Detroit, MI

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1962 by Dr Charles Wright, it began in two houses on West Grand Blvd; Dr Wright was present during its move to this $38 million complex designed by local African American architects Sims-Varner; when one enters through the brass doors of the 120,000 sq. feet MAAH, your eyes are drawn from the Canadian Arriscraft stone floor along the Kansas Terra-cotta stone walls then 55 ft upwards to the rotunda dome; whisk off to the gallery that evokes a visceral response with its Middle Passage Tight Pack exhibit, which is a commemoration to those who were abducted from Africa; “Tight Pack” refers to how enslaved people were packed tightly together and shackled as human cargo; 40 local students were selected as models for Tight Pack; MAAH chronicles African American history beginning in Africa, through the Black Holocaust and Civil Rights Movement; many artifacts illustrate accomplishments and inventions by African American; Louis Lattimer Café provides a pleasant place to sip java and enjoy a pastry

ADMISSION: Adults $8, age 62+ and age 2-12 $5

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Thu 9:30a-3p, Fri-Sat 9:30a-5p, Sun 1p-5p

ADDRESS: 315 East Warren Ave  MAP

PHONE: 313-494-5800

WEBSITE: http://www.thewright.org

Motown Historical Museum
DESCRIPTION: The original studio and headquarters where the “Motown Sound” was born; no other 1960s music company produced as many number 1 hits, or launched as many stellar careers as Motown; the headquarters is restored to its 1960s state when Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, Temptations, Four Tops, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Gladys Knight and the Pips and the Supremes recorded their first hits there; Motown fans can find rare photographs, gold records and one-of-a-kind memorabilia, including Michael Jackson’s famed sequined glove and the glittering dresses worn by the Supremes; the Motortown Revue Exhibit upstairs has rare photos and videos of historic theatres made famous by Black performing artists; plans are in the works to open a Motown Center to complement Hitsville that will include interactive exhibits, a Motown-themed restaurant and performance space; although Motown left Detroit in 1972, this museum and the expanded center to come prove that Detroit is the real Motown

ADMISSION: Adults $10 Seniors & Ages 5-12 $8

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a-6p

ADDRESS: 2648 West Grand Blvd  MAP

PHONE: 313-875-2264

WEBSITE: http://www.motownmuseum.com

Joe Louis Monument
DESCRIPTION: From his defeat of German champion Max Schmeling during World War II, to his still unmatched 13-year reign as heavyweight boxing champion, this Detroiter ranks among the most influential figures of the 20th century; based on the number of successful title defenses and caliber of competition, Joe Louis may have been the greatest heavyweight pugilist ever; the city pays homage to its native son with three monuments in the downtown area; a 12-foot bronze sculpture by Ed Hamilton features Joe in his memorable prime boxing form

ADDRESS: Joe Louis Arena facing Renaissance Center  MAP

The Fist Monument
DESCRIPTION: The beloved Detroit native and world boxing champ, Joe Louis, has a second commanding memorial along at the entrance of the Joe Louis Arena; this 24 feet long sculpture by Robert Graham is a fascinating over-sized metaphor for the man with a 6-inch knockout punch

ADDRESS: Jefferson Avenue at Woodward Avenue  MAP

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial
DESCRIPTION: Dedicated to the brave troops who fought in the historic Civil War in 1872; titled “Emancipation”, the monument has five bronze statues, the figure of Emancipation on this memorial is said to be Sojourner Truth who lived in Detroit for a time

ADDRESS: Woodward Avenue at Campus Martius  MAP

Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of Noble Mythic Shrine
DESCRIPTION: From an external view, the name says it all at this very private fraternal organization

DAYS & HOURS: invitation only

ADDRESS: 2211 Cass Avenue  MAP

PHONE: 313-961-9148

Walter P. Reuther Library
DESCRIPTION: The Archives of Labor and Urban History are an African American historian’s treasure chest; ocated on Wayne State University

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Tue 11a-6:45p, Wed-Fri 9a-4:45p

ADDRESS: 5401 Cass Avenue  MAP

PHONE: 313-577-4024

WEBSITE: http://www.reuther.wayne.edu

National Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen
DESCRIPTION: In 1941 the Army Air Corps created the now famous segregated pilot training program at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama; among those graduates was the late Detroit Mayor, Coleman Young; this museum honors the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, and the 477th Bombardment Group which became known as the Tuskegee Airmen; during the WWII air campaign over Europe; while suffering major casualties themselves, not a single American bomber escorted by the Tuskegee Airmen was lost; the Airmen’s heroism helped pave the way for mainstream America to accept the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s

ADMISSION: donations appreciated

DAYS & HOURS: by appt

ADDRESS: 6325 West Jefferson Avenue  MAP

PHONE: 313-843-8849

WEBSITE: http://www.tuskegeeairmennationalmuseum.org

Submerge
DESCRIPTION: The First Black-owned record distributor is also a Techno music home; located in a 3-story music building just a short a short distance from the original Motown headquarters; the Union Hall is nicely renovated  for seminars; today the building is a hub for record shopping and record shipping to retailers

DAYS & HOURS: invtiation only

ADDRESS: 3000 East Grand Blvd  MAP

PHONE: none listed

WEBSITE: http://www.submerge.com

Graystone International Jazz Museum
DESCRIPTION: The Book Tower building features more than office space; Suite 201 exhibits instruments, photos and videos of the Jazz greats in a sublime, small museum

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Fri 11a-4p

ADDRESS: 1249 Washington Blvd  MAP

PHONE: 313-963-3813

WEBSITE: http://www.ipl.org/div/detjazz

Shrine of the Black Madonna Cultural Center and Bookstore
DESCRIPTION: Spend the afternoon traipsing among the artwork, refreshing the spirit and locating hard to find books; housed in the Shrine of the Black Madonna Cultural Center and Bookstore is a Black Holocaust Museum, a memorial to more than 100 million Africans who were captured in slave trade for the Americas and Europe; it contains a collection of compelling documents, photographs, narratives, and artifacts from the slave trade, a reproduction of a slave cabin as well as dramatic, highly emotional portrayals of the African slave experience

DAYS & HOURS: tours Sat 3p–4p; bookstore Tue-Thu 11a-6p, Fri-Sat 11a-7p

ADDRESS: 13535 Livernois Avenue  MAP

PHONE: 313-491-0777

WEBSITE: http://www.shrinebookstore.com

Eta Phi Beta Sorority Headquarters
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1942, this business and professional sorority with over 100 chapters throughout the US and Virgin Islands is dedicated to public service

DAYS & HOURS: by appt

ADDRESS: 16815 James Couzens Avenue  MAP

PHONE: 313-862-0600

WEBSITE: http://www.etaphibetanatl.org

Gospel Music Hall of Fame & Museum
DESCRIPTION: Detroit has long been a center of Gospel music and here you can learn about the impact that African Americans had on Gospel music -- an area that has been historically overlooked by many Gospel music museums; learn about the father of Gospel music, Thomas A. Dorsey. There are also opportunities to browse through the Hall of Fame and view portraits and rare original compositions and recordings of Gospel pioneers

ADMISSION: $5

DAYS & HOURS: by appt

ADDRESS: 18301 West McNichols Avenue  MAP

PHONE: 313-592-0017

WEBSITE: http://www.gmhf.org

Plowshares Theatre Company
DESCRIPTION: A cultural gem and Michigan's only professional African-American theater company; , Plowshares has presented numerous productions by contemporary and up-and-coming African-American playwrights to the community since 1990, earning it a reputation as one of the most dynamic drama companies in Michigan

DAYS & HOURS: 10AM - 5PM

ADDRESS: most shows at Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, 315 East Warren Avenue  MAP

PHONE: 313-506-2858

WEBSITE: http://www.plowshares.org