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Cultural Center
Overview
 There is no better place than here to explore Detroit's intellectual and artistic influences. Development of the Cultural Center dates back to 1913 as part of the City Beautiful movement
which advocated the clustering of important public buildings. Three buildings make up the core of the Cultural Center -- the Detroit Public Library, the Detroit Institute
of Arts, and the Horace H. Rackham Education Memorial Building. Since the establishment
of these architectural monuments, the Cultural Center has expanded to include a number of other museums,
galleries, theatres, and attractions, most within walking distance of one
another. In addition, the area is home
to two highly regarded educational institutions, Wayne State University and the College for Creative Studies. The Cultural Center's location two miles north of downtown along Woodward Avenue makes it a
convenient, must-see destination for visitors.
Your best bet is to park
your car and visit each attraction on foot.
Parking is available at the public garage located at 41 Farnsworth
(enter the facility between Woodward and John R). Free on-street parking and metered on-street
parking are also available.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
315 East Warren, Detroit
Website
 Dr. Charles Wright, a Detroit obstetrician and gynecologist, established
the City's first International Afro-American Musuem in 1965. Three decades and three addresses later, a
new Museum of African American History was opened in the heart of the Cultural Center.
The 120,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility is considered one
of the largest Africal-American history museums in the world. The buidling house a core exhibition called
And Still We Rise which takes visitors on a journey through 3.5 million years
of courage, deterimination, ingenuity, and spriitual energy of African
Americans as they pursued emancipation and full rights of citizenship. In addition to And Still We Rise, the
museum showcases a number of other interesting, limited-run exhibitions.
Detroit Historical Museum
5401 Woodward Avenue, Detroit
Website
 Your exploration into Detroit's and southeastern Michigan's rich history begins at the Detroit Historical Museum. The museum
traces the region through over 300 years of history through a number of
creative displays. Of particular
interest is the 8,000 square foot Motor City exhibition focused on Automotive Heritage and
featuring an actual working auto body drop from the General Motors Clark Avenue facility.
Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit
Website
 The DIA has been a hallmark of Detroit culture since its founding in 1885. The museum covers over 600,000 square feet
and houses one of the largest and most diverse collections of multicultural
art in the United
States,
including the priceless Vincent van Gogh Self Portrait and the masterpiece
sculpture Nail Figure from Zaire. To top it
off, visitors are treated to Mexican artist Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry
fresco cycle, considered Rivera's most important work in the U.S. Rivera
painted 27 fresco panels, many of them modeled after the Ford Rouge Plant, on the walls
of the large garden court inside the DIA.
Detroit Public Library
5201 Woodward Avenue, Detroit
Website
 The Detroit
Public Library is the largest library system in the State of Michigan. The Main
Library and its 23 neighborhood branches make it one of the most valuable and
accessible public institutions in Metropolitan Detroit. The Public Library had been located in two other
places before it moved into its current home in 1921. Its architect was Cass Gilbert, noted for
the Minnesota State Capitol and the Woolworth Building, who wanted his building
to "create an environment of scholarship and refinement." Gilbert designed the library in Italian
Renaissance style, facing its exterior with white marble and having interior
spaces decorated with murals, tiles and mosaics. In 1963 the library gained extra space with
an austere rear addition.
Detroit Science Center
5020 John R, Detroit
Website
 In the early 1970s, Detroit banker and philanthropist Dexter Ferry believed Detroit's youth lacked the same learning opportunities
available in other major cities and led efforts to establish a major science
center in the City. Construction on the
original science center began in 1976 and a major renovation and expansion
was completed in 2001. Today's Detroit Science Center encompasses over 110,000 square feet and offers Michigan's only IMAX Dome Theatre, a state-of-the-art digital
planetarium, and multiple exhibit laboratories and learning
environments. The Detroit Science Center is the perfect family venue that both educates and
entertains.
 Wayne State University
Vicinity of Cass Avenue and Putnam Street, Detroit
Website
Wayne
State University is Michigan's only urban research
university, with 11 schools and colleges offering more than 350 major subject
areas to 33,000 graduate and undergraduate students. The Wayne State campus encompasses 203
acres of beautifully landscaped walkways and gathering spots, linking 100
education and research buildings. Of particular note is the university's
Department of Theatre which stakes claim to Detroit's oldest noncommercial theatre and operates three
performance venues in the Cultural Center area. Each
year the Bonstelle, Hillberry, and Studio Theatres play to the second largest
audience in Michigan, behind only that of the Fisher
Theatre.
More Information
For information on
additional attractions located in or around the Cultural Center, click on the links below:
College for Creative Studies
Detroit Children's Museum
Scarab Club
Great
Estates (see The Whitney)
Detroit
Theatres
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