The main branch of the Detroit Public Library is one of the finest public buildings in the city and it costs nothing to walk into. The building on Woodward Avenue opened in 1921, designed by the architect Cass Gilbert in the Italian Renaissance style, and it is clad in white Vermont marble. Inside, the marble hallways lead to grand staircases, a painted ceiling and murals by artists including Edwin Blashfield, Gari Melchers and Frank Brangwyn, and to reading rooms with high windows and carved details. The library is a working institution, and it houses major research collections, including the Burton Historical Collection and a national collection on automotive history, which fits Detroit's identity perfectly. It stands in the Cultural Center beside the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Wright Museum, so it is easy to add to a museum day. Most visitors spend twenty to forty minutes looking at the staircases and the murals, though book lovers can stay far longer. It is a good wet-weather detour, because it is warm, quiet and free, and it is a reminder of the civic pride of Detroit in its heyday.
What to see
Start in the entrance hall and the marble staircase, then look up at the ceilings and the painted panels. The murals are the highlight, so take your time on the upper floors and in the reading rooms. The children's areas have their own decoration, which is worth seeing if you travel with young ones. Staff are used to visitors, but this is a working library, so keep your voice down and respect any areas marked for readers only.
Hours and practicalities
Opening hours differ by day and change by season, and the library is closed on some holidays, so check the library's page before you go. Entry is free, and there is no need to book unless you want a guided tour, which are sometimes offered. If you plan to use the research collections, check the requirements and the hours of the individual departments in advance. Photography is generally fine in public areas, but check the rules for special collections.
Combining it
The library sits on Woodward Avenue in Midtown, a short walk from the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Historical Museum, and the QLine streetcar stops nearby. A good plan is the Rivera Court at the DIA in the morning, a short pause at the library, and lunch in the Cultural Center area. For architecture lovers, it sits well alongside a downtown walking tour of the Guardian Building and the skyscrapers, as an example of the civic building of the same period.
What to expect
The experience
A free, self-guided walk through a marble library with grand staircases, painted ceilings and historic reading rooms.
Best time
A weekday during opening hours, when the building is quiet.
How long
Thirty to sixty minutes.
Tips
Check opening hours before you go, keep voices low, and combine it with the Detroit Institute of Arts across the street.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Architecture lovers and anyone with a spare half hour in Midtown.
- Families
- Fine for a short visit; the children's areas are worth seeing.
- Couples
- A quiet, beautiful stop that costs nothing.
- Pair with
- The Detroit Institute of Arts, the Wright Museum and the Detroit Historical Museum.
- Time needed
- Half an hour to an hour.
Good questions
Is the Detroit Public Library free to visit?+
Yes. Entry to the main branch is free during opening hours, and no ticket is needed.
Who designed the building?+
Cass Gilbert designed it in the Italian Renaissance style, and it opened in 1921.
What is there to see?+
The marble staircases, painted ceilings and murals, the historic reading rooms and the children's areas are the highlights.
Can I take photographs?+
Photography is generally fine in public areas, but check the rules for special collections and respect readers.
Where is it?+
On Woodward Avenue in Midtown, near the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Wright Museum, with the QLine nearby.
