The 10 Best Museums in Detroit, MI

Detroit Institute of Arts

Art museum · Midtown

Detroit Institute of Arts holds a 4.8 Google rating across 14,092 reviews in Midtown, listed on Google as movie theater.

“Diego Rivera murals alone are worth the effort and there’s so much more to see.”

Detroit Historical Museum

History museum · Midtown

Detroit Historical Museum holds a 4.8 Google rating across 2,086 reviews in Midtown, listed on Google as history museum.

Motown Museum

Museum · New Center

Motown Museum holds a 4.7 Google rating across 6,695 reviews in New Center, listed on Google as museum.

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum

Museum · Milwaukee Junction

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum holds a 4.8 Google rating across 1,778 reviews in Milwaukee Junction, listed on Google as museum.

Scarab Club

Art gallery · Midtown

Scarab Club holds a 4.7 Google rating across 336 reviews in Midtown, listed on Google as art gallery.

“I’ve photographed a few weddings here and I’m always inspired by the space & the brides who choose scarab for their day. I love it sm.”

Michigan Science Center

Science museum · Midtown

Michigan Science Center at 5020 John R St in Detroit, MI is a science and technology museum for kids, with interactive exhibits, a planetarium, shows and a theater. Live performances and tours are also part of its offerings. The center welcomes children and families, and has a cafe and gift shop on site. It holds a Google rating of 4.4 from 3,218 reviews. Admission carries a fee, and getting tickets ahead is recommended. Discounts are available for active military personnel. Listed parking options include both free and paid lot and street parking. The entrance, parking, restrooms and seating are wheelchair accessible. Changing tables, unisex restrooms and Wi-Fi are among the amenities. The center also identifies itself as LGBTQ-welcoming and a transgender safe space. For visitors planning around meals, there is a cafe but no restaurant.

“Enjoyed visiting both as a youth and adult with my two daughters.”

the Shepherd

Art gallery · Indian Village

the Shepherd is a cultural arts center at 1265 Parkview St on the East Side of Detroit, MI, housed in a century-old Romanesque-style church. Architects Peterson Rich Office (PRO) led the building’s adaptive reuse, which centers on two gallery spaces, a library and a public workshop for the local arts community. Its programming includes live performances and seeks to blur the boundaries between a gallery, an institution and a community arts center, while welcoming collaboration with other arts initiatives and organizations. The campus extends beyond the converted church. Its grounds include ALEO, a bed and breakfast; McArthur Binion’s Modern Ancient Brown Foundation; a public skatepark designed by Tony Hawk; and a sculpture garden honoring the late artist Charles McGee. The Shepherd has a wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking and restroom. A restroom is available, but there is no restaurant on site.

“The shepherd held the grand opening of the month of design events in detroit. The building is beautiful the grounds are expensive and around different bushes and corners you had different exhibits. It's definitely worth a visit”

Detroit Artists Market

Museum · Midtown

Detroit Artists Market is a local, artist-run gallery at 4719 Woodward Ave in Detroit, MI. First opened in 1930, it offers free tours and art sales, giving visitors ways to view work and purchase art. Live performances are also among its listed features. Its Google rating is 4.7 out of 5, based on 93 reviews. The gallery welcomes families and LGBTQ visitors and identifies as a transgender safe space. Accessibility features include a wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking, and restroom. Other listed amenities include a unisex restroom and Wi-Fi, though there is no restaurant on site. For those planning a visit, the free tours, art sales, and live performances are the gallery’s main stated offerings, alongside on-site services and the practical amenities noted above.

Historic Fort Wayne

Museum · Southwest Detroit

Historic Fort Wayne is a 19th-century military fort on the Detroit River, listed as a park at 6325 W Jefferson Ave in Detroit, MI. Tours, re-enactments, and community events are among its offerings, bringing together the site's military history and its use as a place for public activities. For visitors looking for a historic site in Detroit, MI, the fort combines a riverfront location with opportunities to take part in tours and events. The site welcomes children and provides free on-site parking. Accessibility features include wheelchair-accessible parking and a wheelchair-accessible restroom, but the entrance is listed as not wheelchair accessible. That distinction is important for visitors who need step-free access: the available parking and restroom features do not extend to the entrance. Historic Fort Wayne has a Google rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 869 reviews.

“There were no guided tours on the day of our visit but we were able to walk the beautiful grounds. There are many buildings and artillery machines / weapons to view. There was signage to give some historical information. I'm sure it i…”

Art Loft Midtown

Art gallery · Midtown

Art Loft Midtown is a Black-owned, women-owned boutique at 4160 Cass Ave c in Detroit, MI. Its inventory brings together clothing, handmade art, handbags, socks, and functional art from around the world. The shop also carries ALESSI-Italia housewares, watches by internationally acclaimed designers, and a large selection of Judaica from various artists. Jewelry ranges from classic to whimsical, with one-of-a-kind pieces among the offerings. Named lines include Michael Aram, Jonathan Adler, Sid Dickens, Carrol Boyes, and Pablo Designs. Clothing includes statement pieces from Desigual, while footwear comes from All Black and YellowBox. In-store shopping and pickup are available, and the business lists a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking. Payment options include checks, credit and debit cards, and NFC mobile payments. The shop has a 4.9 Google rating from 38 reviews.

“I wandered in because when I see the words "ART LOFT", I follow my heart. Within seconds of meeting Rachel, I knew she is an Angel. She welcomed me like a friend she's known for years and her art (and clothes, purses and super soft bedsh…”