Is your kid interested in science? How about history? Art? Then there’s a metro Detroit and Ann Arbor museum for them!
Southeast Michigan is packed with educational hubs that explore all kinds of things — and many offer traveling exhibitions throughout the year to keep kids coming back.
Here, you’ll find a list of exhibits coming to our area in the upcoming weeks. From a larger-than-life dinosaurs experience to an immersive experience featuring Disney music, there’s something for everyone at our southeast Michigan museums.
Take a look at the list for something that aligns with your child’s interests and enjoy your outing!
Don’t see an exhibit your kid will love? Check out our online calendar for even more exhibits and fun events!
Immersive Van Gogh
Aug. 18-Oct. 1, 2023 (Wednesdays-Sundays)
- Address: Lighthouse ArtSpace Detroit, 311 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit
- Cost: $26.99-plus
This immersive experience offers a look into the mind of the world’s most iconic impressionist artist, Vincent Van Gogh. The fully immersive exhibition allows visitors to transport into Van Gogh’s most famous masterpieces.
“Level Up”
Through Aug. 20, 2023
- Address: Michigan Science Center, 5020 John R St., Detroit
- Cost: Free w/museum admission: $18/adult, $14/ages 2-15, free/under 2
Check out this 8,000 square-foot interactive installation that demonstrates the acquired skills behind video and analog games.
BRICKLIVE
Through Sept. 4, 2023
- Address: Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. Ten Mile Road, Royal Oak
- Cost: $5/person. A general admission ticket or zoo membership is required for all guests ages 3 and older
Come out to the Detroit Zoo to see more than 70 life-sized Lego animals that will be on display as part of the zoo’s latest installation, BRICKLIVE.
Disney Animation: Immersive Experience
Through Sept. 9, 2023
- Address: Lighthouse ArtSpace Detroit, 311 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit
- Cost: $27.99-plus
Sing along and experience your favorite Disney songs and movies in an all-new immersive experience.
Julia Child: A Recipe for Life
Through Sept. 10, 2023
- Address: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
- Cost: Free w/museum admission and for members
In this exhibit, you’ll experience sounds and smells from Julia’s kitchen, videos, audio, photography, interactive The French Chef TV set and more.
Trilobite Treasures: Arthropods of the Ancient Seas
Through Sept. 10, 2023 (Wednesdays-Sundays)
- Address: Cranbrook Institute of Science, 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills
- Cost: $3/ages 13-plus, $2/standard members, $1/ages 2-12 and ages 65-plus, free/enhanced members and under 2 years old (not including museum admission)
This family-friendly exhibit takes a journey through the prehistoric life of the ancient seas when arthropods were plentiful.
Sonya Clark: We Are Each Other
Through Sept. 24, 2023 (Wednesdays-Sundays)
- Address: Cranbrook Art Museum, 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills
- Cost: $10/non-members general admission, $8/non-member seniors 65-plus, $6/students with ID, free/ages 12 and under and members
Clark often undertakes this exploration through everyday fiber materials—hair, flags, found fabric—and craft practices to show issues on race, history and reconciliation.
The FRIENDS Experience
Through Sept. 24, 2023 (Wednesdays-Sundays)
- Address: Great Lakes Crossing, 4000 Baldwin Road, Auburn Hills
- Cost: $33-plus/visitors 11 and older, $27-plus/children 4-10, free/children 3 and under
The FRIENDS Experience includes set recreations and photo ops, including Joey and Chandler’s apartment, Monica and Rachel’s kitchen and Central Perk. Props, costumes and “Friends” memorabilia that will excite even die-hard fans will be on display. Take a guided tour and purchase items in the gift shop (which is open to the public).
Mandela: The Official Exhibition
Oct. 21, 2023-Jan. 15, 2024
- Address: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
- Cost: Free w/museum admission and for members
Mandela: The Official Exhibition takes guests on a journey through the life of the world’s most iconic freedom fighter and political leader, Nelson Mandela. This immersive and interactive experience features previously unseen film, photos and historical artifacts and personal effects on loan to the museum.
Miniature Moments: A Journey Through Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments
Through Nov. 20, 2023
- Address: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
- Cost: Free w/museum admission and for members
See the museum’s extensive collection of nearly 7,000 Hallmark ornaments made between 1973 and 2009. This is a permanent exhibit.
Rosa Parks Bus
Through Dec. 31, 2023
- Address: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
- Cost: Free w/museum admission and for members
Visit the “With Liberty and Justice for All” area to see the bus where Rosa Parks took a stand for the Civil Rights Movement by refusing to give her seat up to a white man.
UN/EARTH
Through March 1, 2024
- Address: University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, 1105 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor
- Cost: Free
UN/EARTH explores science and art from a mile underground and features work by Gina Gibson.
Real Bodies: The Exhibition
Through Jan. 14, 2024 (Tuesdays-Sundays)
- Address: Sloan Museum of Discovery, 1221 E. Kearsley St., Flint
- Cost: $8-$21/ages 12-59, $7-$17/ages 60-plus, $6-$14/ages 2-11, free/under 2
This exhibition explores life by displaying real, perfectly preserved human bodies and more than 200 anatomical specimens.
Lillian Schwartz: Whirlwind of Creativity
Through March 1, 2024
- Address: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
- Cost: Free w/museum admission and for members
See the works of multimedia artist, Lillian Schwartz at this career-retrospective exhibition. It features over 100 artifacts and explores three core themes including, “Moving Forward,” “Making Art in a Science Lab” and “The Limits and Possibilities of Machines.
This post is updated regularly.
