Welcome to Detroit's main drag: Woodward Avenue. Follow the Detroit River, an American Heritage River, as you travel the past and present of automotive genius. Learn some little known history. Saunter through gorgeous gardens bursting with flora and relish the scene of Detroit during a festival.
At the southern end of the byway lay some of the biggest names in automobile production: Chrysler Corporation, General Motors Building, and Packard Motor Car Company. These companies started here in Detroit. Spend some time learning how they first started. Round out your tour of automotive history with a stop at the Henry and Clara Ford House. The house is not only significant because of the people who lived there, it is also famous for its architecture and formal garden. It has architectural significance as the work of the prominent Detroit architectural firm of Malcomson, Higginbotham and Clement. Clara Ford’s elaborate gardens, designed by T. Glenn Phillips, are beautiful and artistic.
Not just a great place for car enthusiasts, Woodward Avenue offers a look into the past with many historic stops. Visit the Charles Wright Museum of African American History. Walk through the museum's comprehensive main exhibition, "Of the People: The African American Experience," which covers over 600 years of African and African American History. Swing by the other two changing exhibitions, enjoy programs in the theater, lunch at the café, and shopping in the museum store.
Relax and take a few moments of quiet time at an art museum or gardens. The Cranbrook Art Museum is attached to the Cranbrook Academy of Art, which is the only institution in America devoted solely to graduate education in the fine arts, design, and architecture. Wander through exhibits of fine contemporary art featuring the work of local, national, and international artists. The Cranbrook gardens, which are on the same grounds as the museum, cover over 40 acres and feature wonderful exhibits of plants and flowers. Explore the grounds yourself, or call ahead for a guided tour.
Stop by the byway during the summer to join in the Woodward Dream Cruise. If you own a classic automobile or just like to look at them, the Cruise-in will seem like heaven. The festivities take up the whole byway as the communities along the route come together to celebrate cars, music and memories of cruisin' Woodward.
Detroit is equated with automobile history, the residents are proud of their past and celebrate it with gusto. But remember that that's not all the area is famous for. The Woodward Road area is teeming with places to go and things to see. Don't miss the museums, the gardens, or the festivals, because what you experience here at Woodward Avenue will stay with you forever.
Migratory and Aquatic Birding on the Woodward Avenue