Discover Detroit 1-Hour Walking Tour: Architecture + History｜United States

This is the one-hour late fall/winter version of our highly rated downtown tour.

Begin your tour on Woodward Avenue, one of the key spokes of Augustus Woodward's Plan of Detroit. Take in stunning architecture, peer into lively storefronts, and learn about Detroit's history and resurgence.

Continue to Campus Martius, Detroit’s own “Field of Mars,” which has a storied past and a fascinating origin. After Detroit burned to the ground in 1805, this became the point of origin for a bold new vision — a city plan inspired by Washington, DC and Paris, France. Explore the life of Augustus Woodward, the territorial judge who championed the plan, and the struggles he faced to make it a reality. Along the way, trace more than 200 years of change to the buildings and monuments that have defined this iconic square.

Next, head to Cadillac Square, first envisioned by Woodward as a grand boulevard. Cadillac Square evolved over time into a vibrant public square. Today it is flanked by some of Detroit’s finest architectural gems and some quirky ones, and it carries the layered history of a city that has always reimagined itself.

Then we head to Griswold Street, known as "The Wall Street of Detroit," home to one of the finest collections of skyscrapers from the 1910s and 1920s. Venture inside two historic gems — the Guardian Building and the Dime Building (now Chrysler House) — showcasing the brilliance of Detroit-based and Chicago-based architects alike. Uncover the remarkable story of how jazz history was made in a theater just one block away.

We conclude by reflecting on the public spaces along Jefferson Avenue, the people who risked everything and fought for justice, and the artists who celebrated the city.