Museums
Museums, Art Galleries & Science Centers
This section is alphabetically listed by name.
Ann Arbor Art Center
734-994-8004
117 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
220 East Ann Street
Ann Arbor, MI
734-995-5439
Arab American National Museum
13624 Michigan Avenue
Dearborn, MI
313-582-2266
The first of its kind in the U.S., the AANM documents, preserves, celebrates and informs the public on the history, life, culture and contributions of Arab Americans. Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for students, seniors and children. Beginning May 8, families (minimum of one adult and one child 12 or younger) can visit the museum for free on Sundays.
Automotive Hall of Fame
21400 Oakwood Boulevard
Dearborn, MI 48124
313-240-4000
Located next to Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village
Walter P. Chrysler Museum
One Chrysler Drive
Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326
Call 248-944-0001 or toll-free 1-888-456-1924
3 floors of automotive history. The museum also offers group tours. Please call for more information on tours.
Cranbrook Art Museum
39221 Woodward Avenue
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-0801
Call toll-free 1-877-GO-CRANBrook (1-877-462-7262)
Let your children explore Cranbrook, from the ancient world of gods and heroes represented in park sculpture to the world of today reflected in contemporary art!
NOTE: Cranbrook Art Museum is Under Construction. Cranbrook Art Museum is building for the future! In December 2008 they started a construction project that will result in the complete renovation of their landmark 1942 Eliel Saarinen-designed museum, including the installation of climate control and the addition of a new state-of-the-art Collections Wing. Get a sneak peek of the the newly restored Cranbrook Art Museum by visiting the 2011 Graduate Degree Exhibition and make sure to join them for their Grand Reopening on November 11, 2011 (11/11/11)
Cranbrook Institute of Science
39221 Woodward Avenue
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-0801
248-645-3200
Call toll-free 1.877.GO.CRANBrook (1.877.462.7262)
Dennos Museum Center
1701 East Front Street
Traverse City, MI
231-995-1055
A center for the visual arts, sciences and performing arts on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College with an extensive schedule of changing exhibitions, gallery tours, artist lectures, hands-on workshops and school outreach activities.
Detroit Historical Museum
5401 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48202
313-833-1805
Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202
313-833-7900
The DIA is the fifth largest fine arts museum in the country! A must see. There’s plenty of cool stuff at their website too.
Detroit Science Center
5020 John R St.
Detroit, MI 48202
313-577-8400
The New Detroit Science Center features 110,000 square feet of scientific exploration, including IMAX Dome Theatre, planetarium, learning resource center, an 8,700 square-foot Science Hall for traveling exhibits, five exhibit laboratories, children’s gallery and a whole lot more.
Exhibit Museum of Natural History
1109 Geddes Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI
734-764-0478
Flint Institute of Arts Programs include both permanent and traveling exhibits with many masterworks from well-known artists, as well as concerts, films, lectures, family events and educators workshops.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and Library Exhibits both permanent and temporary, special events, field trips and group tours. Also see the Gerald R. Ford Library in Ann Arbor.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
303 Pearl Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI
616-254-0400
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
1000 Beal Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
734-205-0555
With the passing of Former President Gerald Ford on December 26, 2006, the only Michiganian to ever become president, you might be interested in a publication that gives kids some information about the life of this leader. Go to the Michigan History magazine website and download the Gerald Ford issue of The Mitten for FREE. They no longer have copies to sell. http://www.michiganhistorymagazine.com/kids/mitten_topics.html Note: Scroll down to almost the bottom of the page, in the pink section, this is where you’ll find President Ford’s info. Don’t forget to d/l the teacher’s supplement also. Note: I am unable to find this copy of The Mitten. You might be able to locate some info on how to obtain it by going to http://www.hsmichigan.org/mhm/content.html
Check out Michigan’s History Calendar
The Henry Ford
aka Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
Dearborn, MI 48121
313-982-6100
Events currently for The Henry Ford include the Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Grand Rapids Art Museum, housed in a hute Beaux Arts building, fosters the cultural enrichment of patrons through a strong collection of art, as well as traveling exhibitions, and educational programs.
Holocaust Memorial Center
28123 Orchard Lake Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
248-553-2400
The country’s first memorial dedicated exclusively to the horrors of the Nazi’s persecution of Jews and others. It was developed to be a historical, educational institute that would introduce visitors to Jewish culture and let them witness its destruction.
Impression 5 Science Center
200 Museum Drive
Lansing, MI
517-485-8116
One Thursday a month during the school year Impression 5 holds a special Homeschool Science Series. View their website for workshop descriptions, days and cost.
Krasl Art Gallery, in St. Joseph, provides the southwest Michigan area with a wide variety of programs and inludes three galleries, six studios, a gallery shop, art library, and an outdoor sculpture collection.
Kresge Art Museum, at Michigan State University, exhibits about 10 changing shows a year. There are also online exhibits.
Leila Arboretum
Michigan Ave at 20th
Battle Creek, MI
616-969-0270
Little Traverse History Museum
100 Depot Court
Petoskey, MI 49770
231-347-2620
Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum
31005 Orchard Lake Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
248-626-5020
Just south of 14 Mile Road tucked in a strip mall (next to a California Pizza Kitchen), Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum has new games, old favorites and many oddities. This is a fun way to spend a couple of hours. Call to check group tour availability.
Motown Historical Museum
2648 W. Grand Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48208
313-875-2264
Motown Historical Museum – A Guided Tour
Pewabic Pottery
10125 E. Jefferson Ave
Detroit, MI 48214
313-822-0954
Nationally renowned for its handcrafted ceramic vessels and architectural tiles and its unique glazes. Pewabic Pottery is a non-profit ceramic arts center and “living” museum that continues to produce handcrafted vessels and architectural tiles for public and private installations. The Pottery’s giftshop offers a wide range of items that are fabricated on site.
Fired Magic: Detroit’s Pewabic Pottery Treasures, by Marcy Heller Fisher
Alfred P. Sloan Museum
1221 E. Kearsley Street
Flint, MI 48214
810-237-3450
Featuring regional history, historic automobiles and hands-on science. Educational programs at every grade level will showcase local innovations in ways that connect with lessons across the curriculum.
Troy Museum & Historic Village
60 West Wattles Road
Troy, MI 48098
248-524-3570
Free admission. There may be a fee for some special programs and lectures.
University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) Be sure to check this museum’s links page for links to art museums all over the world. UMMA, community museum in a university setting, has the 2nd largest collection of art in MI.
Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA), presents programs in dance, film, literature, music, performance and visual arts. This has been purchased so I’ll keep checking back to see any further developments.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History
315 E. Warren Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201
313-494-5800
Exhibits explore the rich legacy and heritage of African Americans in the arts, sciences, literature, philosophy, labor and politics. And Still We Rise is a new permanent exhibit which features Benin market, slave dungeon, two-tier slave ship, Annapolis Warf streetscape (circa 1780s), dwelling on a southern plantation, Ford Rouge Plant, businesses in Detroit’s famed Black Bottom, an homage to Detroit churches, a walk up Woodward Avenue (circa 1960s).
Use your educator discount while traveling.
http://www.astc.org/
Museum Adventure Pass program presented by Macy’s
Looking for a fun and educational experience for the family? Visit your local library and check out a museum. Just use your library card to receive a Museum Adventure Pass and get up to 2 or 4 free admissions to a regional arts and cultural organization. Runs through September 30, 2011. For more information on the Museum Adventure Pass please visit www.detroitadventurepass.org