Explore Detroit's History!
Tour Season has begun!
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"I have been member of the Chicago Architecture Foundation and done bunches of their tours and this one was every bit as good or better."
"Totally LOVED the Annual Preservation Detroit Walking Theater Tour. My husband and I have not stopped talking about how organized and friendly everyone was and so much to see! We can't wait for another tour... Thank you so much!"
"Great group of people who are passionate about saving Detroit's history!"
Curious what all the fuss is about? Take a tour with us!
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Departs from Campus Martius. Our award-winning walking tour of downtown Detroit! Explore the plan for the city from the ground up. Way up! Historic high-rises, towering monuments, grand boulevards, parks and plazas are all part of this groundbreaking tour. Spanning over 300 years of Detroit history, see Detroit gems from streetscape to skyline.
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Midtown - 1st & 3rd Saturdays
Departs from Avalon Bakery. Set on Detroit’s original ribbon farms, this dynamic neighborhood became an upscale living enclave for Detroit’s movers and shakers! See some of the city’s most cherished historic homes and avant-garde businesses. Transformed from “Piety Hill” to “Skid Row” to today’s vibrant urban neighborhood, Midtown is full of distinctly Detroit stories.
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Cultural Center - 2nd & 4th Saturdays
Departs from Detroit Public Library, Woodward entrance. The vision for Detroit’s Cultural Center began more than 100 years ago and has continued to evolve through decades. Uncover the stories behind Detroit’s great cultural institutions, like the magnificent murals and sculpture of the Detroit Public Library, as well as the magnificent homes of Ferry Street.
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Departs from the Eastern Market Welcome Center on Adelaide. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of America’s oldest and largest outdoor farmers market. From woodlands to cemeteries, railroads, prisons, breweries, rum-running, and crime, find out what makes Eastern Market so fascinating and hear exciting plans for its future.
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Ticket Prices for regular season tours:
$12 Members, seniors, students: advance purchase online only
$15 Non-Members: advance purchase and day of (cash only)
The small print: All tours take place rain or shine, and are about 2 to 2.5 hours long. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the tour. Advance ticket purchases are available through the afternoon the Friday before the tour. If there is a date missing from the tour page, the tour for that location/date is sold out. Tickets may be refunded up to 7 days prior to the date of a tour; after that, tickets are not refundable.
For any and all tours we offer, we request that groups of more than 6 purchase advance tickets. Groups of 15-20 are able to receive a group discount for Saturday 10am tours. We do offer private tours for groups of any size on any day of the week. For info on booking private tours, please email Mickey Lyons atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Preservation in Progress: The Schvitz
Preservation in Progress Tours with Preservation Detroit grant you one-of-a-kind, in-depth access to buildings not often open to the public. The next scheduled Preservation in Progress tour will be at The Schvitz. Opened in 1930, it is Detroit's oldest surviving bath house. For many years the meeting place and relaxation spot for the city's Russian and Polish Jewish population, the Schvitz holds memories of storied deals and business meetings within its walls. After having fallen into some disrepair, the Schvitz was recently reopened under new management. Its current owners are working hard to bring the grand old spa back to its former glory, with extensive work on the hot and cold pools as well as the beautiful tile surrounds and the private club rooms. More info and ticketshere.
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Ferry Street today is known for its beautiful historic homes: the Hecker Mansion, the Charles Lang Freer House, and the houses that make up the Inn on Ferry Street. The street originated with the Ferry Seed Company farm established in the mid-1850’s at the corner of East Ferry and Woodward to grow the seeds that were sold nationwide. Then came the prosperous residences in the mid-1880’s and the Merrill Palmer Institute in the 1920s. Learn more about the people and institutions who made Ferry Street one of Detroit’s most historic neighborhoods. More information about ticket sales will be available later in the season.
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Detroit Bikes! Tours on Two Wheels
Preservation Detroit has teamed up with Detroit Bikes! (the group, not the company) to offer bike tours in Detroit. Rides are about once a month, range from 14 to 24 miles and can last 2-3 hours at a leisurely pace to accommodate riders of all levels. The rides are open to everyone. Attendees do not need to RSVP or pre-register. Free for members of Preservation Detroit or a $5 suggested donation. Rides are on a weekend morning and generally leave from the Mackenzie House, located at 4735 Cass Avenue. For more details and a schedule of rides, click here.
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Walking tours Saturdays in October & November: A different cemetery every week! Visit Mt. Elliott, Woodmere, Woodlawn, Elmwood, or all four. Learn the history and stories behind the famous (and infamous) buried within Detroit’s cemeteries. Marvel at the historic architecture of the mausoleums and headstones. More info available late summer.
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Interested in booking a private group tour? Please contact us at least one month in advance to talk about discovering Detroit on a walking tour or with a step on guide.
Pricing is based on the size of the of the group and the scope of the tour (i.e. if groups want an existing tour or a more customized experience). For info on booking a private tour, please contact our office at 313.577.3559 or email Mickey Lyons atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tour Gift Certificates also available!
Do you know somebody who has everything? Give them the gift of an unforgettable experience. Share our city with friends and family with a tour gift certificate! These can be used for our regularSaturday morning tours or can be used towards the purchase of tickets to other special events and tours. Purchase them here and make someone's day!
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