Historical Attractions in Southeast Michigan

These Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne County historical spots are the perfect setting for families to learn and play together.

In an area as historically rich as metro Detroit, there are countless opportunities for families to bring history to life at local museums, historical sites and other fun activities throughout the year.

Whether you want to check out the latest exhibits at the Detroit Institute of Arts or take a trip to 18th century life at Greenfield Village, this list of historical hotspots in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties has some great options for educational family fun.

Check websites or call ahead to find out COVID-19 protocols.

Arab American National Museum

  • Address: 13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday, Tuesday and Thanksgiving, Nov. 29, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday and July 4.
  • Admission: $8/general, $4/students, seniors and children ages 6-12, free/ages 5 and under

Visit the first and only museum in the United States devoted to Arab-American history and culture. Throughout the year there are performances, films, children’s craft classes and cultural presentations. Note: This location is temporarily closed.

Automotive Hall of Fame

  • Address: 21400 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday; closed all major holidays
  • Admission: $10/adults, $6/seniors and students (ages 13-18), $4/ages 5-12, free/under 5

Located beside the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, this place attracts automotive aficionados from all over the world. In addition to the 65-foot Hall of Honor mural, you can see a replica of the first gasoline-powered automobile – and a replica of UAW legend Walter Reuther’s dining room.

Chaldean Cultural Center 

The museum is composed of five galleries, which each hold artifacts, presentations and hands-on activities. Call for private tours.

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

  • Address: 315 E. Warren Ave., Detroit
  • Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday
  • Admission: $15/adults, $12/ages 3-12 and seniors 62-plus, free/under 3

This mecca to African-American culture packs many activities and exhibits into its 125,000 square feet. The permanent A is for Africa exhibit, complete with 26 interactive learning stations, is designed for kids. Also, watch for monthly family events, ongoing temporary exhibits — and explore the 22,000-square-foot interactive core area that extends through 20 galleries.

City of Wayne Historical Museum

  • Address: One Town Square, Wayne
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays; by appointment other days
  • Admission: Free

Formerly the village hall, this building also has served as a police station, fire station, junior achievement offices and the chamber of commerce before being restored to its original condition. These days, visitors find more than 100 displays including extensive early maps, documents and photos, plus a display of the Civil War, industry school and early home and village artifacts.

Cobblestone Farm Museum

Take a peek at mid-19th century living while touring an 1840s farmhouse, log cabin, barn, homes, gardens and history aplenty. Throughout the year, there are craft shows and old-fashioned holiday celebrations. Masks are required.

Cranbrook Institute of Science

  • Address: 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday; call for holiday closures, summer/event hours
  • Admission: $13/adults, $9.50/ages 2-12, free/under 2; $5/planetarium

The history of the earth and beyond comes to life in planetarium shows and the area’s leading collection of mastodons – along with other extinct creatures that once roamed the earth.

Crocker House Museum

  • Address: 15 Union St., Mount Clemens
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, plus 1-4 p.m. first Sundays (except holidays); closed January and February; open for other special events (listed on official website)
  • Admission: Check ahead for costs

This Italianate home, dating to 1869, was built by the first mayor of Mount Clemens: Joshua Dickinson (it’s actually named, however, after the second mayor). The Macomb County Historical Society preserves local history here through artifacts and rotating exhibits and educational programs, including an etiquette tea for kids, holiday family fun and more.

Dearborn Historical Museum

  • Addresses: Commandant’s Quarters, 21950 Michigan Ave.; McFadden-Ross House & Richard Gardner House, 915 Brady St.
  • Hours: Quarters: 2-6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; Museum: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
  • Admission: Donation only

Triple your historical discovery at these three spots dating back to the 1830s. Military is the theme at the Brady Street homes, part of the former Detroit arsenal in what was then Dearbornville. Exhibits at the McFadden-Ross House include photos, books and artifacts that reflect local families and changes in the community.

Detroit Historical Museum

  • Address: 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday
  • Admission: $10/adults, $8/seniors, $6/children, $35/household up to 6 adults and children with the same address, free/under 6 years old

Nothing takes you back in time quicker than a visit to The Streets of Old Detroit — just one part of the 80,000 square feet of preserved history. If you’ve ever wondered about the intricacies of an assembly line, check out America’s Motor City. Watch for favorite annual kids events throughout the year, from Halloween to Black History Month to Easter.

Detroit Institute of Arts

  • Address: 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit
  • Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; closed Monday-Tuesday, call for holiday hours
  • Admission: Free/residents of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties; others $14/adults, $6/kids (ages 6-17), free/ages 5 and under

This art collection is one of the top six in the United States and includes more than 100 galleries and the spectacular Detroit Industry fresco by Diego Rivera — plus Vincent van Gogh’s Self Portrait and much to explore in the General Motors Center for African American Art. The DIA is open late every Friday night with live music, and on Family Sundays you’ll find family performances, storytelling and art-making workshops.

Dossin Great Lakes Museum

  • Address: 100 Strand Drive, Belle Isle, Detroit
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday; otherwise, closed to public (appointments for group tours welcome) and major holidays. Check for summer hours.
  • Admission: Free; donations welcome; event prices may vary

This museum, located on the shores of Detroit’s historic Belle Isle, offers a variety of permanent and changing exhibits and attractions showcasing the industrial-rich and social history of the Great Lakes. Explore Detroit’s waterways in Built by the River, plus other exhibits like the Miss Pepsi 1950s championship hydroplane and William Clay Ford Pilot House.

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House

  • Address: 1100 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores
  • Hours: House tours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
  • Admission: $10/adults, $8/seniors, $5/kids ages 6-12, free/5 and under; includes guided house tour, access to grounds and outer buildings.

Guided tours of the Albert Kahn-designed house take about an hour. Then, guests may explore the grounds and outer buildings including the Powerhouse and Play House, Pool House (open seasonally). Situated on Lake St. Clair, the estate spans 87 acres of gardens and grounds.

Ford Piquette Plant 

  • Address: 461 Piquette Ave., Detroit
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, closed Monday-Wednesday and New Year’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve; Extended hours during the North American International Auto Show
  • Admission: $15/adults, $10/seniors, $5kids (5-17), free/4 and under

The museum was the spot that the first Ford Model T was built at. Guided tours leave at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. and private and group tours are available year-round by reservation.

Ford Rouge Factory Tour

  • Address: Departs from The Henry Ford, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
  • Hours: Open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday (last tour leaves at 3 p.m.)
  • Admission: $19/adults, $17.25/seniors, $14.25/kids (5-11), free/4 and under

See historic footage and vehicles, learn about how cars are made, peer out to observe the world’s largest living roof and watch Ford F-150s being assembled in a plant walking tour.

Greenfield Village

  • Address: 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
  • Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
  • Admission: $28/adults, $25.25/seniors 62-plus, $21/ages 3-11, free/2 and under

This working village is a living history lesson that recreates everyday activities in the 18th and 19th centuries. It’s divided into seven historic districts investigating railroads, working farms, Thomas Edison’s “idea factory,” home life, craftworks, Main Street America and a peek at the farmhouse where the Model T was born. Lots of demos in blacksmithing, typesetting, farming and even vintage 1860s baseball games.

Governor Warner Mansion and Museum

  • Address: 33805 Grand River Ave., Farmington
  • Hours: 1-5 p.m. Wednesdays and first Sundays, April-December (call for additional holiday hours); tours, conducted by docents, are given during hours of operation or by arrangement
  • Admission: Check website

Former home of Michigan Gov. Fred Warner, this Victorian Italianate structure is filled with historic artifacts, memorabilia from 1850 through 1920 and includes approximately three acres of surrounding gardens.

Greenmead Historical Park 

Your family can “come visit yesterday” at this historic site that includes the original farm complex — along with other significant historical structures that preserve the legacy to the area’s agricultural heritage. Throughout the year, holidays are celebrated with an old-fashioned flair.

Hellenic Museum of Michigan

  • Address: 67 E. Kirby St., Detroit
  • Hours: noon-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and by appointment other days
  • Admission: Free, donations appreciated

The Hellenic Museum of Michigan offers visitors a look inside the Greek immigrant community’s journey to Michigan. You can see this transformation through artifacts, oral histories, documents and photographs.

Henry Ford Museum

  • Address: 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
  • Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
  • Admission: $25/adults, $22.50/seniors, $18.75/ages 5-11, free/4 and under

One of Michigan’s jewels, this museum is a standout — from R. Buckminster Fuller’s sole surviving Dymaxion House prototype to the limousine President John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated in 1963 and a replica of the craft the Wright Brothers built. Features loads of demos and plenty of exhibits for the kids to interact with. Watch for cool traveling exhibits throughout the year.

Historic Fort Wayne

  • Address: 6325 W. Jefferson Ave., Detroit
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday May-October
  • Admission: Free; $5/person for guided 1.5 hour walking tour; $5/parking

Visitors can walk through the 83-acre fort that served the U.S. Army for more than 100 years. The reservation was used as an induction center for Michigan men and women serving in America’s military for every conflict of the late 19th and 20th centuries. Today, the Detroit Parks and Recreation Department and volunteers of the Historic Ford Wayne Coalition are working to restore the site and host occasional events here, mostly during the warmer months.

Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus

  • Address: 28123 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills
  • Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday-Thursday (last admission at 4 p.m.), 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday (last admission at 2 p.m.); closed Saturday, Jewish holidays and most legal holidays
  • Admission: $8/adults, $6/seniors and college students with ID, $5/middle and high school students

America’s first freestanding Holocaust memorial center is dedicated to preserving the memory of the 6 million individuals lost in the Holocaust. A timeline tracks the history of the Jewish people against major events in world history. Recommended for ages 12-plus.

Kelsey Museum of Archeology

  • Address: 434 S. State St., Ann Arbor
  • Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; closed Monday and university holidays
  • Admission: Free; donations welcome

This family-friendly museum houses a famed collection of 100,000-plus artifacts from ancient Mediterranean and Near East civilizations. Watch for rotating exhibitions, as well as kids’ activities and programming.

Kempf House Museum

  • Address: 312 S. Division St., Ann Arbor
  • Hours: 1-4 p.m. Sundays, September-December and April-May; group tours by special arrangement
  • Admission: Free; donations welcome

Tour this 1853 Greek revival home to see how the musical German-American Kempf family lived and worked in the 1890s. Take a tour of the restored rooms, including the music studio where the 1877 Steinway concert grand piano remains as it has for over 100 years.

Lorenzo Cultural Center

  • Address: Macomb Community College campus, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Closed Sunday-Tuesday
  • Admission: Free; fees may vary/programs

This Macomb County center provides interactive programs that explore the influences and experiences that shape community heritage, along with educational and entertaining events. The schedule usually features kids’ activities to complement the main exhibit. Check ahead for the latest.

Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum

  • Address: 31005 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
  • Admission: Free; coins needed to operate some machines (money changer on site)

No hands-off policy at this menagerie of memorabilia. Marvin’s been collecting vintage coin-operated machines since 1960, and kids can dabble with the games and goodies at this abracadabra-meets-animatronics oddity.

Meadow Brook Hall 

  • Address: Oakland University, 350 Estate Dr., Rochester
  • Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Monday
  • Admission: Guided house tour: $7-$15, Guided behind the scenes tour: $7-$15, Self-guided touring: $5-$10, Holiday walk: $5-$20, Winter wonderland lights: $12-$22

This Tudor revival style mansion was donated to Oakland University by the heiress to the Dodge automaker fortune, Matilda Dodge Wilson. Check out the holiday events and tours, as well.

Michigan Firehouse Museum

  • Address: 110 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti
  • Hours: Noon-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday
  • Admission: $10/ages 12 and up, $5/ages 5-11, free/4 and under

Each year, 10,000 people visit this museum that’s near a historic firehouse built in 1898. Check out its impressive display of fire vehicle sirens, lights and hand-pulled ladders from 1910.

Michigan Transit Museum

  • Address: 200 Grand Ave., Mount Clemens
  • Hours: Museum: noon-4 p.m. every Sunday year-round; train: June-October and December, times vary.
  • Admission: Museum: free, donations welcome; trains: $7/adults, $4/ages 4-12, free/3 and under

Plan a short train ride when you visit this museum. Opened in 1973, it takes you through the history of mass transportation using historical equipment and artifacts. The Holiday Express typically returns in December.

Mill Race Historical Village

  • Address: 215 Griswold Ave., Northville
  • Hours: Buildings: 1-4 p.m. Sundays; grounds: dawn-dusk daily; call office to schedule tours during the week
  • Admission: Free; event prices may vary

These 19th-century Victorian buildings, set on 12.5 acres, preserve the architectural styles popular in the area. Visitors can get an up-close look at an inn, blacksmith shop, school church, gazebo, wooden bridge and interurban station giving them a taste of a time gone by.

Model T. Automotive Heritage Complex, Inc.

  • Address: 461 Piquette St., Detroit
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday; private tours and events held year-round by appointment
  • Admission: $15/adults, $10/seniors and students with ID, $5/ages 5-17, free/children 4 and under

Check out antique Model T cars in the plant they were originally made in and see an award-winning video about 1904-10 Detroit life in this restored historic place.

Motown Historical Museum

Trace the roots of Motown’s story that began at Hitsville U.S.A. and created a sound that influenced generations of music lovers throughout the world. The exhibits include historical photographs, artwork, music, costumes and other memorabilia from this musical era that included the Temptations and Diana Ross and The Supremes. Closed until Spring 2022.

Pine Grove Historical Museum

  • Address: 405 Cesar Chavez Ave., Pontiac
  • Hours: Office: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; call ahead to book group tours
  • Admission: $5/adults, $3/ages 12 and under

Gov. Moses Wisner’s former estate is now 4 1/2 acres of history prime for your family to explore. Check out a one-room schoolhouse, pioneer museum, smokehouse, root cellar and more. Events pop up throughout the year.

Plymouth Historical Museum

  • Address: 155 S. Main St., Plymouth
  • Hours: 1-4 p.m. Wednesday and Friday-Sunday; closed Monday-Tuesday, Thursday, major holidays and in between exhibits
  • Admission: $7/adults, $3/ages 6-17, free/under 6

Check out the impressive Lincoln exhibit that includes artifacts from Honest Abe’s youth, rare family photographs, handwritten legal documents and law books. There’s also a timeline of Plymouth history tracing the city’s history and a great walk-through 19th-century Victorian recreation of Main Street. Temporary exhibits frequently appear, as well.

Pewabic

  • Address: 10125 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-4 p.m. Sunday
  • Admission: Free; fees vary/group tours, hands-on workshops

Founded in 1903, this historic pottery studio played a significant role in Detroit’s artistic history, with Pewabic architectural tiles still found on many historical structures and buildings throughout the city today. The museum’s exhibits focus on the company’s role in the city’s history, as well as showcasing new works by modern ceramic artists.

Rentschler Farm Museum

  • Address: 1265 E. Michigan Ave., Saline
  • Hours: Tours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and by appointment, closed during winter months
  • Admission: Free/Saturday admission is for individuals and families; fees/groups and special reservations

This family farm museum is now a stop on the National Passport Stamp Program! See for yourself why the 1906 farmhouse and surrounding grounds are Washtenaw County jewels. Check out the barns here, too, for a taste of American farm life in the earlier 20th century.

Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm

  • Address: 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills
  • Hours: Noon-3 p.m. Friday-Saturday, closed January-February; other times by appointment
  • Admission: $5/adults, $3/students in K-12 and seniors, fees vary/events

Pioneer Family – On Van Hoosen Farm delves into the area’s history in a 1927 dairy barn, complete with a model train traveling a small replica of downtown Rochester. There are plenty of archival photographs and, during normal open hours, visitors can take a guided tour through the 1940 Van Hoosen Farmhouse.

Saline Depot Museum

  • Address: 402 N. Ann Arbor St., Saline
  • Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday year-round or by appointment
  • Admission: Free/Saturday for individuals and families, fees/groups, special reservations.

Without its railroad depot, Saline may not have prospered as a town. In its heyday, the complex included more structures, but today visitors can see the station agent’s room, freight room, furnished caboose and livery barn along with a restored Eclipse Windmill.

The Heritage & History Center

At home in the Palmer Sherman house, this cozy history nook features themed displays, archives and more that preserve the stories of Farmington and Farmington Hills.

The Scarab Club

  • Address: 217 Farnsworth St., Detroit
  • Hours: Noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; closed on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day
  • Admission: Call for pricing

The club has been a part of the Detroit arts community for over 100 years. There’s events, workshops, exhibits and historical elements all throughout. Masks are encouraged, but not mandatory.

Troy Museum & Historic Village

  • Address: 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, check for summer hours
  • Admission: $7/adults, $5/ages 6-12 and seniors, free/under 6; fees vary/special programs

The charming village green is open all year round! Beyond the 10 historic buildings with 19th and 20th century originals, be sure to explore some hands-on activities at the Town Hall.

Ukrainian American Archives and Museum of Detroit

  • Address: 9630 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, by appointment only on Saturday
  • Admission: check online for membership prices

The heritage of Ukrainian Americans is preserved through the arts, crafts, musical instruments, photos and textiles at this cultural center, which also houses 20,000 books. Look for special exhibits during the holidays.

University of Michigan Museum of Art

  • Address: 525 S. State St., Ann Arbor
  • Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; closed Monday and holidays
  • Admission: Free; $10/suggested donation appreciated

More than 18,000 works of art are on display in this 150-year collection that spans cultures, media and eras. Look for the works of James McNeill Whistler, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet and Joshua Reynolds when you’re here. Popular kids’ story times are known to pop up, too! Masks are required.

University of Michigan Museum of Natural History

  • Address: Biological Sciences Building, 1105 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily; closed holidays
  • Admission: Free; $6/suggested donation, $8/planetarium

This dynamic museum provides a window into the most recent natural sciences research being conducted at the University of Michigan. It offers a variety of unique activities for adults, families and children, plus exhibits including displays on prehistoric life with the most extensive dinosaur exhibits in the state of Michigan, wildlife, anthropology, geology and a digital planetarium. Masks are required.

Witch’s Hat Depot Museum and Historic Village

  • Address: 300 Dorothy St., South Lyon
  • Hours: 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; varies for special events; tours by arrangement
  • Admission: Free

This historic village is nestled in McHattie Park, featuring six buildings of turn-of-the-century vintage. Explore a decked-out 1926 caboose, 1930s-era chapel and one-room Washburn School, circa 1907.

Wolcott Mill Metropark Historic Center

Interested in visiting one of the few historic grist and feed mills remaining today? Take a look at this 1840s mill, along with the relics over at the barn museum including a restored Model T dump truck, before you explore the adjoining working farm and hiking trail through a beautiful wooded area at this spot that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic mill is temporarily closed.

Yankee Air Museum

  • Address: Willow Run Airport, 47884 D St., Belleville
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday; closed holidays
  • Admission: $12/adults; $8/seniors, children under 18, students with ID and military with ID; free/ages 2 and under

See historic planes that have flown around the world up-close and in action at the Yankee Air Museum, including restored B-17, C-47 and B-25 aircraft – rotating exhibits too. Even book your own ride on one (scheduling, fees apply).

Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum

  • Address: 100 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti
  • Hours: 1-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, closed Monday, holidays
  • Admission: $5/adults, free/ages 12 and under with adult

This collection boasts 30 vintage automobiles, including a 1933 Hudson Terraplane, a 1952 Hudson Hornet and a 1954 Hudson Jetliner Convertible. See other classic car-related artifacts like a Huffy Corvair bike, too. Temporarily closed.

This post was originally published in 2014 and is updated regularly.


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