Detroit Hidden History Guided Walking Tour

For over three centuries, Detroit has pulsed with innovation, culture, and unyielding resilience, weaving its rich history, legendary music scene, and revolutionary automotive legacy into the fabric of America. Yet, despite what many believe they know about this iconic city, even lifelong residents rarely grasp the full depth of Detroit’s untold story—how it rose, fell, and continues to redefine itself. Now, for the first time, embark on a journey through Detroit’s hidden past. Hear gripping tales of visionaries, inventors, and warriors who shaped its destiny. Feel the sting of heartbreak, but also the enduring spark of hope. Our expert-led tours go beyond mere facts, revealing the soul of Detroit—what it once was, what it could never be, and what it might yet become. Don’t just visit Detroit—uncover its HIDDEN HISTORY. Book your tour today and step into the Motor City’s extraordinary saga!

Meeting Point

1601 Woodward Ave

1601 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226, USA

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.

What's included:

• Stories to fascinate and delight
• Well reserched history
• A knowledgeable local guide

Not included:

• Gratuity for the guide

What to expect:

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Grand Circus Park

Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48226-3473, Michigan

Our tour begins at Grand Circus Park, in the center of Downtown Detroit. We will introduce our tour and familiarize you to one of the most impressive bearded statues in Detroit. We will also discuss potatoes.

10 minutes

Michigan Theater Building

220 Bagley St, Detroit, 48226-1400, Michigan

When a relentless tinkerer rolled his first horseless carriage out of a Detroit garage, he couldn’t have foreseen the revolution he’d ignite. Henry Ford crowned Detroit the Motor City—but did his legacy also sow the seeds of its unraveling?

7 minutes

Capitol Park

Detroit, MI 48226, USA

When Thornton Blackburn and his wife arrived in Detroit they probably assumed the worst was behind them. Little did they know a slave hunter was hot on their trail and the ensuing struggle for freedom would push a city already on the edge into destruction.

7 minutes

Campus Martius Park

800 Woodward Ave, Corner of Michigan Avenue, Detroit, 48226-3580, Michigan

Augustus Brevoort Woodward was nobody’s idea of normal – naming himself after a Roman Emperor was just one example – but he had a vision to turn Detroit into the greatest city in the world. Unfortunately the most powerful men in Michigan had other ideas.

7 minutes

The Spirit of Detroit

2 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48226-3437, Michigan

When Detroit’s own Joe Louis faced off against the undefeated German Max Schmeling in their second iconic bout, Americans—Black and White alike—saw more than a boxing match: it was a clash of freedom against fascism. Fewer know what unfolded after the final bell, when a rivalry became one of sports history’s most unexpected and enduring friendships.

7 minutes