The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History stands on East Warren Avenue in Midtown, in the cultural district beside the Michigan Science Center and within a block of the Detroit Institute of Arts. It is the institution most visitors miss and most regret missing. The museum tells the story of African American history and culture through permanent and rotating exhibitions that run year-round, and Detroit is the right place for it: the city was a final stop on the Underground Railroad before the crossing into Canada, a destination of the Great Migration, and the home of a great deal of the music, labor activism and civic organizing that shaped the twentieth century. The museum describes a full visit as taking about two hours, and the building is easy to combine with the neighboring museums on the same walk. Exhibitions change, and special Premiere Exhibitions carry an extra fee, so it is worth checking what is on before you buy tickets. The permanent galleries are the heart of the visit and give an unhurried, chronological way into a history that Michigan's own story is woven through.
Hours and closures
The museum is closed on Mondays, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and open until 7 p.m. on Thursday, with the usual 9 to 5 on Friday through Sunday. Its holiday closures include Veterans Day on November 11 and the Thanksgiving period on November 26 and 27, as well as December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1, so check the calendar if you are visiting around the holidays.
Children five and under are free, and the museum takes part in several reciprocal membership programs and a monthly bank-card free-ticket offer, details of which are on its website.
Getting there
The address is 315 East Warren Avenue. A paid lot sits behind the museum and is entered from John R Street for a flat fee, and there is metered street parking on Warren, Farnsworth and Brush that you pay for through the ParkDetroit app. If anyone in your group has trouble with stairs, the upper Farnsworth side is the better approach.
Buses can drop at the Warren Avenue entrance. Food and drink are allowed only in public areas, photography is not permitted inside the exhibition spaces, and a limited number of free wheelchairs are available on a first-come basis.
How to plan the day
Buy tickets online in advance, and avoid arriving in the last hour, because two hours is the realistic minimum. The museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Michigan Science Center and the Detroit Historical Museum are all in the same part of Midtown, so a strong itinerary pairs this museum in the morning with the DIA's Rivera murals after lunch. Visitors interested in Detroit's musical story will find it a natural companion to the Motown Museum, and anyone with a school-age child will find the exhibitions accessible and absorbing.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to permanent and rotating exhibitions on African American history and culture, in a Midtown museum building.
Best time
A weekday morning, or Thursday when the museum stays open until 7 p.m.; it is closed on Mondays.
How long
About two hours for the galleries, more if a special exhibition is on.
Tips
Buy tickets online, check holiday closures, allow time on arrival for parking and remember that photography is not permitted inside the exhibition spaces.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History-minded visitors who want to understand the city beyond the cars.
- Families
- Good for school-age children; early-years visitors may find the galleries long.
- Couples
- An unhurried morning here, then the DIA murals after lunch.
- Pair with
- The Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Historical Museum, both in Midtown.
- Time needed
- About two to three hours.
Good questions
Where is the Wright Museum?+
At 315 East Warren Avenue in Midtown, next to the Michigan Science Center and within a block of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
What are the opening hours?+
Closed Mondays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday to Sunday; and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday. Check holiday closures before you go.
How long should I allow?+
The museum says seeing everything takes about two hours. Add time if a special exhibition is open.
Is there parking?+
Yes. A paid lot behind the museum is entered from John R Street, and metered street parking on Warren, Farnsworth and Brush is paid through the ParkDetroit app.
Can I take photos inside?+
Photography is not allowed in the exhibition spaces. Food and drink are limited to public areas.
