Detroit's Rise, Fall and Renewal

General information

Destination
Detroit, United States

Program details

The story of Detroit is even more dramatic than the story of America and this fascinating walking tour will recount its history, rising to become Motor Town, its decline to the D and now its rebirth as Renaissance City.



Your guide will explain Detroit’s difficulties and why some city centre buildings are vacant – and how the Downtown is being revitalised through the construction of casinos, hotels and stadia.



We will visit the Guardian Building, a 40-storey masterpiece of art deco architecture built at the end of the Roaring Twenties that was a symbol of the city’s rise.



The tour will also pass by the 38-storey Book Tower, a fabulous neo-renaissance structure that is now empty and has become a symbol of the city’s decline.



We’ll also view the Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel, which alone represents Detroit’s rise, fall and renewal. Once the tallest hotel in the world, it was shut in the mid-Eighties only to be refurbished and become a symbol of rebirth.



Other landmarks that feature include the old Detroit Athletic Club, the renovated Opera House, the abandoned Wurlitzer Building and the majestic art deco Penobscot Building. We’ll also pass the seven-skyscraper complex of the Renaissance Center, where General Motors has its headquarters, and the ornate Fox Theater picture palace. We’ll also take a ride on The People Mover elevated monorail.



The afternoon will finish at the trendy Detroit Beer Company, where you can enjoy a complimentary locally brewed special.

Tour is in English