Encompassing the city of Detroit and its surrounding suburbs, the Detroit Metropolitan Area sprawls around the meeting point of Lake Erie and Lake St Clair. It’s renowned for its automotive heritage as the home of General Motors, Chrysler and Ford and is an important cultural, artistic and sporting hub for the state of Michigan.
Things to do in Detroit Metropolitan Area
In the suburb of Dearborn is The Henry Ford, an indoor-outdoor “Museum of American Innovation” listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Named after the automobile industrialist, it exhibits the Lincoln Continental in which John F. Kennedy was assassinated and a camp bed used by George Washington, as well as the recreated bicycle shop of the Wright Brothers.
Boasting more than 100 galleries, the Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the largest art museums in the United States, with everything from ancient Egyptian artefacts to contemporary paintings on display. It houses an outstanding array of American sculptures, furniture and decorative arts, as well as the armour collection of William Randolph Hearst. Don’t miss the “Detroit Industry” frescoes by Diego River.
Sprawling across 20 square kilometres of coastal wetlands and marshes is the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, which is North America’s only wildlife preserve located within a major metropolitan area. It was originally established in 1961 to counter the effects that pollution was having on migratory bird species. Today, it’s a popular destination for spotting peregrine falcons, bald eagles and ospreys.
Getting around Detroit Metropolitan Area
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is the main aviation gateway to the Detroit Metropolitan Area and has flights to destinations across North America and Europe. Long-distance trains connect to the Detroit Amtrak Station while buses, the QLine streetcar and the People Mover elevated railway are available for getting around.