Pontiac has about 5,800 within a 10-mile (16 km) radius.[31]

Historic Inns and boutique hotels represent a popular hospitality investment.[32][33] The city's Midtown area includes restored Victorian bed and breakfasts such as the Inn on Ferry Street in the East Ferry Avenue Historic District adjacent to the cultural center near the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Inn at 97 Winder in Detroit's Brush Park Historic District near Comerica Park and Ford Field. Some notable historic Inns include The Dearborn Inn, a Marriott Hotel, near The Henry Ford, the Inn at St. John's golf resort in Plymouth, and Roberts Riverwalk Hotel Detroit. The Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, the Somerset Inn in Troy, the Athenium Suite Hotel in Greektown, and the Hotel St. Regis in the New Center are among the region's notable boutique hotels.[32][33]

In 2003, General Motors completed a $500 million redevelopment of the Renaissance Center as its world headquarters.[34][35] The east riverfront promenade development was planned at and additional $559 million, including $135 million from GM and $50 million from the Kresge Foundation.[36] The International Riverfront is linked by the River Walk, a promenade along connecting the cruise ship dock on Hart Plaza to a series of parks, restaurants, retail shops, and other venues from the Marriott at the Renaissance Center to the Roberts Riverwalk Hotel on the historic Stroh's riverplace site. Compuware CEO Peter Karmanos played a role in the financing to reconstruct the city's historic restoration of Campus Martius Park which now hosts events such as the Motown Winter Blast in January attracting large crowds.[8]

A nearly $300 million renovation and expansion project of Cobo Center convention and exhibit facility began July 2011 and is expected to be ready for the 2014 North American International Auto Show in January, with the remainder of the project scheduled to be completed by December 2014. The project will add meeting and exhibit space and glass walls to the exterior in order to provide views of the International Riverfront.[37][38][39][40]

Shopping and restaurants

See also: List of shopping malls in Michigan
Somerset Collection adjacent to the Somerset Inn in Troy.

Several traditional street-side shopping districts with clusters of restaurants may be found throughout the region in addition to those surrounding enclosed shopping malls and open-air lifestyle centers. Downtown Detroit contains Greektown, the Lower Woodward Avenue Historic District (Merchant's Row), and the shops and restaurants at the Renaissance Center along the International Riverfront. The Eastern Market, a farmer's distribution center in the central east side neighborhood area of Detroit, is the largest open-air bedding flower market in the United States and has more than 150 foods and specialty businesses.[41] On Saturdays, about 45,000 people shop the city's historic Eastern Market.[42] Other notable street-side shopping districts include The Village on Kercheval Avenue in Grosse Pointe and the downtown areas of Birmingham, Royal Oak, Northville, Rochester, and Plymouth.

The R. Hirt Jr., Co. (1893) in the Eastern Market.

Metro Detroit has many major enclosed shopping malls and open-air lifestyle centers with many restaurants. The upscale Somerset Collection mall in Troy is among the top privately held mall properties in the U.S. with 2004 annual sales of about $600 million and sales per square foot at $620 compared to the national average of $341.[43] The Mall at Partridge Creek is an upscale open-air lifestyle center located in Clinton Township. Another upscale open-air lifestyle center is The Village of Rochester Hills. Other notable enclosed shopping malls in Metro Detroit include Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights, Laurel Park Place in Livonia, Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, which was expanded in 2007 to include Nordstrom, and Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills. Ann Arbor, a college town, contains traditional street-side shopping along with the enclosed Briarwood Mall.

The Fairlane Town Center mall in Dearborn is about 15 minutes from downtown Detroit. A concept, the Pavilions of Troy, is mixed-use development design with an open-air lifestyle center envisioned for the Detroit suburb of Troy to complement the Somerset Collection mall.

Political impact

Revenue graph of casino resorts in Detroit.

The city's mayor in the 1990s, Dennis Archer, also a former Michigan Supreme Court Justice, supported a plan which resulted in new casino resort hotels as a catalyst for development. Initially, Archer's plan was for a casino cluster along the east riverfront.[44] In April 2005, after an eight-year legal battle over the bidding process, the courts cleared the way for the City of Detroit to permit its temporary casinos to build all new casino resort hotels, to open in late 2007.[45] The settlement was further complicated by MGM's acquisition of Mandalay Bay, then owner of the Motor City Casino. Upon acceptance of the settlement, Detroit entrepreneur Marion Ilitch exercised her option to purchase Motor City Casino, outbidding other partners.[46] The plan for the casino resort locations changed as the city decided instead to have a promenade of parks along the International Riverfront to spur residential development, thus freeing the casino companies to build in other areas of downtown. Upon completion, Detroit became the largest American city and metropolitan region to offer casino resort hotels.[6] Since 2000, the city has seen a general trend of increased tax revenues from the three casinos; in 2009, casino resort hotels in Detroit employed 8,122 people, paid $452.8 M in wages (not including tips and benefits), and contributed $320 M in taxes to the city and state.[47][48]

In decade leading up to 2006, downtown Detroit gained more than $15 billion in new investment from private and public sectors.[49] In 2007, complementing the MGM Grand Detroit, DTE Energy announced a $50 million transformation of the area around its downtown headquarters into an urban oasis with parks, walkways, and a reflecting pool.[50] Completion of the MGM Grand Detroit resort hotel in 2007 has opened new prospects for future development downtown with the west riverfront area and the area from MGM Grand Detroit to the Michigan Central Station. The question of how to finance a new convention facility to accommodate the expanding needs of the North American International Auto Show generated media attention and speculation with Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson's proposal for a fourth casino resort hotel in Detroit to anchor the convention center following the example of the Las Vegas Sands Expo convention center which would need approval from a statewide referendum.[51] Governor Jennifer Granholm ultimately signed legislation on July 2, 2009 that created a five-member board, appointed by the governor, the City of Detroit, and Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties to oversee the operation of the Cobo Center with the city retaining ownership in order to facilitate a major renovation.[52] The nearly $300 million renovation of Cobo Center convention and exhibit facility includes the addition of glass walls to connect the complex with the waterfront.[53]

Detroit's Belle Isle Park has "spectacular views" of the area.[54] Some tourists are attracted to nearby Windsor, Ontario by Ontario's lower (19-and-older) drinking age.[55]

A strategy entitled Pure Michigan resulted in the State's tourism website ranking as the busiest in the nation.[56] Metro Detroit urban destinations such as The Henry Ford, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Detroit Zoo were also emphasized in the strategy.[57] This led to support for proposals for increased funding in 2008 for the Travel Michigan budget from Detroit area legislators.[58]

Cultural centers

Rochester, settled in 1817.

The Midtown Detroit surrounds Wayne State University, while the adjacent New Center area contains the National Historic Landmarks Cadillac Place and the Fisher Building. Midtown attracts millions of visitors each year to its museums and cultural centers.[59] Other significant cultural centers include those in Dearborn, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Grosse Pointe, Rochester, Royal Oak, and Ann Arbor. The fortunes of region's auto barons and business leaders continue to facilitate philanthropy for museums and cultural centers.

The Cultural Center Historic District in Midtown Detroit contains the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Rackham Education Memorial Building, the Detroit Historical Museum, the Detroit Science Center, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The Detroit Public Library is part of the Cultural Center Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places adjacent to Wayne State University campus and across the street from the Detroit Institute of Arts. Designed by Cass Gilbert, the Detroit Public Library (1921) was constructed with Vermont marble and serpentine Italian marble trim in an Italian Renaissance style. His son, Cass Gilbert, Jr. was a partner with Francis J. Keally in the design of the library's additional wings added in 1963. Cass Gilbert also designed the United States Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.

Detroit Institute of Arts

Detroit Institute of Arts

The Detroit Institute of Arts is among the largest art museums in the United States and contains over 100 galleries. The museum houses the 1150-seat Detroit Film Theatre, also used to showcase famous collections. Officials at the DIA have ranked the American paintings collection third among museums in the United States. Works by American artists began to be collected immediately following the museum's founding in 1883.

Entering the Detroit Institute of Arts' hallway, visitors pass the armor collection of William Randolph Hearst. Through the entry way is a grand marble court lined along the upper and lower levels with Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals, commissioned by Edsel Ford. The French-American architect Paul Philippe Cret designed the Beaux Arts, Italian Renaissance building which opened in 1927. Michael Graves served as the architect for a major renovation and expansion in 2007. The original building is flanked by north and south wings with the white marble as the main exterior material for the entire structure. The museum is part of the city's Cultural Center Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The collections of the Detroit Institute of Arts include ancient Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Mesopotamian, and Egyptian material, as well as a wide range of Islamic, African and Asian art of all media. Other notable art museums in the metropolitan area include University of Michigan Museum of Art in Ann Arbor and the Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills.

Entertainment

Theatre in Detroit is part of the Broadway theatre circuit. The Windsor-Detroit casino resorts have nightclubs, restaurants, and large performance centers for shows. Star performances in the city's theatre venue circuit complement major events such as North American International Auto Show. There are a number of popular nightclubs including the Necto in Ann Arbor, the three-level St. Andrews Hall in Detroit, and the nightclubs at the city's casino resort hotels.

Fox Theatre is a National Historic Landmark near Detroit's Grand Circus.

Live music has been the prominent feature of Detroit's nightlife since the late 1940s bringing the city worldwide attention. The metropolitan area has two of the top live music venues in the United States: DTE Energy Music Theatre and The Palace of Auburn Hills[60] Theatre in Detroit is the U.S.A.'s second largest venue circuit after Manhattan's Broadway.[61][62] Major performance centers include the Fox Theatre,[63] Masonic Temple Theatre, the Detroit Opera House, and the Fisher Theatre. Detroit's Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center is the home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The city hosts several annual music events, including the Detroit International Jazz Festival, the Electronic Music Festival, the Motor City Music Conference (MC2), the Urban Organic Music Conference, the Concert of Colors, and the hip-hop Summer Jamz music festival.

Events

Fireworks at the Windsor–Detroit International Freedom Festival
Cycling in Detroit on Woodward Avenue
Red Bull Air Race World Championship along the International Riverfront
Wayne County Lightfest in December contain giant displays made of more than one million lights
Major festivals and events Timeline
North American International Auto Show TCF Center - June
Plymouth Ice Festival Ice sculpture spectacular in January.
Motown Winter Blast Campus Martius Park - January or February.
Detroit Music Awards Held at The Fillmore Detroit Theatre in April.
Detroit Electronic Music Festival/Movement/Fuse-In Memorial Day weekend.
Civil War Remembrance Held at The Henry Ford on Memorial Day.
Detroit Indy Grand Prix Belle Isle Park - early June.
Detroit Festival of the Arts Midtown - early June.
New Center Park summer events. New Center summer-long series of events and out-door concerts held in coordinated by the New Center Council.
Motor Muster Held at The Henry Ford on Father's Day weekend in June.
Detroit River Days Detroit Riverfront- late June.
Windsor–Detroit International Freedom Festival Last week of June.
Downtown Detroit Days and CityLoft shopping Lower Woodward, last Thursday to Saturday of the month from June through August[64]
Salute to America Detroit Symphony Orchestra performs at The Henry Ford leading up to the Fourth of July.
Ann Arbor Summer Festival Mid-June through mid-July.
Cruisin' Downriver Held on the last Saturday of June in Southgate, Lincoln Park, Riverview, and Wyandotte.
Stars & Stripes Festival Held in Mount Clemens leading up to the Fourth of July.
Wyandotte Street Art Fair Mid-July.
Tall ships at the Dock of Detroit Hart Plaza - summer.
Ann Arbor Art Fairs Mid-July.
Concert of Colors Max M. Fisher Music Center - mid-July.
APBA Gold Cup Detroit Thunderfest hydroplane races - August
Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance Formal event and classic car show at Meadowbrook Hall in early August.
Fash Bash - a leading fashion show and modeling event[63] complementing Detroit Fashion Week Coordinated by the Detroit Institute of Arts and held in the fall; venues have included the Renaissance Center, the Fox Theatre, and DIA Theatre.
People's Art Festival link August
Woodward Dream Cruise Third Saturday in August.
Meadow Brook Music Festival Rochester Hills, July–September.
Arts, Beats and Eats Royal Oak - Labor Day weekend.
Dally in the Alley Labor Day weekend.
Detroit International Jazz Festival International Riverfront - Labor Day weekend.
Rochester Art & Apples Festival presented by Paint Creek Center for the Arts [2] Weekend after Labor Day.
Old Car Festival

Selfridge Air Museum

Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford typically the weekend after Labor Day.
Urban Organic Festival link Every fall.
America's Thanksgiving Parade November.
Noel Night link December.
Motor City Comedy Festival September
Wayne County Lightfest [65] December.
Theatre in Detroit Spring, fall, and winter.
Youmacon[66] Anime convention held at TCF Center and the Renaissance Center in October or November, usually around Halloween.

Sports and recreation

Main articles: Sports in metropolitan Detroit, Huron-Clinton Metroparks, and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
Comerica Park adjacent to Ford Field.

The area has hosted several major sporting events in order to attract large crowds such as Super Bowl XL; in fact, Detroit is the only northern city to have hosted two Super Bowls. Ford Field hosted the 2009 NCAA Final Four, where North Carolina defeated Michigan State; in April 2007 it hosted WrestleMania 23. Major League Baseball's 2005 All-Star Game was held at Comerica Park, as were World Series games in 2006 and 2012 due to the Detroit Tigers's run of success in the late 2000s (decade) through the early 2010s. The 2005 All Star Game injected $52 million into the area economy, while Super Bowl XL injected $270 million.[67] In 2008, the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park reported 3.2 million visitors with a 98.6 percent attendance rate.[68] Comerica Park and Ford Field stadiums are located near the Grand Circus Park Historic District.

The area has a 24,000-acre (97 km2) network of "metroparks" which receives about 9 million visitors annually[69] Outdoor activities in the metro region include downhill and cross-county skiing at Alpine Valley Ski Resort, Mt. Brighton, Mt Holly, and Pine Knob Ski Resort, Huron River kayaking and canoeing available through the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, and fresh water beaches such as Metro Beach, Kensington Beach, and Stony Creek Beach. Golf is an important sporting activity in the metropolitan area with a variety of courses, country clubs, and resorts. The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only international wildlife preserve in North America, uniquely located in the heart of a major metropolitan area. The refuge includes islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and waterfront lands along 48 miles (77 km) of the Detroit River and Western Lake Erie shoreline.

Sites of interest

The beach on Lake St. Clair in the Metro Detroit community of St. Clair Shores
Detroit Zoo's Arctic Ring of Life and Rackham Fountain.
David Whitney House restaurant in Midtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Elwood Bar and Grill, Downtown, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Attractions Metro location
Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory Belle Isle Park - Downtown
Architecture of metropolitan Detroit City and suburbs
Automotive Hall of Fame The Henry Ford - Dearborn
Charles H. Wright Museum
of African American History 		Midtown
Cranbrook Art Museum
 Bloomfield Hills
Walter P. Chrysler Museum (closed in 2012) Auburn Hills
Detroit Institute of Arts Midtown
Detroit Historical Museum Midtown
Detroit Science Center Midtown
Theatre in Detroit Downtown, Midtown, and New Center
Detroit Zoo Royal Oak
Domino's Petting Farm Ann Arbor
Edsel and Eleanor Ford House tour Grosse Pointe
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Milwaukee Junction
Grosse Pointe War Memorial,
Russell A. Alger Jr., House 		Grosse Pointe
Henry Ford's Fair Lane Estate tour Dearborn
Kensington Metropark Beach Milford
Hands-on Museum Ann Arbor
The Henry Ford Dearborn
Lawrence Fisher House tour 383 Lenox Ave., Detroit
Matthaei Botanical Gardens Ann Arbor
Meadowbrook Hall
Matilda Dodge-Wilson Estate tour 		Rochester Hills
Metro Beach Metropark
& Nautical Mile 		Harrison Township
Lake St. Clair
Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn - Irish Hills
Motown Historical Museum New Center
Mount Brighton ski resort Brighton
Pewabic Pottery Museum East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit
Pine Knob ski resort Clarkston
Renaissance Center Detroit International Riverfront
Sanders & Morley Candy Makers Chocolate Factory[70] Clinton Township
SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium Auburn Hills
The Russell
Art studios and shops 		Midtown
Stony Creek Metropark Beach Shelby Township
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
University of Michigan Museum of Art Ann Arbor
Wayne State University Midtown

Access

Main article: Transportation in metropolitan Detroit

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Detroit: Economy Major Industries and Commercial Activity". Advameg, Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  2. ^ Metro Detroit’s Hospitality Industry Employment Hits Record Highs Before COVID-19 - July 7, 2020. Retrieved on July 22, 2023. Archived June 5, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Michigan's Future - (July 10, 2007).Metro Detroit visitors, spending at the highest level since 9/11.Michigan's Future citing CIC Research Inc. study for 2006. Retrieved on November 6, 2007. Archived December 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Metro Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau statistics Retrieved on April 4, 2007. Archived December 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Yousseff, Jennifer (March 25, 2009).10-year tourism plan is on track.The Detroit News. Retrieved on April 10, 2009.[dead link‍]
  6. ^ a b c d Mink, Randy, and Karen Mink (July 2001). Detroit Turns 300 - Detroit 300 Festival. Travel America, World Publishing Co., Gale Group.
  7. ^ a b c Bailey, Ruby L (August 22, 2007). The D is a draw: Most suburbanites are repeat visitors.Detroit Free Press. New Detroit Free Press-Local 4 poll conducted by Selzer and Co., finds, "nearly two-thirds of residents of suburban Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties say they at least occasionally dine, attend cultural events or take in professional games in Detroit."
  8. ^ a b c d Fifth Third Bank rocks the Winter Blast.Michigan Chronicle. (March 14, 2006).
  9. ^ a b Trade Point Detroit Windsor. Retrieved on May 24, 2009.
  10. ^ a b Cities located close to Detroit.Time and Date world clock distances. Retrieved on September 2, 2007.
  11. ^ a b Audi, Tamara (September 26, 2007). What Happens In Detroit. The Wall Street Journal, B6. "But the market at issue, as MGM Mirage sees it, includes a 300-mile radius of potential overnight clients across the region,"
  12. ^ The New York Times (January 4, 2017). 52 Places to Go in 2017 NYT Travel, The New York Times. Retrieved on February 7, 2018.
  13. ^ Lonely Planet. [1] Lonely Planet, Lonely Planet. Retrieved on February 7, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Detroit Case Study. Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved on April 21, 2009.
  15. ^ Lawrence, Peter (2009).Interview with Michigan's Governor Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Corporate Design Foundation. Retrieved on May 1, 2009. "Michigan is known as the world's automotive center."
  16. ^ "Michigan Cities". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2009. [Detroit] is the automobile capital of the world
  17. ^ America's Story, Explore the States: Michigan (2006). Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village Archived October 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Library of Congress
  18. ^ State of Michigan: MI Kids (2006).Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village Archived December 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ Corley, Irvin (April 30, 2003).2003-04 Budget Analysis Archived 2007-12-02 at the Wayback Machine City of Detroit Memorandum to Graham Beal, Director, Arts Department. Retrieved on November 10, 2007. "The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is the second largest municipally-owned museum in the United States and contains an encyclopedic art collection worth over one billion dollars."
  20. ^ Midtown Archived 2008-04-05 at the Wayback Machine Model D Media. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
  21. ^ Metro Detroit Tourism Barometer, (February 2007). Detroit Tourism Economic Development Council. Retrieved on September 18, 2007. Archived September 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Anderson, Elisha (August 22, 2010).Weather blamed for smaller attendance at Dream Cruise.Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
  23. ^ Lee, Danny (December 9, 2007).The 53 Places to Go in 2008.The New York Times. Retrieved on December 10, 2007.
  24. ^ Cordiano, Joseph (February 15, 2005). Government of Ontraio invests in a competitive Casino Windsor Archived 2007-12-30 at the Wayback Machine.Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. Retrieved on October 28, 2007."Casino Windsor attracts around six million visitors each year and is a key driver of the local economy."
  25. ^ High-speed rail grants include $244 million for Detroit-to-Chicago Amtrak improvements - AnnArbor.com
  26. ^ USA Today (February 3, 2009).Film production studios coming to Michigan cities. Retrieved on March 27, 2009.
  27. ^ Gallaher, John and Kathleen Gray and Chris Christoff - (2/03/09).Pontiac film studio to bring jobs. Detroit Free Press.
  28. ^ Runk, David, Associated Press (July 11, 2006).Great Lakes cruises offer majestic views USA Today. Retrieved on May 29, 2007.
  29. ^ Great Lakes Cruising Company. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  30. ^ Great Lakes Cruising Coalition Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
  31. ^ a b c Gray, Kathleen and John Wisely (March 31, 2009).Oakland lures, but 2010 auto show stays at Cobo.Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on May 2, 2009.
  32. ^ a b Yanos, Melanie (March 20, 2008).Boutique Hotels: Owning, Operating and Investing.Nuwire Investor. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  33. ^ a b Kaffer, Nancy (November 27, 2007).B&Bs in the D.Model D Media. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  34. ^ Mercer, Tenisha (October 19, 2005).GM's RenCen renovation attracts new business back. Detroit News. Retrieved on July 24, 2007.
  35. ^ Metropolitan Detroit renaissance benefits local tourism Archived 2007-09-24 at the Wayback Machine DEGA. Retrieved on July 24, 2007.
  36. ^ Detroit News Editorial (December 13, 2002). At Last, Sensible Dream for Detroit's Riverfront. Detroit News.
  37. ^ Gallagher, John (November 30, 2009).In Detroit, Ideas for Cobo Not So Far-Fetched. Detroit Free Press, Architect Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  38. ^ WXYX News 7 (July 1, 2010).Strategic plan for Cobo announced. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  39. ^ Green, Charles K. (December 15, 2010). NAIAS Visitors Will See Cobo Center Updates Archived 2011-10-03 at the Wayback Machine.Auto Trends Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  40. ^ Cobo Center transformation Archived 2011-10-29 at the Wayback Machine
  41. ^ History of Eastern Market Archived May 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Eastern Market Merchant's Association. Retrieved on August 1, 2007.
  42. ^ Eastern Market Archived 2008-04-05 at the Wayback MachineModel D Media Retrieved on April 8, 2007.
  43. ^ Groover, Joel (June 1, 2004). Privacy Please Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retail Traffic Penton Media. Retrieved on September 3, 2007.
  44. ^ McWhirter, Cameron and Darren A. Nichols (December 13, 2002). Hurdles will test riverfront vision. Detroit News.
  45. ^ Melmer, David (April 20, 2004). Detroit casinos settle with tribe Archived 2006-08-13 at the Wayback Machine. Indian County Today. Retrieved on September 18, 2007.
  46. ^ Ilitch outbids partners for Motor City Casino Archived 2008-01-01 at the Wayback Machine. The Michigan Daily. Retrieved on September 18, 2007.
  47. ^ Study: Michigan gaming revenue drops 1.5 percent, a small hit - Crain's Detroit Business - Detroit News and Information
  48. ^ Michigan Gaming Control Board. Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
  49. ^ The Urban Markets Initiative, Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program The Social Compact, Inc. University of Michigan Graduate Real Estate Program (October 2006).Downtown Detroit In Focus: A Profile of Market Opportunity Archived September 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Downtown Detroit Partnership. Retrieved on July 10, 2010.
  50. ^ July 4, 2007 Detroit News Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Downtown Detroit Partnership
  51. ^ Gabriel, Larry (February 21, 2007). When pigs fly.Metro Times Editorial. Retrieved on October 28, 2007.
  52. ^ Nichols, Darren A. (July 3, 2009).Granholm signs bill to expand Cobo Center. The Detroit News. Retrieved on December 30, 2009.
  53. ^ Gallagher, John (November 30, 2009).In Detroit, Ideas for Cobo Not So Far-Fetched. Detroit Free Press, Architect Magazine. Retrieved on December 30, 2009.
  54. ^ Belle Isle Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Detroit Department of Recreation. Retrieved on September 15, 2007. "Spectacular views."
  55. ^ La Canfora, Jason (February 4, 2006). "Detroit's Big Party Next Door. In Windsor, Temptation Waits for Players, Fans". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 October 2006.
  56. ^ Great Lakes IT Report. (May 3, 2007,).Michigan's Tourism Website No. 1 in the U.S Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on August 10, 2007.
  57. ^ Borgstrom, Kirsten (June 19, 2006).Pure Michigan[permanent dead link‍].Michigan.org. Retrieved on November 5, 2007.
  58. ^ Lane, Amy (August 27, 2007).Tourism Industry seeks $30M in annual funding.Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved on November 6, 2007.
  59. ^ Midtown Archived 2008-04-05 at the Wayback Machine Model D Media Retrieved on April 8, 2007.
  60. ^ DTE Energy Music Theatre Listed as 2004 Top Attended Amphitheatre (1/25/05) Archived December 23, 2005, at the Wayback Machine. DTE Energy Music Theatre.
  61. ^ Firsts and facts Archived May 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Detroit Tourism Economic Development Council. Retrieved on July 24, 2008.
  62. ^ Arts & Culture Archived 2013-10-09 at the Wayback Machine Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. Retrieved on July 24, 2008. "Detroit is home to the second largest theatre district in the United States."
  63. ^ a b Hodges, Michael H. (September 8, 2003).Fox Theater's rebirth ushered in city's renewal Archived December 5, 2012, at archive.today. Michigan History, The Detroit News. Retrieved on November 23, 2007.
  64. ^ Araj, Victoria (June 25, 2012).The Return of CityLoft Detroit Retail and Downtown Detroit DaysQuicken Loans
  65. ^ Recreation, Parks and. "Wayne County Lightfest 20th Anniversary Lights On Celebration". County of Wayne, Michigan, USA. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  66. ^ "Youmacon 2020 - Homepage". Youmacon 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  67. ^ Alberta, Timothy J. (April 2, 2009).Detroit Hopes for Economic Bounce From Final Four.Wall Street Journal. Retrieved on April 10, 2009.
  68. ^ MLB Attendance Report - 2008.ESPN. Retrieved on May 25, 2009.
  69. ^ Huron Clinton Metro Parks Archived 2007-03-09 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
  70. ^ "Sanders Chocolate Factory Tours". Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2016-02-17.

Further reading

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