The 30 most beautiful places in Detroit

By Metro Times editorial staff on Sun, Mar 31, 2019 at 12:23 pm

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but at these Detroit landmarks, it's hard to argue that they're anything but stunning. Browse to see 30 of Detroit's most beautiful places.

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Campus Martius

800 Woodward Ave., Detroit

Situated in downtown Detroit, Campus Martius offers a break from the concrete jungle in the very heart of the city. In the summer, you can sip on a drink and relax in the sand at the Urban Beach. In the winter, you can lace up your ice skates and practice nailing a triple Axel at the seasonal ice rink. Or, more likely, just take a casual lap on the ice.
Photo via@felicia_fullwood

Bethel Community Transformation Center, the former Temple Beth El

8801 Woodward Ave., Detroit

Albert Kahn designed this synagogue to be a home for the Temple Beth El congregation, but they later moved to Bloomfield Hills. Now the building belongs to a Christian organization and they're working to restore this still-beautiful edifice to its original glory.
Photo by James Feldman

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Dequindre Cut

Dequindre Cut Greenway, Detroit

The Dequindre Cut Greenway is a bike and pedestrian-friendy urban recreation path connecting the Detroit riverfront to Eastern Market. At just two miles long, Dequindre Cut offers a quiet retreat away from main roads and is embellished with artwork by both Detroit and international muralists.
Photo via@rachelxbolt

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Detroit Opera House

1526 Broadway St., Detroit

This truly opulent building was designed by C. Howard Crane, the same mastermind behind the Fox Theatre and the Fillmore. The Michigan Opera Theatre purchased the building in 1988 and the building underwent extensive renovations.
Photo via@igotface

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Lafayette Greens

132 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit

Located in the heart of Downtown Detroit, Lafayette Greens is a lush urban garden space to relax in. In addition to providing an attractive spot of greenery, the garden donates much of what it grows to local churches or community food banks.
Photo via@jamiecamp

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Michigan Central Station

2001 15th St., Detroit

Opened in 1914, Michigan Central Station was an ambitious passenger railway project that began at the cusp of the auto manufacturing boom. During its peak, Michigan Central Station serviced nearly 4,000 passengers per day, but as the popularity of the automobile continued to rise, the demand for rail travel began to slide. In 1988, the Michigan Central Station shuttered and for the next 30 years, the monolith kept a watchful eye over the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. In 2018, it was announced that Ford Motor Company had purchased the former railway station and would be converting the building into the headquarters for its autonomous and electric vehicles businesses.
Photo by Jerilyn Jordan

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The Siren Hotel

1509 Broadway St., Detroit

Located in the former Wurlitzer Building in downtown Detroit, the boutique Siren Hotel offers several intricately-decorated, beautifully-designed rooms to book a night in. If you don’t want to spend the night, the Siren also hosts “Candy Bar,” an ornate candy pink cocktail bar.
Photo via@thesirenhotel

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The Whitney

4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit

The former home of Detroit lumber baron David Whitney Jr., the Whitney has been well-maintained by its current owners who utilize the place — and its beauty — as an upscale restaurant and bar. It is rumored that Thomas Edison designed some of the home's lighting himself.
Photo via@thewhitneydetroit

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Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory

900 Inselruhe Ave., Detroit

This enormous glass greenhouse is the oldest running conservatory in the country. Split into five sections, you'll find the Palm House, the Tropical House, the Cactus House, a sunken Fernery, and the Show House.
Photo viaFacebook/Belle Isle Conservancy

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Aretha Franklin Ampitheatre

2600 Atwater St., Detroit

Formerly known as Chene Park, this music venue is situated right on the Detroit River, making for a beautiful blue backdrop during summer concerts.
Photo viaFacebook/Aretha Franklin Ampitheatre

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Brightmoor Flower Farm

15133 Grayfield St., Detroit

In addition to being a vibrant and alluring urban flower farm, Brightmoor Flower Farm offers flower bouquets throughout the year for weddings, parties, or just because.
Photo viaFacebook/Brightmoor Flower Farm

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Detroit Public Library

5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit

This magnificent monolith takes up an entire city block — and it's worth every square inch. The main entrance is done in the Italian Renaissance-style, but the interior is where the true beauty lies.
Photo viaWikimedia Commons/Michael Barera

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Eastern Market

2934 Russell St., Detroit

Though eye-catching all year long thanks to the neighborhood’s many murals, Eastern Market’s Flower Day—quickly approaching on May 19—is probably the Market at its most beautiful.
Photo viaFacebook/Eastern Market Corporation

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Fisher Building

3011 W. Grand Boulevard, Detroit

Known as "Detroit's largest art object," this stunning structure is beloved by many metro Detroiters. It fell into disrepair for some time, but new investors have been working on revitalizing the building to its former glory. Pure Detroit hosts free tours through the building every Saturday and Sunday morning.
Photo viaFacebook/Fisher Building

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Fox Theater

2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit

Detroit's Fox Theatre is the largest surviving movie palace of the 1920s, but these days it's used to host touring musicals and international musicians. C. Howard Crane designed the lavish auditorium by using a blend of Burmese, Chinese, Indian and Persian motifs.
Photo viaFacebook/Fox Theatre

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Guardian Building

500 Griswold St., Detroit

Wirt C. Rowland designed this towering structure that's since been nicknamed the Cathedral of Finance. Pure Detroit provides tours through the building every Saturday and Sunday.
Photo viaWikimedia Commons/Michael Barera

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Helen L. DeRoy Auditorium

5203 Cass, Detroit

One of Wayne State University’s many beautiful buildings on campus, this auditorium was designed by Minoru Yamasaki. The structure is a sister to the Prentis Building, which Yamasaki also designed. They're meant to interrelate functionally, spatially, and architecturally. And to be visually stunning, of course.
Photo courtesy of@a________m______p____

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James Scott Memorial Fountain

Sunset and Fountain Drives, Detroit

Completed in 1925, this fountain cost $500,000 to construct. Architect Cass Gilbert and sculptor Herbert Adams designed the structure that stands on Belle Isle.
Photo viaWikimedia Commons/Mkrajenke12

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Detroit Masonic Temple

500 Temple St., Detroit

This colossal edifice is as mysterious as it is beautiful. If you have the opportunity to go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the enigmatic structure, you'll get to peek into the well-kept chapels, offices, and special rooms that fill the building.
Photo by Mike Ferdinande

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Sainte Anne de Detroit

1000 Ste. Anne St., Detroit

Construction on this church began in 1701, making it the first edifice erected in Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, which later developed as the city of Detroit. Sadly, Native Americans later burned that building down. The church was later rebuilt — only to be burned down again. The third iteration of the Catholic church that you see today in Southwest Detroit was built in 1886.
Photo viaWikimedia Commons/Sainte Anne de Detroit

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