5 of the Best Museums in Driving Distance of Detroit, MI

Pick apart the Motor City like a true culture vulture by visiting five of the best museums within driving distance of Detroit, MI. At Bob Maxey Ford of Detroit, we’ve experienced almost everything the city has to offer. Discover our five favorite museums below.

1. Detroit Institute of Arts

As one of the premier museums in the entire country, the Detroit Institute of Arts houses priceless artwork and historical artifacts from all around the world. Some of the museum’s best artwork includes pieces by Picasso, Rembrandt, Warhol, Van Gogh, Degas, and others.

Our favorite paintings in the entire museum are Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry Murals (1932-1933), which depict the automotive assembly line at Ford Motor Company. Back then, Ford only manufactured the Model B, 18, and 40. It would take 42 more years before Ford would produce its first F-150 pickup truck.

2. Detroit Historical Museum

Relive the Motor City’s storied past at the Detroit Historical Museum. This fascinating museum, nestled within the boundaries of Wayne State University, displays all sorts of artifacts related to the city’s industrial, musical, and sporting history.

The curators at the Detroit Historical Museum put together an eclectic mix of art and historical relics. Some of the most popular exhibits include:

• Tiger Stadium sign
• Kid Rock Music Lab
• Functional automotive assembly line
• Meier’s Wonderful Clock
• Glancy trains

3. Motown Museum

Get your groove on at the Home of Hitsville, USA: the Motown Museum! Before moving to Los Angeles, Motown Records put out dozens of gold records, including some by The Temptations, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and others.

Now, you can explore the former home and recording studio of Motown Records founder, Berry Gordy, Jr. The museum’s annual exhibit, Motown Revue: A Culture in Motion, revisits the popular, nationwide tours that featured the label’s most famous artists.

4. Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

Any museum that includes the name of Henry Ford will always make it on our list of the top museums within driving distance of Detroit. The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation highlights much of the automotive industry’s achievements by displaying some of the rarest vehicles on Earth.

The museum houses all sorts of machinery, aircraft, trains, and automobiles. Some of the museum’s most popular exhibits include:

• Oscar Mayer Wienermobile
• First Ford Mustang
• Rosa Parks’ bus
• John F. Kennedy’s 1961 Lincoln Continental
• FDR’s Sunshine Special

5. Michigan Science Center

Expand your mind at the Michigan Science Center! This affiliate museum of the Smithsonian Institute offers over 200 interactive exhibits to teach the young and old about the universe, including our world and everything in it. Some of the most exciting exhibits include:

• Dassault Systèmes Planetarium
• IMAX Dome Theatre
• Toyota Engineering 4D Theater
• Chrysler Science Stage
• DTE Energy Sparks Theater

Now that you know where to experience the history of Detroit, why not stop by our dealership to witness the culmination of over 100 years of automotive engineering? Call Bob Maxey Ford of Detroit at 313-757-4698 to schedule your free test drive today!

Image by whockman from Pixabay

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