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Detroit's Hidden History: Uncover Its Soul
4.8
15 Ratings
Detroit
Discover Detroit’s hidden history on a guided walking tour. Uncover untold stories of innovation, resilience, and hope. Book your journey today.
Discover Detroit’s hidden history on a guided walking tour. Uncover untold stories of innovation, resilience, and hope. Book your journey today.
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Grand Circus Park - The tour kicks off at Grand Circus Park, located in the heart of Downtown Detroit. Participants will be introduced to the tour and acquainted with one of Detroit’s most remarkable bearded statues. Additionally, there will be a discussion about potatoes.
- Michigan Theater Building - When a determined innovator first rolled…
- Grand Circus Park - The tour kicks off at Grand Circus Park, located in the heart of Downtown Detroit. Participants will be introduced to the tour and acquainted with one of Detroit’s most remarkable bearded statues. Additionally, there will be a discussion about potatoes.
- Michigan Theater Building - When a determined innovator first rolled his horseless carriage out of a Detroit garage, he couldn’t have predicted the revolution he would spark. Henry Ford earned Detroit the title of Motor City—but did his legacy also plant the seeds of its decline?
- Capitol Park - Upon arriving in Detroit, Thornton Blackburn and his wife likely thought their troubles were over. However, they were unaware that a slave hunter was in pursuit, and the ensuing fight for freedom would push a city already on the brink into chaos.
- Campus Martius Park - Augustus Brevoort Woodward was far from ordinary – naming himself after a Roman Emperor was just one example – but he envisioned transforming Detroit into the world’s greatest city. Unfortunately, the most influential men in Michigan had different plans.
- The Spirit of Detroit - When Detroit’s own Joe Louis faced the undefeated German Max Schmeling in their second legendary match, Americans—both Black and White—saw more than just a boxing match: it was a battle of freedom against fascism. Few know what happened after the final bell, when a rivalry evolved into one of sports history’s most surprising and lasting friendships.
What's Included
- Stories to fascinate and delight
- A knowledgeable local guide
- Well researched history
- Stories to fascinate and delight
- A knowledgeable local guide
- Well researched history
What's Not Included
- Gratuity for the guide
- Gratuity for the guide
Additional Information
Eager to explore beyond the pages of history and discover Detroit’s hidden past? Embark on a 90-minute tour led by a historian and delve into the Motor City’s most captivating stories—tales that forged a legend, shared as you wander through North America’s most breathtaking architectural marvels.
- Enjoy an intimate small-group setting with ample…
Eager to explore beyond the pages of history and discover Detroit’s hidden past? Embark on a 90-minute tour led by a historian and delve into the Motor City’s most captivating stories—tales that forged a legend, shared as you wander through North America’s most breathtaking architectural marvels.
- Enjoy an intimate small-group setting with ample opportunity for questions
- Ideal for history enthusiasts and newcomers alike
- Walking tour offers a personal connection to the city
- Experience 8 distinct historical narratives from Detroit’s past
For those seeking more, an optional 30-minute extension unveils Detroit’s most peculiar and mysterious legends—enigmas that remain in the shadows, awaiting exploration.
Location
1601 Woodward Ave
Woodward Avenue
We meet at Grand Circus Park on Woodward Ave, right across from the People Mover Station. Your guide will be waiting at the stone pillar at the corner of Woodward and Park Ave.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(15 Ratings)
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Safari03296509278
Jul 7, 2025
Excellent tour - My husband and I had an amazing time walking through Detroit downtown for te very first time, Michael was an exceptional tour, he took us to different places and told us history +fun facts with the best attitude, even through the unexpected rain! We recommend him 100% It was lovely to meet him and get to know about the motor city/ renaissance city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lda173
Jul 2, 2025
A great way to experience downtown Detroit - It has been a very long time since my last visit to Detroit, and Hidden History Tours showed me the new, the reimagined, and the history of downtown Detroit—a great 2 hours (I did the extension, well worth it). The guide interwove the history (recent and ancient) of the area with the buildings and architecture in front of us. A great tour that I only wish I had started with upon arrival.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Colinhh2398mf
Jun 25, 2025
Great Way to Discover Downtown Detroit! - This was our first time in Detroit and we're very glad we took this tour! Our guide was friendly and really peeled back the hidden history of the city. I appreciated the wide spectrum of stories ranging from the origins of Cadillac (not just a fine automobile), to statuesque political rivalries and touchstones of buildings from past and present. We took the extended experience which was a good value for the added exploration of some great art and views of the riverfront. Highly recommended if you're looking to get better acquainted with downtown and leave with a new found appreciation of how Detroit came to be.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jill_w
Jun 22, 2025
Enjoyable way to learn some history and see the city - The tour walked through downtown and we learned the history of Detroit along with several fun facts that we had never heard. Our group was small and we were able to bring our dog along for the walk. We would highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to spend some time exploring the city and learning about its history.
Review provided by Viator
Linda_b
Jun 20, 2025
Truly a hidden gem - This tour was quite enjoyable. Our tour guide, Michael, was knowledgeable and engaging. He is truly passionate about the city
of Detroit.
Review provided by Viator
573lesleyb
Jun 10, 2025
Engagine tour full of interesting "hidden" stories of notable Detroit's - This was an engaging walk through downtown Detroit with a history buff who delights in his city. Learned a lot and saw some very interesting buildings and sites in the city, learned about interesting restaurants. Detroit is full of stunning pre-1929 architecture, which contrasts interestingly with modern buildings and is gradually being restored by those who appreciate it. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
John_b
Jun 9, 2025
Exceptional Tour - We had a great time with a wonderful guide. Micheal taught us things about the city that we would have never known or discovered on our own. Knowing more about the history of Detroit makes want to visit the city again.
Review provided by Viator
Gautam_m
Jun 7, 2025
Very informative, and the... - Very informative, and the guide was very friendly.
Hello didn't look at the time, and was very enthusiastic to show around
Review provided by Viator
Caseylyoung
Jun 2, 2025
Great Tour, Great Guide. Highly Recommend - I recently visited Detroit for the first time to see a couple baseball games and see what else Detroit has to offer these days. I always try to find a good walking tour when I visit a new city to get oriented, and this was a great one! The guide was very knowledgeable, and a skilled and entertaining storyteller. He knows Detroit's history and attributes, just what I was looking for. I highly recommend it if you find yourself in Detroit with some time to spare.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jocelyn_m
Jul 4, 2025
Too many stories. - Michael was a very nice young man, but I would have much rather heard the rich history of the buildings and artifacts that we were seeing. He would break off into stories and lose everybody in our group. When he actually talked about buildings it was interesting and it would've been nice if he could actually take us in somewhere rather than just walking on the streets. he kept telling us we should visit certain buildings, but yet we didn't have time for that and it would've been nice to actually visit them on a tour. it was very painful at the end when we had to continue to hear stories about things that happened with people in Detroit in the past. I was mentally done after 40 minutes. We are a rough crowd though because three of us are educators, and we have to capture people's attention every single day. He needs to talk less!
Review provided by Viator