The Detroit Historical Museum tells the story of the city from its 1701 French founding through the auto boom, the music, the riots, the bankruptcy, and the comeback. Highlights include the Streets of Old Detroit — three full-scale recreated cobblestone streets representing the city in 1840, 1870, and 1900 — and the Allesee Gallery of Culture, with Motown costumes and Funk Brothers instruments. The Automotive Showplace has a working assembly line model and one of the original Ford "Quadricycle" replicas.
Admission is free, which makes it an easy companion to the Detroit Institute of Arts directly across Woodward Avenue. Closed Mondays.