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Motown Museum

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Motown Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Detroit's Motown Museum Is a Must-See for Music Lovers

A guide to the legendary launching pad for marvin gaye, diana ross and other superstars.

En español |  COVID-19 Update:  Motown Museum has been closed due to  COVID-19  but is scheduled to reopen on Feb. 18 with each tour (Thursday-Sunday) limited to 10 visitors and masks required.  Book online and check the website for updates .

Who could have predicted a modest 1950s bungalow on a residential street in a Detroit inner-city neighborhood would become the epicenter of a musical movement that rocked the world? Starting with an $800 family loan, Berry Gordy Jr. launched  Motown Records  in 1959 at the tender age of 27. To chase his dream of making music for all people, the young but fearless Gordy boldly quit his assembly-line job at the Ford Motor Co. plant and purchased 2648 W. Grand Blvd. He moved into the upstairs flat, converted the downstairs rooms into a control center, transformed the garage into a recording studio (the celebrated Studio A) — and the rest is musical history. His gutsy entrepreneurial gamble not only brought us soul music now revered the world over, it also launched a cultural revolution.

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Step inside the Motown Museum, housed in that white bungalow with blue trim that was once known as Hitsville U.S.A., and you'll immediately be humming along with the soulful, oh-so-familiar Motown tunes playing throughout this former hit-making and artist-development factory.

Docent-led tours (about an hour long) begin in the upstairs apartment. In the living room decorated with midcentury furniture, you'll be standing where Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and other members of the Motown family often hung out after long recording sessions. The table in the dining room doubled as the headquarters for shipping and decision-making as Gordy grew his empire. Using a quality-control approach inspired by his assembly-line days, Gordy held weekly “product evaluation” meetings in this modest room to determine what was working and what required improvement. By balancing this approach with an environment promoting creativity, he gave a voice to local Detroit talent — many from the neighborhood — as he transformed young and musically gifted Black artists into superstar recording artists.

Plan Your Trip

Location: 2648 W. Grand Blvd., about 3-1/2 miles west of downtown

Getting there: If you drive, there is free street parking but no lot. Taxis, car-hire services, Lyft and Uber are available throughout the city. You can also take the Dexter or Fenkell bus lines, exiting at the Rosa Parks and West Grand Boulevard stop, two blocks away.

Visit: Thursday-Sunday (closed for all major holidays), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission: Adults $15; $10 for adults 62 and older.

Best time to visit: Weekdays, to avoid crowds

Accessibility: Wheelchair ramps, wheelchair-accessible restrooms and an elevator give the mobility-challenged access to all parts of the museum. But bring your own wheelchair, walker or scooter because the museum has none to loan out.

The thrills continue downstairs in Studio A — the very room where Marvin Gaye gave life to “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You),” where the Marvelettes pleaded “Please Mr. Postman,” and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles warned you'd better “Shop Around.” Stars often drop in, surprising guests and adding to the excitement. During my visit, Martha Reeves of Martha & the Vandellas showed up and shared anecdotes about her Motown days and led our group in an unforgettable verse of “Dancing in the Street” in this studio — a spectacular experience.

On your own, wander through the Gallery in the attached house next door, added when Motown hits climbed the charts and the money started rolling in. Gold and platinum records line the walls, alongside the sequined gowns and high-style suits worn by Diana Ross & the Supremes, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder and other Motown legends while performing for adoring crowds of all backgrounds on stages around the world. Photos and newspaper clippings tell the musical success stories and, more importantly, the cultural impact brought about by the signature Motown sound that appealed to audiences of all backgrounds. Under Gordy, Motown became a model of Black capitalism, pride and self-expression, giving hope to future generations.

"It's important that we attract [visitors] with the music,” says Robin Terry, the museum's CEO and Gordy's grand-niece, “but equally important that we tell the entrepreneurial story of Berry Gordy Jr.”

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While in the Gallery, don't miss the recently unveiled exhibition “Capturing a Cultural Change: Motown Through the Lens of Jim Hendin,” featuring remarkable images of the label's famed photographer that trace Motown's transformation during the 1960s and ‘70s cultural revolution. An impressive display of visual storytelling, the exhibit details the label's evolution through this time of protest and social change and shares the powerful stories behind the photography. Hendin's dramatic cover shot for Marvin Gaye's hit album “What's Going On?” sets the tone for the photo installation. A replica of Hendin's photography studio further enhances the display.

During my visit, Martha Reeves of the Vandellas showed up and shared anecdotes about her Motown days, then led our group in a rendition of “Dancing in the Streets.”

The museum's story

Interest in Studio A fueled the museum's creation. Esther Gordy Edwards (Berry Gordy's sister and Terry's grandmother) maintained a company office at the Hitsville U.S.A. location after Motown moved its operations to Los Angeles in 1972. Motown fans often knocked on the door and asked to see Studio A. She graciously obliged time and time again. After touring thousands of people from around the world, it occurred to her that the bungalow-turned-hit machine had become a monument to the music Motown created. Edwards called her brother and said, “Berry, I think we made history and didn't know it.” With Gordy's blessing, and utilizing their vast collection of Motown memorabilia, Edwards opened the museum in 1985 — not just to preserve the legacy of the Motown Record Corp., but also to educate and motivate people, especially youth, with exhibitions and programs promoting the values of vision, creativity and entrepreneurship.

"Motown is more than a museum. It's really a community for not only those who see the story through the lens of nostalgia and a music time period that represents their youth, it's also a community for the next generation of aspiring talent,” says Terry.

Director’s tip: In the Gallery, look for Michael Jackson’s iconic sequined glove and black fedora, donated to the museum by the late “King of Pop” himself.

The Motown Museum is now readying for a 50,000-square-foot expansion called Hitsville Next that will feature interactive exhibits, a performance theater, recording studios, an expanded retail operation and meeting space — all in a new building scheduled to open sometime this year behind the bungalow. The goal, says Terry, is to use “the rich heritage of Motown and its current-day influence to inspire the next generation."

More to see in the area

Another nearby museum shines the spotlight on others who, like Gordy, blazed trails with much success: The fascinating Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation celebrates pioneers of invention and design across numerous platforms. Located in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, 10 miles west of downtown, the museum builds on Ford's personal collection of Americana and can be visited year-round. From the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile to the infamous limousine in which John F. Kennedy rode on that fateful Nov. 22, 1963, day, the museum displays an exceptional assemblage of artifacts spanning 300 years of American history. While you'll see original Model Ts and Ford Mustang convertibles from the 1960s, the expansive campus includes other notable transportation-related inventions beyond the automobile. Sure to catch your eye: a 1941 Allegheny steam locomotive and a replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer flown by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina.

The museum also addresses compelling cultural movements throughout history. For example, you'll see the Alabama bus on which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in 1955 — an act that many believe sparked the Civil Rights movement . It ranks among the museum's highlights.

An outdoor extension of the museum, the adjacent Greenfield Village — a living history museum — spans 80 acres dedicated to centuries of America's originative spirit. Walk through four working farms to discover 19th-century farming practices. Watch master artisans create gorgeous glassworks using authentic period techniques. Take a ride in a real Model T or hop on a steam locomotive to check out the only operating 19th-century roundhouse in the Midwest. (Open mid-April through Nov. 1)

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Where to Stay

Siren Hotel: Housed in the 1926 Art Deco Wurlitzer Building in downtown Detroit, this 106-room boutique property evokes a romantic Hollywood throwback vibe. Rooms from $199

Where to Dine

Splurge: Expand your Motown Museum experience at Motown Bistro, about 2 miles east of the museum in Detroit's Eastern Market. Grammy awards and gold and platinum records line the walls and booths bear the names of legendary Motown artists, such as the Jackson 5 and Stevie Wonder. Try the Oyster Rockefeller for a starter followed by the New York Oscar — a New York strip served with lump crab meat.

Save: Nine miles north of the Motown Museum on East 8 Mile Road, Detroit Soul serves up comfort soul food prepared with treasured family recipes. Locals flock here for the smoked turkey wings.

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Mapping Motown: The Sites Sacred To the Sound

Curbed Intern Daniel Ericksen contributed to the research for this post.

Detroit's Motown landmarks can be pretty hidden if you don't know what you are looking for. Fortunately BLAC published an excellent guide earlier this year to all the real estate (houses, recording locations, mansions!) important to that era of Detroit. Motown, the record company, was founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. in Detroit in 1959. Now take a tour of the city as he knew it, mostly in the 60s. Gordy moved his record company to LA in 1972.

· Motown Landmarks Photo Tour [Blac Detroit]

Brewster Wheeler Recreaction Center

The Brewster Wheeler Rec Center is where Berry Gordy spent most of his time before investing in Hitsville. Built in 1917, the recreation center was originally used as a library. Gordy practiced boxing in the center while a hopeful singing group known as The Supremes used it as a rehearsal space. An aspiring boxer, Joe Louis, also trained at the center. The building sits vacant but the city is accepting proposals for development.

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Motown Historical Museum / Hitsville U.S.A.

This is where all the magic began. Berry Gordy had a vision for the former photography studio and pursued it until his dream became a reality. Berry moved in with part of his family in 1959 and revamped the studio into one of the most legendary recording studio's in music history. Hits that reached the top of the charts from artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, The Four Tops and many more were made here. With the eventual end of the Motown Recording label in Detroit, the birth of the Motown Historical Museum began in 1985.

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Mapping all the developments in and around New Center

United Sound Systems Recording Studios

Notoriously known as the recording studio where Marvin Gaye recorded "What's Going On", United Sound Systems was a great alternative for Motown artists. Serving as a studio for Motown artists and other bands you may know including The Rolling Stones and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, United Sound arguably has just as much historical value as Hitsville. Today it's also used as a museum but can still be used for recording purposes after being originally founded in 1933.

Jobete Publishing Company

Before Motown hits were heard and loved, they were published in this building. If you're wondering where the name "Jobete" comes from, it was named after Berry Gordy's childen Hazel Joy, Berry and Terry. Jobete sits next to Hitsville and is part of the Motown museum.

Motown Money

Gordy took over this home in 1965 to handle the financial aspects that came along with Motown's success. With Gordy and his associates writing hit after hit, a building specifically for managing money must have actually been necessary.

Berry Gordy's Mansion

Also known as the "Motown Mansion", Berry Gordy lived large in his 1917-built mansion. Motown stars were over constantly at the 8,200 square foot property. After all, who wouldn't want to spend time in the home movie theater, or the olympic-size swimming pool, or the bowling alley at his place. Berry was able to attain the house by 1967, only 8 years after borrowing $800 from his family to purchase Hitsville.

Marvin Gaye's Home

Once Berry Gordy moved into his every-need Motown mansion, he left his sister and her husband, Marvin Gaye, this beautiful home. The house was built in 1951 and served as Marvin's home throughout the 70's. At least that's what we've heard through the grapevine.

Aretha Franklin's Home

Although she never signed with Motown, she was a friend to the label. This Detroit star's home does not seem to get the "Respect" it deserves. Aretha's old house is not in the best shape. Built back in 1949, the house was probably in prime condition when Aretha resided in it. The 2,210-square-foot house is apparently not for sale, however, it looks pretty empty.

Stevie Wonder's Home

"Signed, Sealed & Delivered" it's not yours. Stevie Wonder's old house is currently occupied. The 2,244-square-foot home was built in 1937 and still looks like it's in pretty good shape. Cross your fingers to hope that it stays in good condition, in case you happen to be superstitious.

Gladys Knight's Home

Gladys Knight lived sufficiently in her spacey 3,550-square-foot home, with probably enough room for her "pips" too. Built in 1926, the home looks extremely good for it's age. The home appears to be occupied and very well-maintained.

Martha Reeve's Home

Don't forget that "Dancing In The Street" was happening in the Motor City, but more specifically, it was going on right here. Martha Reeve's former 1927-built house still stands strong. Measuring at 3,248 square feet, there was room to dance inside the house too.

Smokey Robinson's Home

You might want to "Shop Around" before purchasing Smokey Robinson's old house. Although Smokey's old home measures at 2,431 square feet, the duplex appears to need a lot of work. After all, it was built in 1913 and is now in an area that is undesirable.

Diana Ross' Home

Living right down the street from Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross could of had Smokey come see about her anytime of the day, although Berry Gordy probably would of had something to say about that. The Supremes leader's old duplex has seen better days as well.

David Ruffin's Apartment

"Get Ready" to see where The Temptations lead singer spent many of his Motown days. The apartment building opened in 1964, which was in the prime time for Motown music. David Ruffin was definitely not looking back when he lived here in luxury. Apartments are still available to rent here.

The Fox Theater

When the Motown Stars hit the road for their Motortown Revue Tour, they were sure to stop by The Fox Theater in their home town Detroit. In 1966 it held the stars including Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Miracles, and The Marvelettes, all in one concert, for the whomping price of $2.50. The Howard Crane designed theater was opened in 1928 and stills hosts shows today, but not for $2.50.

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Admission prices & discounts for tickets to Motown Museum in Detroit

The following overview lists the admission prices and various discounts and discount codes for a visit to Motown Museum in Detroit . All prices are displayed per age group or reduced rate group. You can also directly book your discounted online ticket for the Motown Museum here, if available, or make a reservation to reserve a timeslot if applicable.

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Multilingual Detroit Motown Tour Co.

Together with brilliant guides who speaks several languages (Russian, German, Mandarin, Cantonese and more), discover history, architecture and so much more. Whether you're a visitor or a resident of the Detroit metropolitan area, you will be amazed at the wonderful things Detroit has to offer: history, great architecture, gorgeous places like the Fisher Building and Fox Theater, the historic Motown Museum, the site of a recent Super Bowl and Final Four, beautiful Belle Isle and so much more. Detroit's diverse culture has had both local and international influence, particularly in music, with the city giving rise to the genres of Motown and techno, and playing an important role in the development of jazz, hip-hop, rock and punk music. Find out all about Detroit’s fascinating people, places and things when you take a tour with Detroit Motown Tours.

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Motown at center of football universe as detroit prepares to host its first nfl draft.

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There’s no question that Detroit is a city that embraces sports. One of just a handful of U.S. cities that claims a baseball, basketball, football, and hockey team, the Motor City currently has the unique joy of being home to an NFL franchise on the rise: On January 28, the Lions fell short to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship, ending a historic season .

Typically, in the spring, Detroit sports fans have their focus shifted to the Pistons, Red Wings or Tigers. But this weekend, the Motor City will be the epicenter of football as it hosts the NFL Draft for the first time.

The NFL Draft is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans to Detroit, and it’s gearing up to be one of the most impactful events the city has hosted in some time. Aside from the draft’s obvious football implications, local businesses could be in for a treat.

How to watch the 2024 NFL Draft: Date, location, time, TV channels, first-round order, and more

Lafayette Coney Island is a coney island restaurant located in downtown Detroit. A coney island is a restaurant that specializes in hotdogs with beanless chili, white onions and mustard. The coney island was established in 1914, 16 years before Detroit’s professional football franchise began as the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans, in 1930. The franchise found a home in Detroit and a new name, the Lions, in 1934.

The manager of Lafayette Coney Island, Avdija Purovic, moved to Detroit from Albania in 1982. Purovic has worked in the neighborhood for 42 years, so he’s seen his fair share of events, including Super Bowl XL in 2006.

The restaurant usually closes at 3 a.m., but events as big as the Super Bowl are anything but commonplace in Detroit. Purovic said that back in 2006, the coney island was open 24 hours for the entire week with lines spilling out the door, and he expects to be even busier for the week of the draft.

To prepare for the forthcoming flock of fans, Purovic said the amount of supplies the coney island ordered compares only to its orders for two Taylor Swift concerts in the summer of 2023. According to The Detroit News , those concerts brought close to 120,000 people to the downtown area.

Purovic said the coney island will have all hands on deck for the week of the draft.

“Double employees, double everything,” Purovic said.

Compared to an average week, Purovic said he expects the coney island to make around $10,000 more per day during draft week. Purovic also mentioned how the rest of Detroit, and its national image, could potentially benefit from the wave of people expected to arrive.

“It’s good for Detroit, it’s good for everybody,” Purovic said. “The people have to see that good things happen in Detroit.”

Lions NFL Draft Picks 2024: Full list of Detroit’s draft picks for every round

Detroit’s draft hosting comes amidst Lions resurgence

The 2023 NFL season put the Lions in a spotlight they hadn’t seen in decades. Detroit beat the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card to win its first playoff game since the 1991 postseason. When the dust settled after Wild Card weekend, Lions-Rams became the most watched primetime show since Super Bowl LVII in 2023.

The anchor of the Lions offensive line in that 1991 season (and many others) was Lomas Brown. Brown, the most recent inductee into the Lion’s hall of fame, known as the Pride of the Lions, has been a color commentator for Lions radio broadcasts since 2018. Brown said the difference in the city over the past few years is night and day.

“Usually when you go out to eat, every time you would hear something about the Lions, it would be negative,” Brown said. “Now you go out, all you hear is positive things about the Lions. You see so much pride in the people wearing the Lions gear. I think our community reflects what our team sports do.”

The newfound success of the Lions was largely because of assets they received from the Rams in a blockbuster 2021 trade , which brought Jared Goff and three draft picks to Detroit and sent Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles. Stafford and the Rams won a Super Bowl the next season, but Goff and the Detroit draft picks turned out to be vital to its future.

Arguably more important than anything was who the Lions acquired from the Rams’ front office in the same offseason. On January 14, 2021, exactly three years before the Wild Card win, the Lions named Brad Holmes executive vice president and general manager after 18 seasons with the Rams.

Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have been instrumental in the resurgence of the pride. Detroit had 12 players selected as either starters or alternates in the 2023-2024 Pro Bowl. Half of those players were either drafted or traded for by the Lions since Holmes and Campbell took over.

Holmes said in a press-conference on Thursday that he’s looking forward to Detroit being the center of attention in the realm of football.

“I’m so excited about the draft being in Detroit,” Holmes said. “It’s just another opportunity for our franchise, our city, (and) just for the world to migrate to downtown Detroit. We have multiple major NFL markets that are within driving distance, so I expect it to be pretty packed.”

About the Author

Ronnie Martin II is a senior broadcast journalism major at Wayne State University in Detroit. As a junior he was the Sports Editor of WSU’s student newspaper, The South End , and he has been a freelance reporter for High School Sports Illustrated (SBLive) for nearly two years. Ronnie was also a play-by-play/color commentator for WSU softball for two seasons.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Motown Magnified: 2024 NFL Draft shines a welcomed spotlight on Detroit

For Detroit residents and Lions fans, the 2024 NFL Draft has been a long time coming . 

It’s been over two years since the most popular sport in America announced its 2024 draft would take place in the Motor City. In that time span, the hometown Lions have risen from the ashes of a perennial bottom-feeder in the NFL to a formidable force in the league. Detroit’s 2023 run to the NFC Championship placed it on a national stage, a position it hadn’t graced since its infamous winless season in 2008 – when the Lions were popular for all the wrong reasons. 

The last nine months have changed a great deal of narratives surrounding the Lions and the city of Detroit. In the playoffs this past January, national broadcast shots panning the fabric of Detroit were a beloved sight to many. The Lions fandom showed its true colors all season, instantly showing out to Ford Field in record numbers from the first signs of a competitive football team .

Motown has reclaimed its position in the national sports eye. With the 2024 NFL Draft set to begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday at One Campus Martius in downtown Detroit, the city is on the clock once again. 

Although the NFL Draft experience – the week’s ultimate fan festival – isn’t operational until Thursday, Detroit resident Chris Haider joined many others outside Hart Plaza with his daughter Wednesday afternoon to take a gander. Donning a “One Pride” Lions fleece, Haider said he’s been awaiting this week for well over a year.

“I wasn’t nearly as excited for this when I bought these tickets and scheduled this weekend as I am now,” Haider, a Clawson, Michigan native and Grosse Pointe resident of almost 20 years said. “I’ve lived here for basically my entire life and never seen this much of a spotlight. (It) probably helps the team is good, but trust me, we’re enjoying this .” 

When it comes to the event scale of amateur drafts, the NFL blows all major professional sports organizations out of the water. The NBA draft is a two-round, one-day event. MLB and the NHL drafts largely feature younger, more raw talent. The NFL Draft is one-of-a-kind in its festivities, fan attraction and overall implications. Each year, it’s where the next decade of billion-dollar franchises are decided.

So, wherever the three-day, seven-round event goes year after year, a full-blown party goes with it. 

“Oh, it’s been crazy,” Marquita Rowen said, who doesn’t watch football but works as a server four days a week in downtown Detroit. “No parking, people everywhere. It’s been fun, though, because I know everyone’s leaving soon and it’s kind of a tourist thing. It can get stressful, but we like showing off where we live whenever we get the chance.” 

The draft itself, which will take place during the evenings from Thursday through Saturday, is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people to Detroit. As a result, road closures are prevalent in areas surrounding the draft campus: Jefferson Avenue is closed from Randolph Street to Washington Boulevard; Woodward Avenue is blocked off from Fisher Freeway to Larned Street. For non-Detroit natives, that’s a sizeable chunk of the downtown area. Detroit Police Department squad cars and security vehicles roam the premises. 

Hosting the NFL draft is a massive-scale tourist opportunity, and the city is treating it as such .

“(Detroit is) taking this super seriously, based on the amount of emails and letters I’ve gotten in the mail about random things,” Haider said. “I get the sense they’re trying to capitalize on this attention because this type of thing doesn’t come around here often .”

The Hart Plaza, home of the NFL Draft Experience, sits along the Detroit River adjacent to Huntington Place. On Wednesday afternoon, the festival awaits full operation, but the excitement and scenery have already arrived. It’s a spot Brooke Haider, Chris’s daughter, is familiar with, but was extra special on the eve of the draft. 

She took close notice of her surroundings: a sun-drenched afternoon aura filled with new people and anticipation. American flags swayed gently, framing the Detroit River with the shores of Windsor, Canada clearly visible. 

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“This is what I want everybody to see about Detroit,” Brooke Haider said, pointing out to the river and skyline. “It gets so overlooked in my opinion. Part of the reason me and my dad are so excited is because people are coming from all over to visit our city. Maybe people can finally start seeing the beauty here."

Chris Haider and Brooke Haider both agree that picking late is better than the alternative, which has hardly been the case for the Lions throughout history. No first pick for Detroit has ever come later than No. 28.

It’s an interesting twist, with the draft in Detroit and the Lions without a top-20 pick for the first time since 2017. Since less successful teams secure higher draft positions, this is a positive development for Detroit and its fans. The Lions may have seized more of the world’s attention had they held onto a 17-point lead in the second half of the NFC Championship Game and secured a Super Bowl berth. Nonetheless, one thing is clear: they’ve already captured the hearts of Detroit fans. 

“That team was my world for a little while there,” Bryan Tice, a former Detroit resident who made the trip from Chandler, Arizona for the NFL Draft, said. “I personally enjoyed them proving everybody wrong the most out of all of it. And they’ll still count us out no matter what, but we support these guys like crazy .”

The stage is set for the NFL draft, and the countdown inches closer to its climax. As the sports world's eyes turn to Detroit, they’ll see a city welcoming the spotlight. Motown is ready to shine . 

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Migration, Moguls and Motown: A Tour of Detroit’s Black Community History 1919-2019

Explore the rich history of Black Detroiters of the last 100 years through the lens of award-winning author and journalist Ken Coleman.

This tour is currently on pause and only available as a private tour. Book a private showing today. Our magic, your schedule.

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Get a fascinating look into the epic journey of Blacks in Detroit during The Great Migration years of the early 1900s through to today. Little known stories of race discrimination and triumph over tragedy are featured during the three-hour black history tour through our city’s neighborhoods using Detroit’s vibrant music scene and historic sites as the backdrop.

Through powerful and compelling oratory provided by award-winning author and journalist Ken Coleman , our Tour Guide, you’ll come away with an understanding of the challenges that Blacks faced when they arrived in the Motor City and how the societal pressures that they faced yielded gems. They include business moguls like drugstore chain owner Sidney Barthwell; radio pioneer Dr. Haley Bell; Motown Records and its founder Berry Gordy Jr.; Coleman A. Young, the city’s first Black mayor; and great social organizations led by African Americans like the Detroit Association of Colored Women’s Clubs.

TL;DR: It’s really really good and very moving.

Where We’re Going

Birwood Wall

Located on the city’s northwest side, the “Wall” is a symbol of race segregation in Detroit.

Baker’s Keyboard Lounge

Operating continuously since 1936, Baker’s is America’s oldest jazz club. Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and “Dizzy” Gillespie performed there.

Marvin Gaye’s former home

The late Motown Records star lived here during the early 1970s.

1967 Detroit Rebellion site and Historical Marker

Gordon Park is located where the 1967 Detroit Rebellion took place.

Aretha Franklin’s childhood home

The site where the “Queen of Soul” spent her childhood years.

Dr. Haley Bell home

Longtime home of WCHB and WJZZ radio founder. First black owner of radio station in Michigan.

Gordy Mansion

The 10,500-square-foot mansion once owned by Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. 

Hitsville U.S.A. Motown Museum

The birthplace of the “Sound of Young America”

Detroit Association of Colored Women’s Clubs

A leading gathering place for African-American women’s groups during the mid-20th century

ABOUT YOUR GUIDE

Ken Coleman  is a journalist for the Michigan Advance reporting on education, civil rights and voting rights, a former Michigan Chronicle senior editor and probably the kindest and sharpest guy you’ll meet all day. He has written and published four books on black life in Detroit, including Soul on Air: Blacks Who Helped to Define Radio in Detroit and Forever Young: A Coleman Reader.

His work has shown up in the Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, The History Channel and CNN. We’re way excited to have this great orator and thinker to guide this special history adventure.

THE DETAILS

The Pickup Location & Time We’re boarding the bus at 10:00AM at Urban Bean in downtown Detroit. They’re located at 200 Grand River Ave., Detroit MI 48226 at the corner of Grand River and Griswold. They have a bunch of tasty treats and coffee drinks plus a bathroom, which is nice. Your name will be on the list so you don’t need to bring anything with you.

We’ll be back to Urban Bean by about 1:00PM.

Parking There are a number of surface parking lots right near the coffee shop that range from $5-20 to park. There is a great parking deck just across Woodward called the Z Deck at 1234 Library St. that features a bunch of really cool murals throughout the levels and there’s some bars and restaurants tucked in the bottom. Basically there’s a lot of parking around.

Public Transit The Rosa Parks Transit Center is very close to our pickup location. Most major DDOT routes run to this transit center. The People Mover drops off very nearby too. Finally, the Q Line has a station on Woodward so you can get here from Midtown and New Center easily. All roads lead to Urban Bean.

Refund and Cancellations Your tickets are fully refundable up to 7 days before the date of your tour. After that period there are no refunds. Sorry to be so mean about it. You’re welcome to reassign your tickets by emailing us at [email protected] .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happens if I miss the bus? Will the bus wait for me if I’m late? Unfortunately we can’t hold up the bus for late comers, there’s a schedule we gotta keep. Be on tiiiime please.

Can I drink on the bus? Not for this one folks. We’re in learn-and-listen mode for this black history tour, not party-and-forget.

What about food and soft drinks? Snacks and soft drinks are cool! We just ask you leave them on the bus when we enter our locations. These locations aren’t plastic-wrapped like grandma’s couch.

What if I can’t show up? Will my friend be able to go instead? Totally. Just let us know ahead of time via [email protected] and we’ll update your tickets with the new name or send them with your printed tickets.

Will you be selling extra seats at the bus? Nope. Sorry. All passes gotta be bought online. There’s a limited number of seats and we want you to have plenty of room – no roof riders no matter how cool that might sound.

What about weather SNAFUs? We live in Michigan. Sometimes Mother Nature likes to throw us a curveball. We keep safety as our highest priority. In case of gnarly weather, you’ll receive an email the day of the event with a raincheck/snowcheck date. If you cannot make the rescheduled date, you’ll get a voucher good for a future tour with us.

PSST!  We also offer this experience as a private tour if that’s more your speed. You choose the day, the pickup location and we’ll handle the rest. More here.

Still not convinced? Read our reviews!

We’ve been creating awesome experiences since 2012 – but don’t take our word for it. Check out our reviews to get the whole story.

(Spoiler alert: they’re good.)

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Museum Hours

• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday: Closed
• Wednesday: 10am-6pm
• Thursday: 10am-6pm
• Friday: 10am-6pm
• Saturday: 10am-6pm
• Sunday: 10am-6pm

We are closed on New Years Day, Memorial Day, Easter Sunday, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve

Plan Your Visit Contact Us

Motown Museum is the beating heart of the extraordinary Motown legacy—a destination that brings together people and ideas from different generations, and celebrates the past while simultaneously building a bridge to the future.

To ensure our vast collection maintains public visibility, and to keep things fresh for our guests, Motown Museum changes its main gallery exhibit 1-2 times per year. Here is what’s currently showing at our museum.

Motown Museum transports you into an era of musical magic. From the moment you step on the plaza, you’ll be immersed in the Motown sound and will experience a profound sense of history.

Hitsville NEXT Programs

Our uniquely curated community programs emphasize education, entrepreneurship and equity—with experiences, mentoring and exposure that nurtures and elevates tomorrow’s history makers. Museum programs cultivate creativity and entrepreneurship in budding talent, allowing great art, big ideas and innovation to flourish.

Lyric Project

Ages 14-18 | June 18 – 28

Lyric Project is a two-week workshop that helps students learn about songwriting, music production, and communicating powerful and authentic emotions through music...

Ignite Summer Camp

9 - 12 Grade | July 9 - 19

Ignite is a two-week program designed for high school-aged singers who want to take their musical talents to the next level...

Spark Summer Camp

6 – 8 Grade | August 6 - 16

For middle-school students passionate about music, we offer Spark, a day camp that helps students write and perform music together...

From memorable galas and concert performances, to community celebrations and educational programs, we host a range of special events throughout the year.

AMPLIFY: The Sound of Detroit Grand Finale

March 16, 2024

Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Private Events

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Motown legacy.

As an irresistible force of social and cultural change, the legendary Motown portfolio made its mark not just on the music industry, but society at large, with a signature Motown Sound that has become one of the most significant musical accomplishments and stunning success stories of the 20th century.

Like many other African Americans in the early 20th century, Berry Gordy, Sr. and his wife, Bertha Fuller Gordy, came North from Georgia to find a better life for themselves and their family.

Motown is an extended family of some of the most iconic and influential artists, musicians and songwriters of our time. Brought together by destiny through their love for making music, they found themselves making history.

The culmination of years of planning, hard work and generous contributions from dedicated donors, the highly anticipated, $50 million Motown Museum expansion project will grow the museum campus to a 50,000-square-foot world-class entertainment and education tourist destination.

• Support Motown Museum

When you contribute to the Motown Museum, you become part of a rich musical and cultural legacy. We are a 501(c)(3) not for profit, tax-exempt organization in Detroit.

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A Motown Lover’s Guide to Detroit

Explore Detroit’s rich musical history, with a specific emphasis on the iconic Motown Museum. Journey through our city’s vibrant music scene, including key locations and landmarks that played a crucial role in the development of Motown’s unique sound.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

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Detroit News Staff: 5 things to do while not at the NFL Draft

Detroit — While visiting Michigan's largest city, there are more opportunities than one even has time for. That's why members of our staff, who spend the most time in the city, have gathered recommendations of what to do in Detroit for the NFL Draft.

But first, a bit of history for new visitors.

Detroit is known as the Motor City, but its roots run much deeper. The city was once upon a time called the "Little Paris of the Midwest," attributable to its French colonial era when it was established in 1701 by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, a French military leader and trader. The area had been known by many names to various Indigenous peoples, including the Waawiiyaataanong, meaning "where the river bends."

By the 1910s, an influx of workers from around the world came to Detroit to work in high-paying factory jobs. They, along with native Detroiters, organized unions to fight against unfair labor practices, and the United Auto Workers union was born. As the 20th century progressed, the shape of the city changed. New neighborhoods sprang up around new factories in outlying communities. 

Few know Detroit was the last stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, where civil rights activist the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his first rendition of his legendary "I Have a Dream" speech, and was home to bootleggers during the Prohibition era. The 1967 uprising was the culmination of decades of institutional racism and entrenched segregation. The crisis is still remembered as the largest civil disturbance of the 20th century in America, which resulted in 43 deaths, hundreds of injuries, almost 1,700 fires, and more than 7,000 arrests.

Still, the city is famous for making great cars and even better music, including Motown, techno and rock. Detroit reps as home of Aretha Franklin, the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, MC5, the Stooges, the White Stripes, Madonna, Bob Seger, Kid Rock, Insane Clown Posse and its own rap style championed by Eminem, Big Sean, J Dilla and Royce Da 5'9, just to name a few.

The city resurrected, but fast-forward to July 2013, and Detroit filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. A decade later, the city has undergone a dramatic, unrecognizable transformation. It has also financially recovered with surpluses, and its credit rating returned to investment-grade status earlier this year. Detroit's Mayor Mike Duggan has spent the last year talking about how the draft will be a "re-introduction of Detroit to America" and that he hopes travelers who used to come for "ruin-porn" tours will be surprised to find fewer abandoned spots.

This history is reflected in the present-day bustling distillery and brewing scene, iconic churches, brick roads, monuments, stunning architecture and new factories alongside blighted ones. Take a tour on foot, by bike, by bus or by boat. Here's also Bedrock's field guide in the Draft downtown footprint.

The Spirit of Detroit will undoubtedly be the monument most visitors notice. Currently, it is fitted with a Honolulu Blue Lions jersey, but we encourage visitors to look above it to notice the seals encrusted on Detroit's City Hall where two Latin mottos read Speramus Meliora and Resurget Cineribus, meaning "We hope for better things" and "It will rise from the ashes," which was written by Fr. Gabriel Richard after the Great Fire of 1805.

5 events happening simultaneously

• Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City at Comerica Park on Friday at 1:10 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. Tickets here .
• 15th Anniversary of Sneaker Con Saturday at Huntington Place.
• Musical acts — Rich Amiri and Good Kid perform Thursday and Friday at El Club. Tickets here .Night of Soul with Anthony Hamilton at the Detroit Opera House. Tickets here .Night of Country Hits Thursday and Friday at Orchestral Hall. Tickets here .
• Classic Cars & Coffee : Gateway of Classic Cars in Dearborn, 9 a.m. - noon Saturday.
• "Detroit Draft in Color Fine Art Show,” by Umoja Fine Arts with live demonstrations from Detroit artists like Rosemary Summers. There will also be raffles, panel discussions and the opportunity to win a pair of Lions tickets. This popup at 719 Griswold will be open 10 a.m. -7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

5 must-see institutions

Take the QLine from the NFL Draft footprint to Midtown's Cultural Center. Stepping off Woodward, these are the institutions we encourage visitors to check out:

• Detroit Institute of Arts and Michigan Science Center (for kids)
• Detroit Historical Museum
• Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
• Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
• Detroit Public Library Main Branch

Louis Aguliar (Wayne County reporter on where to take selfies)

• So many downtown riverfront places, including Windsor, Canada . Many places along downtown Detroit's Riverwalk are enjoyable. Beyond downtown, great backdrops can be found at Riverside Park, 3085 W. Jefferson Ave., in southwest Detroit. The park is in the shadow of the Ambassador Bridge , and it gives the park a Brooklyn-type vibe. But my advice is to flee to Canada if you have the time. Take the Detroit-Windsor Tunne l next to the GM Renaissance Center, or the Ambassador Bridge, and you'll end up in Windsor. A few minutes away from both is Windsor Riverside park on Riverside Drive.  It's a fabulous skyline shot of downtown Detroit. 
• Monument to Joe Louis , AKA "The Fist," intersection of Woodward and Jefferson avenues, downtown.  Detroit is a legendary tough town; may as well pose next to a huge bronze sculpture of a fist. 
• Cafe D'Mongo's Speakeasy , 1439 Griswold St., in downtown's Capitol Park.  An eccentric little place owned by Larry Mongo, a man so charming he ended up in the Ryan Gosling-directed film "Lost River." (Gosling became a D'Mongo's patron while filming in The D).  In the early '90s, the place was known as Wax Fruit Rhythm Cafe, where a young Kid Rock spun records on Thursday nights. Reporter Sarah Rahal seconds this choice, recommending everyone try the "White Boy Rick " grilled cheese sandwich. Also, not a place for those that avoid tight spaces but great for live music.
• Detroit Industry Murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts , 5200 Woodward Ave., in Midtown. An auto factory will never look more colorful and poetic than the one depicted in Mexican muralist Diego Rivera's homage to Detroit.  The murals fill a big, sunlit courtyard at the heart of the museum and are priceless.
• The former Stanley Hong's Mannia Cafe , 265 E. Baltimore Ave., New Center/Milwaukee Junction.  Designed by pioneering Black architect Nathan Johnson, the building is a former Chinese restaurant and still has loopy "Googie-style" allure. The building has been empty far too long — a common plight of Detroit buildings. The place has a music history, too.  A young Eminem participated in rap battles during hip-hip shows here in the '90s. Honorable mention: The new Detroit sign on Interstate 94 between Central and Cecil Avenues. Police say, "Don't stop on the highway to take selfies, travel to the left side across the service drive for the best view.

Rod Beard (Sports editor who loves neighborhood vibes)

• Belle Isle: It's a hidden gem in plain sight in the city, highlighted by the serenity and calm of a morning walk on the small 2.5-mile island between Detroit and Canada. With a golf course, beach and plenty of places for a small cookout, Belle Isle is a must-see.
• Palmer Woods neighborhood: With all the attention that some of Detroit's decaying neighborhoods have gotten, Palmer Woods is a shining locale of about 300 sprawling and picturesque homes and estates. There's private security that patrols the neighborhood, but a leisurely drive-through is worth your time.
• Mexicantown: If you like good food — and who doesn't? — make a visit to almost any of the outstanding restaurants in the area.
• Corner Ballpark : Detroit's PAL Stadium will serve as the hub of all youth activities at the draft and will be an extension of the activities at the main draft site at Hart Plaza and Campus Martius park. The Park is the former site of Tiger Stadium, longtime home of the Detroit Tigers.
• Bike, skate, ride down the Dequindre Cut. Equipment is available for rent at Wheelhouse Detroit . Or get active at Lexis Velodrome : This cycling, skating and fitness center has everything.

Melody Baetens (Restaurant critic, who has a separate list for food recs)

• Third Man Records: There’s no centralized one-stop-shop for Detroit’s rock and roll history, but Jack White’s Third Man Records store, venue and pressing plant is a must-visit for anyone who loves rock, punk, garage and soul, not to mention vinyl, books and apparel. They give scheduled tours of the state-of-the-art vinyl pressing plant on Fridays, and Japanese rock trio TsuShiMaMiRe is set to perform there Thursday night. 441 W. Canfield, Detroit. (313) 209-5250. thirdmanrecords.com/pages/detroit-store .
• Eastern Market: A food-lovers’ paradise, this is where many of the great dishes you’ll find in restaurants around the city start with ingredients purchased at this historic marketplace. Eastern Market is also home to colorful murals, shops and a fantastic array of bars and restaurants, including Detroit City Distillery, Cutter’s Bar & Grill (get the burger or the steak tips) and Bert’s Marketplace, home to live comedy, jazz, barbecue and pizza. Saturday’s market is open year-round with more than 200 vendors 6 a.m.-4 p.m. easternmarket.org .
• Motown Museum: A must-visit for music fans of any music genre as well as history buffs. It's small now but an expansion is in the works. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. 2648 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit. (313) 875-2264. motownmuseum.org .
• John K. King Used Books: Get lost in the sights, smells and textures of this massive, quiet, four-story book store. If you’re looking for something specific among the 1 million titles they have, good luck finding it (kidding, just ask a staff member). It’s more fun to pick a direction and find a treasure you never knew you needed. Closed Sundays. 901 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit. (313) 961-0622. johnkingbooksdetroit.com .
• Feather bowling: The Cadieux Cafe bar, restaurant and music venue is a little slice of Europe on Detroit’s east side. The historic spot has changed hands a few times throughout the decades, but it’s always been a place for authentic Belgian food, beer and the unique sport of feather bowling. Players roll what look like wooden cheese wheels down a sandy lane, each one hoping to get closest to a single feather. Call ahead to rent a lane in advance if you want to play, or just show up and enjoy live blues, classic rock or jazz. Be sure to stay for dinner where the house specialties are the Belgian onion soup, mussels forte dei marmi and Sander’s cream puff sundae for dessert. 4300 Cadieux, Detroit. (313) 882-8560. Cadieuxcafe.com .

More: Coming to downtown Detroit for the NFL Draft? Here's your food and drink guide to the city

Adam Graham (Film critic turned late-night foodie)

• Batch Brewing Co .: Corktown Biergarten with a wonderful selection of house-brewed beers and a delicious menu of brewpub favorites. 1400 Porter St. (313) 338-8008. batchbrewingcompany.com .
• Sweetwater Tavern : Best wings in town. 400 E. Congress St. (313) 962-2210. sweetwatertavern.net .
• Checker Bar Detroit : Everyone converges at this downtown dive with a full kitchen and bar. 124 Cadillac Square. (313) 961-9249. checkerbar.com .
• Mootz Pizzeria + Bar : Grab a slice on the go or sit down and take a break at this downtown pizza spot and bar. 1230 Library St. (313) 243-1230. mootzpizzeria.com .
• Lafayette vs. American Coney Islands: Right near Campus Martius, stumble upon America's first Coney Island and its next-door rival. The chili recipes, key to the Coney dog, differ: American makes its own chili, which is said to be spicier than the beefier chili of Lafayette, made from a family recipe. The dispute has been featured on several food television shows, including "Food Wars" and "Man v. Food." Graham prefers Lafayette. Both classic Detroit coney spots are open late, and the later you go, the better the experience. 118 W. Lafayette Blvd.

Sarah Rahal (city reporter wants you to see everything, especially Detroit's borders)

• Downtown architecture tour . Step inside the orange Guardian Building, One Campus Martius, which has the "Waiting" by Kaws statue outside and one of Michigan's largest indoor fountains inside. Visit Grand Circus Park where there’s the Russel A. Alger Fountain and Millenium Bell. Hop on the QLine to Campus Martius' Michigan Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Keep walking and you'll see the Spirit of Detroit and the Joe Louis "Fist." Cross to Hart Plaza and see the large circular figure known as "Trancending," a tribute to Detroit's labor union history. Closer to the convention center, there's the new MLK statue and closer to the river, there's a statue memorial to the Underground Railroad pointing to Canada. The Fisher Building in New Center is also known as Detroit's largest art object, a 440-foot tower by legendary architect Albert Kahn.
• Tour Detroit's street art. The city has one of the largest collections of blight turned to beauty with murals on abandoned and commercial buildings. The best places to see this are Eastern Market, Grand River Creative Corridor standing out with nearly 100 murals between Rosa Parks Boulevard and Warren Avenue, the Library Street Collective and Heidelberg Project, 3600 Heidelberg St., Detroit. Download the CANVS app to track murals and learn more about them.
• Classic and new brands: Flagship stores for Carhartt and Shinola are right in Midtown, or there's the Shinola Hotel near the theater district. No one should leave Detroit without a trunk full of Vernors, Faygo, Better Made Chips and Sanders Bumpy Cake. Find these at any local grocery. Newer dessert staples include trying Bon Bon Bon, Sister Pie and a Hummer Cocktail or Boston Cooler, which accidentally became Detroit classics. I like Mercury Burger Bar for both.
• Fowling Warehouse: It's not a typo. It's football and bowling. Grab a team and enjoy this easy game founded here. For $15, it's all you can play from 4 p.m. to midnight. Watch a video of it . Located at 3901 Christopher St., Hamtramck.
• Outside Detroit, but only by 15 minutes. Visit Dearborn. One of the biggest concentrations of Arab Americans in the nation and home to automotive pioneer Henry Ford and Ford Motor Co. Visiting the Arab American National Museum, Greenfield Village, Henry Ford's Automobile Museum and grabbing a shawarma from Hamidos are non-negotiable.

Honorable mentions from other staff members included:

• Next Level by RollerCade  at 1201 Woodward Ave.
• Tie Dye something at Detroit Dye House in Corktown.
• Visit the historic Masonic Temple, which also has events this week .
• For children, GEOcaching is a scavenger hunt for random objects and the city is still a great place to look for Pokemon.

NFL draft in Detroit: Your guide to what's happening downtown, including full schedule

It's more than an nfl draft; it's an experience. here's what's happening in downtown detroit this week, including transportation, parking, where to eat and drink, how to follow the draft and more..

The 2024 NFL draft in Detroit is finally here.

Just as excitement around the Detroit Lions is at an all-time high, following a thrilling run to the NFC championship game, the NFL world descends upon the Motor City today through Saturday for one of sports' biggest spectacles.

The 2024 NFL draft is in downtown Detroit , a moment at least two years in the making . Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to be there , with fans of all 32 teams looking to celebrate their teams' draft picks near the stage at Campus Martius and checking out the NFL Fan Experience at Hart Plaza.

If you're traveling to Detroit for the draft , here's a guide to make your draft experience easy and unforgettable. Information on registration, parking, travel, street closings, and draft day activities are all below.

When is the 2024 NFL draft?

The 2024 NFL draft is April 25-27 . The rounds break down as follows:

• 8 p.m. Thursday, April 25: Round 1
• 7 p.m. Friday, April 26: Rounds 2-3
• 12 p.m. Saturday, April 27: Rounds 4-7

Where is the 2024 NFL draft?

The 2024 NFL draft is in Detroit , spanning from Campus Martius to Hart Plaza in downtown with additional events in Beacon Park, Capitol Park, Grand Circus Park, Harmonie Park, and along Woodward Avenue. It's a big moment for Detroit as it hits the national stage.

2024 NFL draft registration, tickets, sign-up

The 2024 NFL draft is free to attend and open to the public. If you're planning to attend, though, you will need to register using the NFL OnePass app or online through the website .

Registering for the event only guarantees you the NFL draft footprint in downtown Detroit. You must buy tickets separately for the actual draft theater.

Ticket packages are available for purchase for the second and third rounds starting at $950 per person — the fourth through seventh rounds start at $550 per person as well. Please be wary of potential ticket scams .

• Your guide to the NFL OnePass app: How to download, what it will tell you

2024 NFL draft map

Looking to get a sense of where everything is downtown? Use this map. ( Tap here if you can't see the map below.)

NFL draft weather forecast

You might want to bring a jacket , at least for Thursday. Expect partly sunny skies, with potentially high pollen levels, and a high of 55 degrees on Day 1 of the NFL draft. On Friday, it warms up to a high of 66 degrees and with some sun, then clouds in the afternoon. Then Saturday, it warms even further to 75 degrees, with mostly cloudy skies and a potential shower or thunderstorm.

Of course, this is Michigan weather, so keep your eyes on the latest forecast to stay up to date.

Downtown Detroit transportation

Detroit has multiple public transportation options to get around downtown. The city has a streetcar , an elevated rail system , bike share , and bus system to get you where you need to go.

These include:

• The   Detroit People Mover , which will operate 24 hours a day from 7 a.m. April 25 through midnight April 28.
• The  QLINE   along Woodward Avenue, which will run from 8 a.m. to midnight April 25 through April 27. The stops include Harper Ave., 116 Lothrop St., 6540 Cass Ave., John R & Piquette and 6230 John R St.  
• Bus service: SMART will have park-and-ride services from various points in metro Detroit, including Great Lakes Crossing, several Meijer store locations and Oakland County Community College. It also has its FAST service on Gratiot, Woodward and Michigan Avenue. DDOT services will operate with modified downtown routes because of road closures.
• Shuttles and drop-offs: There will be designated shuttle and ride-share drop-off points throughout downtown on Woodward, Jefferson and Fort Street. Detroit Air Xpress, or DAX, is a nonstop coach bus service connecting downtown Detroit to Detroit Metro Airport, and  D2A2  is an express coach bus that connects downtown Detroit to downtown Ann Arbor.

Fan shuttle locations:

• Bagley Mobility Hub , 1501 Wabash St.  
• River East Garage , 214 Rivard St.  

Fan shuttle hours: 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday

• More: Service details released about Detroit public transit options

Detroit parking for 2024 NFL draft

If you decide to drive  downtown , make a plan and prearrange parking . Many off-street lots and garages are booked, and street parking will be limited or restricted in the area. Parking regulations will be enforced; vehicles may be towed. Those planning to park downtown are encouraged to arrive by 10 a.m. You may find off-street parking options on the Park Detroit app or on Park Whiz.

You can pay for metered parking through Park Detroit's website or app. There are also options for private parking throughout the city.

2024 NFL draft parking: You better have a plan if you're coming to downtown Detroit

Detroit road closures for 2024 NFL draft

The City of Detroit conducted six phases of road closures leading up to and during the 2024 NFL draft. It started March 29 and will go through May 7. Be mindful of these closures as you're perusing downtown this weekend.

Here's a detailed look at each phase of road closures in downtown Detroit.

Security, bag policy at the 2024 NFL draft

Detroit police say they've got a safety plan in place that includes increased police presence downtown, weapon detectors and video monitoring .

Detroit police have partnered with the NFL and local businesses on the security plan, as well as state and federal law enforcement, according to 3rd Precinct Cmdr. Matthew Fulgenzi.

The NFL will have weapon detectors installed that attendees must walk through at the gates of the event, which will take place at Cadillac Square, Campus Martius, Hart Plaza and a portion of Woodward Avenue. The NFL has a clear bag policy to enter the draft area, Fulgenzi said. 

Here's more on security measures and policies at the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit.

2024 NFL Draft Experience

The 2024 NFL Draft Experience is at Hart Plaza on Thursday through Saturday. The hours:

• Thursday: Noon to 10 p.m.
• Friday: Noon to 10 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Activities include a Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibit and an autograph signing opportunity with current and former NFL players, as well as a 40-yard dash, vertical jump, deep throw accuracy challenges, and more. There will also be a collection of Detroit-based food trucks for participants who attend.

Use the NFL OnePass app to find more on what's planned and when throughout the NFL draft blueprint.

Other NFL draft activities

Here are more ideas on what to do at the 2024 NFL draft:

• NFL draft watch parties: District Detroit, Greektown, hotels, restaurants and more
• Celebrations: Parties, tours and panel discussions to watch for
• At Ford Field: Lions to host NFL draft event for season ticket holders
• NFL Shop: Where to find the NFL's pop-up store in downtown Detroit
• Art and murals: Detroit's DCLEATED exhibit across town … plus 8 downtown murals to see
• Roller skating and games: Next Level by RollerCade set to open right near the draft

Things to do in Detroit during the 2024 NFL draft

Detroit is a city rich with museums, restaurants and activities throughout . If you're interested in exploring the area outside of the draft, you can go to the Motown Museum, the Michigan Science Center, check out golf-rich southeast Michigan , and even catch a Detroit Tigers game on April 26, 27 or 28 when they host the Kansas City Royals. And get a souvenir while you're in the city.

Looking for ideas? Check out these guides we put together for you:

• Where to eat: Your guide to breakfast, lunch and dinner in Detroit , plus our Best Restaurant Guide
• Where to shop: 7 places to get Detroit souvenirs , plus a guide to special pop-ups
• Where to see concerts: Big Sean, Detroit Youth Choir lead list of performers
• Where to golf: The top 10 golf courses to play near downtown Detroit
• Where to take your kids: Top kid-friendly events to check out at the NFL draft
• Where to take photos: Iconic Detroit places where you can snap photos while you're here
• Must-see attractions: Where to go in Detroit while you're here

What else is Detroit doing for the NFL draft?

Here's a list of other attractions and events planned for Detroit and the 2024 NFL draft:

• The Detroit "Hollywood-style" sign is constructed along eastbound Interstate 94. Here's how to scope it out .
• Prayer halls will be geared up for worshippers of the Muslim faith.
• There are five "Welcome to Detroit" signs going up on other stretches of highways.
• Detroit City Distillery has several NFL draft events planned .
• Circuit Court at Detroit city hall will suspend in-person services during NFL draft week.
• Verizon i s deploying multiple networks to boost connectivity and service downtown.

Download the NFL OnePass app to stay up to date on what's happening during the draft.

And lastly, what about the NFL draft itself?

Glad you asked: The Free Press sports team is all over the NFL draft, day and night. The Lions pick No. 29 overall in the first round, but there's always the possibility of trading down . We rounded up mock drafts from all over the web to see what the Lions might do this week. Here are 6 players they could target if they choose to stay at No. 29.

Head to our Lions page for full coverage. And stay on top of freep.com for live updates from downtown as we follow the spectacle all three days!

Celebrate the Lions' epic season with the Detroit Free Press' new commemorative book : “From Grit to Glory: The Epic Story of the Detroit Lions’ 2023 Renaissance." Order now at Lions.PictorialBook.com !     

Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram ( @detroitfreepress ), TikTok ( @detroitfreepress ), YouTube ( @DetroitFreePress ), Twitter/X ( @freep ),   and  LinkedIn , and like us on Facebook ( @detroitfreepress ).

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Potential Bears First-Rounders Make the Motown Rounds

Potential Bears QB Caleb Williams and receiver Rome Odunze flew out together from L.A. to Detroit and settled in for the draft.

• Author: Gene Chamberlain

In this story:

The Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze hype continued on Wednesday in Detroit.

Maybe they'll be playing together on a field in Detroit soon?

Williams and Odunze were part of a group of draft prospects who participated Wednesday in an event supporting Special Olympics athletes. The NFL, Unified Flag Football Detroit and Special Olympics Michigan combined to put on a program where the prospects taught athletes of different sills levels basic flag football and practiced with them.

"It was great, I had a blast," Williams told reporters at the Corner Ballpark in Corktown. "I don't know if ya'll were watching, but I had a blast. I was out there running routes, throwing it, defending.

Rome Odunze & Caleb Williams all smiles at an event with Special Olympics. #NFLDraft @GNSportsTV @WGNTV pic.twitter.com/9lrJr9NAku — Kaitlin Sharkey (@KRoseSharkey) April 24, 2024

"Just all-around athlete around these kids. It was great to be around them, it seemed like they had a great time."

As for the upcoming draft, Williams said he's prepared for the big moment when he goes on stage with commissioner Roger Goodell.

"As a kid, I did dream of this," Williams said . "I set my goals, went after it, I got it, I' here, I'm ready for the moment.

"I've been preparing mentally for it and obviously phsyically, I put myself in the position to do it."

The “Tuesday! Tuesday!” 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/kLHNtA9pHF — Joseph Herff (@JosephHerffNFL) April 24, 2024

https://www.wxyz.com/news/nfl-draft/nfl-prospects-caleb-williams-jayden-daniels-take-part-in-detroit-special-olympics-flag-football-camp

Odunze made an appearance with The Rich Eisen Show and explained both how he and Williams had wound up flying out together. It wasn't planned in advance he said.

"It was from L.A.," the Washington wide receiver said. "We flew out from L.A. and we just happened to be on the same plane and he tweeted that he seen me on the plane, said he was a big fan.

"So I had to also let people know that I was also going to get him to Detroit safely."

Odunze had to admit they had talked about the possibility both could wind up together with the Bears. Odunze would be the ninth pick, if he hasn't been selected already or if the Bears decided not to trade back.

There is more to it than fans on the internet getting excited about seeing the two together on social media. Odunze, like Williams,  had a top-30 visit at Halas Hall.

They shared a flight to Detroit but what are the chances @RomeOdunze and @CALEBcsw end up leaving the #NFLDraft Thursday night together as #DaBears teammates? #NFL pic.twitter.com/YxHIEZnC9R — Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) April 24, 2024

"It went well," Odunze told Eisen. "I thought there was a sense of winning in the air and a sense that, you know, they were going to make things happen and that the team was prepared to go all the way and I think I could be a vital piece in that.

DEFENSIVE END OR TACKLE, WHICH IS RYAN POLES' PREFERENCE?

"They're looking to add a few weapons for Caleb or some protection for him. So it was a good visit."

The last comment might have been a key. The Bears aren't talking about what they want to do at No. 9 and this sounded like information from someone who was there and talking to their decision makers.

WOULD TRADING UP FOR MARVIN HARRISON JR. BE THAT BIG A GAMBLE?

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

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