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Detroit, Michigan

Detroit MI Cruises

the “Motor City”

Detroit has long been known as the “Motor City” because of its historical recognition as the city where mass production of automotive vehicles began. All three of the US’ big car manufacturers — General Motors, Ford and Chrysler — call Detroit home. As time went on, things began to change and large companies began to look elsewhere for production and business.

Now, the city is transformed thanks to a mass of young entrepreneurs and artists determined to turn the abandoned buildings into cafes, museums and other exciting ventures. There are a large number of art galleries, museums and parks for you to visit and when you are done you can sip on a local favorite of Vernors Ginger Ale and catch the view of Canada to the south from the beautiful Detroit River. The city is a treat to visit by Great Lakes cruise, since you’ll gain access to exclusive tours of the city’s history and new districts.

Detroit (Michigan) is a Port of Call

Detroit (Michigan) is a Port of Call for the following Great Lakes Cruises:

Victory Cruise Lines

Ponant Explorer Cruises 

Viking Expedition Cruises (2022)  

Things to do in Detroit, Michigan

The Detroit Zoo

​The Detroit Zoo has an impressive variety of animals in multiple habitats that represent many parts of the world. In the forest and grassland habitats you will find African animals from aardvarks to zebras along with many other favorites such as the giraffe, lemurs, lions and several primates.  In the exotic Asian Forest habitat you will find red panda and Amur tigers and the arctic habitat is home to the zoo’s famous polar bears. The Australian Outback habitat has sixteen resident kangaroos and two wallabies,  while the North American habitats the continent’s most interesting animals, including bears, wolverines, and bald eagles. The zoo also features a reptile and amphibian center, an aviary, and a fine art collection. You can also view all the park has to offer aboard a miniature Tauber Family Railroad that has been operating since 1931.

Address: 8450 W 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, Michigan
Website: www.detroitzoo.org

The Henry Ford Museum Of American Innovation

The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation tells the story of inventors and forward-thinkers who helped shape the world we live in today, from the Wright brothers’ dream of flying to Rosa Parks’ conviction to see change in her lifetime. Visitors can take a step back in time and see what life looked like in the 19th century including a restaurant that serves fare that was typical in the 1830s, working farms along with a train depot where you can catch a ride on a steam-powered locomotive, and rides in a Model T.  Points of interest include working farms, the train depot where you can catch a ride on a steam-powered locomotive, and ride in a Model T. Explore the legends life and work of the Ford Rouge Factory and witness the inner workings of an automobile factory.  Learn about the entire scope of American innovation and the technology and concepts  that go into today’s modern vehicles.

Address: 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, Michigan
Website: www.thehenryford.org

VC – Henry Ford Museum, Detroit Institute of Arts , Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, West Canfield Historic District

Get to know Detroit, Michigan

  • Detroit is the home to the American automotive industry. Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors all have their headquarters located in Detroit.​
  • In 1920 during Prohibition, it’s estimated that 75 percent of the illegal liquor shipments were smuggled in through the city’s Detroit River.  Detroit became a popular hub for importing bootleg liquor into the country from Canada.
  • Detroit was the first city in the United States to pave a concrete road.  In 1909, the Wayne County Commission completed the first mile of concert road located at Woodward Avenue between 6 Mile and 7 Mile roads. This initial section set the precedent for modern transportation routes as we know them today.
  • Detroit installed the world’s very first four-way traffic light in 1920 after its invention by a local police officer by the name of William Potts.
  • Individual phone numbers were first assigned to Detroit residents In 1879.
  • Detroit residents were the first telephone customers in America to be assigned individual phone numbers.
  • Detroit is home to the only floating post office in the United States. The J.W. Westcott II has been a fully-operational U.S. Post Office since 1948.  It even has its own zip code: 48222.
  • The 72-floor Marriott at the Renaissance Center in Detroit is the tallest hotel in North America. When it opened in 1977, it was the tallest in the world.
  • You can bowl Detroiters over. The city has the most registered bowlers anywhere in the United States.