Detroit History Bus Tour: Becomming a "good tourist" in my hometown, Part II

Chris and Rob at one of the stops of our Detroit History Bus Tour

I began this week with a blog story highlighting my long weekend of Detroit history and culture immersion (Becoming a good tourist in my hometown). Sandwiched between two art museum visits, we took in a most entertaining, educational and enjoyable bus tour of "Bizarre Detroit" from Detroit History Tours and it needed a blog story of its own.

On our bus, waiting for the fun to begin!

A birthday present for husband, Chris, and I, from our children - one of which, Rachel, had been on a similar tour back in December -  we were already assured of a good time from her recommendation. After a three and a half hour tour that stretched from Hamtramck to Delray, with many points of interest in between, we heartily agree with our daughter's assessment.

Bailey, our tour guide, a Detroit dynamo - engaging and informative

Our tour guide was Bailey, assisted by Jeff. Bailey is a Detroit dynamo -  thoroughly engaging and a remarkable source of fun facts and crazy trivia about our own Motor City.  Although I've lived in the Metro Detroit area my entire life, most of Bailey's tales of the city I'd never heard before. Now I can connect stories to statues and structures I've driven by a million times and dismissed as nothing more than large-scale bric-a-brac.

Jeff awards Chris with a prize for knowing some Detroit Tigers triva.

I won't give away the details of the tour - it has to be experienced. But, a few notable highlights: 

• A stop at a secluded bar where everyone is warmly welcomed and considered a member for forty-five minutes. One can belly up to the bar for a cold one, be it a beer or a Vernors.
• A detailed account of the Spirit of Detroit.
• A KAWS sculptor on Campus Martius. We saw a similar KAWS creation at the Brooklyn Museum last August and did not realize until last weekend that we had one in Detroit.
• A memorial gate on Jefferson that honors an impressive Detroit resident of the past with a name you won't forget once you're told.
• Intermittent trivia questions thrown out and a correct response is awarded with a prize.  Jeff presented Chris with a magnet/can opener for knowing the answer to a puzzler about the 1968 Detroit Tigers. Yahoo!
• The Detroit History Club offices where it all begins. We are curious to learn more about this building and their plate wall.

KAWS in Detroit! We didn't know. . .

KAWS in Brooklyn, 2022 visit

We've already got friends and family on board for more events from the Detroit History Tours. With a variety of offerings including Wild Women of Detroit, Felonies and Misdemeanors, the Detroit Cops and Mobsters and, The Detroit Classics Food, there really is something for, quite literally, everyone's taste.

Check out the link to Detroit History Tours for more information.