Music and Motor Cars

Detroit’s [1] most well-known nicknames — Motown and the Motor City — underscore its rich musical and automotive heritage, which stretches back to the early decades of the 20th century. Visitors will find an array of museums, historic sites, concert venues, nightclubs, and annual festivals that celebrate the city’s contributions to American music and industry. Here are a few of southeastern Michigan’s best offerings:

Museums and Historic Homes

In the Detroit area, tour the region’s vintage car collections, musical heritage exhibits, and former auto baron homes. Begin in downtown Detroit, where the GM Renaissance Center [2] presents the GMnext Showroom, a 44,000-square-foot display of vintage vehicles, concept cars, and new models.

Afterward, head to the Cultural Center and view an authentic auto assembly line at the Detroit Historical Museum [3]. At the nearby Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (www.maah-detroit.org [4]), music lovers learn about performers such as John Lee Hooker and Aretha Franklin. Just a bit north, the Motown Historical Museum [5] is a small repository of costumes, records, photographs, and other memorabilia that celebrate the likes of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and The Temptations, artists who helped make “Hitsville U.S.A.” a household term.

For a unique treat, head west to Dearborn [6] to The Henry Ford [7], a museum complex that explores American history and industry, including Ford’s childhood home, a collection of presidential limousines, Greenfield Village, and a walk through a Ford truck assembly line. History buffs may also enjoy touring Fair Lane [8], Henry Ford’s former Dearborn estate, and the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House [8], a Cotswold-style mansion in Grosse Pointe Shores.

Detroit’s Musical Nightlife

For decades, Detroit [1] has been a favored city among musicians as varied as Smokey Robinson, Bob Seger, and Eminem. Following a day of museum-hopping, venture into the Theater District [9], where the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts [10] has, for eight decades, hosted legendary musical acts. Later, head over to one of Detroit’s legendary nightclubs; two winners are Baker’s Keyboard Lounge [11] and Flood’s Bar & Grille [11], both of which offer live jazz music and delicious soul food.

Yearly Celebrations

In January, auto lovers can attend the North American International Auto Show [12], which promises a first look at the latest innovative vehicle designs from manufacturers around the world. Two other car-related celebrations include the Woodward Dream Cruise [13], a mid-August event featuring thousands of vintage cars in nine Detroit suburbs, and the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix [12], a challenging Indy car race that occurs every Labor Day weekend. Also that weekend, the Detroit International Jazz Festival [12] presents nearly 100 open-air jazz concerts alongside the Detroit River.