Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All United States Michigan Detroit

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Detroit

47 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Detroit, Michigan

Updated May 3, 2022

Email
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Hotel Deals

Unusual Attractions in Detroit

Detroit, Michigan

Grande Ballroom

Abandoned concert venue legendary for its rock counterculture.

Detroit, Michigan

John K. King Used & Rare Books

This sprawling bookstore spans four floors and has more than a million books in stock.

Detroit, Michigan

St. Agnes Church and School

This Detroit ruin was once a gothic bastion of its community, but now it stands as a haunting ruin.

Detroit, Michigan

Belle Isle Aquarium

The Beaux-Arts aquarium boasts a vast collection of saltwater and freshwater fish on an island in the Detroit River.

Hamtramck, Michigan

Hamtramck Disneyland

A wacky two-story folk-art assemblage of carved and found objects, with lights, motion, and sound now in need of financial support.

Detroit, Michigan

Heidelberg Project

One man's attempt to create an artistic wonder on a run-down block in Detroit.

Detroit, Michigan

Motown Museum

Berry Gordy Jr.'s old home was the original headquarters of Motown Record Corporation.

Detroit, Michigan

Michigan Central Station

A Beaux-Arts triumph set to become Ford's innovation campus
See All 47 Things To Do in Detroit

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Detroit

Detroit, Michigan

The Raven Lounge

One of Detroit’s oldest blues clubs stands in defiance of the passage of time and the city’s shifting fortunes.

Detroit, Michigan

Grand Trunk Pub

The grandiose interior of this bar speaks to its past as home to famous jewelers and railway offices.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

7 Mechanical Marvels in Michigan

Michigan is famous for its steep, sweeping sand dunes, freckling of lakes, and unique fossils—but across the state, you'll find slews of automated wonders, past and present. From old animatronic toys to the ruins of early assembly lines, here are seven places to be dazzled by industry. As the pandemic continues, we hope this virtual trip helps you explore America’s wonders. If you do choose to venture out, please follow all guidelines, maintain social distance, and wear a mask.

View Itinerary

Explore Detroit, Michigan

Architectural Oddities 6
Abandoned 6
Ruins 6
Homes 4
Music 4
Eccentric Homes 4
Parks 3
Sculptures 3
Automotive History 3
Outsider Art 3
Art 3
Public Art 2
Unique Restaurants & Bars 2

Detroit Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Avatar image for Nicholas Jackson
    Nicholas Jackson
    11
  2. Avatar image for Rebecca Byrne
    Rebecca Byrne
    4
  3. Avatar image for Annetta Black
    Annetta Black
    2
  4. Avatar image for ronin
    ronin
    2
  5. D
    DoctorMoog42
    2
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Detroit.

Places Edited

  1. Avatar image for Nicholas Jackson
    Nicholas Jackson
    19
  2. Avatar image for wythe
    wythe
    8
  3. Avatar image for hrnick
    hrnick
    7
  4. Avatar image for Keri Kilgo
    Keri Kilgo
    6
  5. Avatar image for Planetpinto
    Planetpinto
    5

Places Visited

  1. B
    brianhaehl
    42
  2. D
    drsinger1111
    38
  3. Avatar image for mrbrettwjones
    mrbrettwjones
    35
  4. Avatar image for apbreuhan
    apbreuhan
    34
  5. Avatar image for clbrmi
    clbrmi
    31

Recent Detroit Activity

  • G

    gataw

    has been to Giant Cow Head

  • G

    gataw

    has been to McNamara Terminal Light Tunnel

  • G

    gataw

    has been to Murals in the Market

  • G

    gataw

    has been to Guardian Building Art Deco Lobby

  • G

    gataw

    has been to Giant Boxing Arm of Joe Louis

Stories About Detroit

The Black Woman Who Didn’t Just Open Doors—She Moved Them

Rosa Slade Gragg wouldn’t let a racist restrictive covenant stand in the way of the Detroit Association of Colored Women’s Clubs.
by Carole Rosenblat
March 24, 2022

How the 'Boston Cooler' Became a Classic Detroit Drink

This sweet, creamy enigma dates back to the late 1800s.
by Sam O'Brien
August 4, 2021

The Poetry-Loving Cook Who Fed Detroit's Soul

With a 35-cent-meal restaurant and other charities, Mother Waddles was "a one-woman war on poverty."
by Omnia Saed
June 17, 2021

Found: A Landlocked Message in a Bottle in a Detroit Train Station

More than a century ago, a couple of guys had some beer and an idea.
by Jessica Leigh Hester
June 14, 2021

Podcast: The Heidelberg Project

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
June 7, 2021

The Detroit Restaurants That Taste Like Ancient Mesopotamia

Known for their food, the city's Chaldean diaspora wants to revive their restaurant scene.
by Priya Krishna
April 23, 2020

How 'Shoebox Lunches' Made Black Travel Possible During Jim Crow

Humble shoeboxes allowed African Americans to dine with dignity.
by Nicole Taylor
March 27, 2020

How a Massive Fatberg Went From Sewer to Science Museum

The underground menace is now a reminder that people should be kinder to their pipes.
by Jessica Leigh Hester
January 24, 2020

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Puzzles
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Trips Blog
  • Art & Culture Trips
  • Food Trips
  • Hidden City Trips
  • History Trips
  • Photography Trips
  • Wildlife & Nature Trips
  • FAQ
  • Experiences
  • Online Courses
  • Online Experience FAQ
  • Online Course FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2023 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.