The Detroit Institute of Arts is the city's cultural treasure, a grand Beaux-Arts building at 5200 Woodward Avenue whose collection is ranked among the largest and most significant in the country. Its centerpiece is Rivera Court, where the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera painted the Detroit Industry frescoes in 1932 and 1933: twenty-seven panels that cover the walls of a courtyard with the furnaces, assembly lines and workers of the Ford River Rouge plant, alongside allegories of the land, the races of humanity and the promise and danger of technology. They are among the finest works of American mural art, and seeing them in person is unforgettable. Around them, the galleries span the world and the centuries, from ancient Egypt and the Islamic world to European painting, African and Native American art and modern and contemporary work. Hours are Tuesday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the museum is closed Mondays.
Tickets and prices: general admission is free for members and for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, who show ID at the desk. Visitors from elsewhere pay a moderate adult fee, with reduced prices for seniors, college students and young people, and children five and under go free. Special exhibitions are ticketed separately. The museum closes on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, among other holidays, and last admission is fifteen minutes before closing. From March 2025 some second-floor galleries and public spaces closed temporarily for gallery improvements; check the visit page for what is open on your day.
Working the visit: go straight to Rivera Court first, while it is quiet, and give the murals time; the north and south walls are the great industrial panels, and a free guide or the museum app helps you read the details. Then choose two or three collection areas rather than trying to see everything. Friday evening, when the museum stays open until 9 p.m., is a good time for a calmer visit. Free coat check is available at the Woodward and Farnsworth entrances, and Café DIA serves lunch inside.
Around it: the DIA anchors the Midtown cultural district, with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Historical Museum and Wayne State University a short walk away. The QLine streetcar runs along Woodward between downtown and Midtown, so you can combine the museum with downtown sights in a single day.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to a large encyclopedic art museum, centered on the Rivera Court murals, with optional ticketed special exhibitions.
Best time
Weekday mornings at opening, or Friday evening when the museum stays open until 9 p.m.; avoid Mondays, when it is closed.
How long
Two hours for the murals and a few galleries, half a day for a fuller visit.
Tips
Bring ID if you live in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb county for free entry, start at Rivera Court, and leave tripods and selfie sticks at home.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers and anyone curious about how Detroit saw itself at the height of the auto age.
- Families
- Good for a couple of hours: the murals, the armor and the Egyptian galleries hold children's attention, and the café is easy.
- Couples
- A Friday evening visit followed by dinner in Midtown is one of the best dates in the city.
- Pair with
- The Henry Ford for the factory the murals depict, and the Motown Museum a short drive away.
- Time needed
- Two to four hours.
Good questions
Is the Detroit Institute of Arts free?+
General admission is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties and for members. Other visitors pay a moderate fee, with discounts for seniors, students and young people.
Where are the Diego Rivera murals?+
The Detroit Industry murals cover the walls of Rivera Court, near the center of the museum. They are included with general admission.
What days is the DIA closed?+
It is closed every Monday and on several holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It stays open until 9 p.m. on Fridays.
Can I take photos?+
Personal photography without flash is allowed in most galleries unless a sign says otherwise. Tripods, monopods and selfie sticks are not permitted.
How do I get there from downtown?+
The QLine streetcar runs up Woodward Avenue from downtown to Midtown and stops near the museum. A rideshare takes about ten minutes.
