Visit Detroit

Detroit: A City That Moves the World

Detroit is more than a city—it’s a cutting-edge force of creativity, innovation, and boundless culture that continues to shape America and inspire the world. Known as the Motor City, Detroit’s story began in 1701 as a French trading post and grew into the birthplace of modern manufacturing. In the early 20th century, Henry Ford’s assembly line revolutionized how cars were made and how people lived, transforming Detroit into a magnet for talent, ambition, and ideas. That same drive made Detroit a hub of ambition and creativity, a place where people came from around the world to build something bigger. By the 1950s, it had become the fourth-largest city in the United States—a global symbol of progress and ingenuity.

But Detroit’s legacy isn’t only written in steel and engines—it’s set to a soundtrack. In 1959, Berry Gordy founded Motown Records, launching the careers of icons like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye. Motown didn’t just create hits—it shaped culture, amplified Black voices on a global stage, and provided the rhythm of a generation.

Today, Detroit’s momentum is stronger than ever and continues to capture the world’s attention. In 2025, Detroit was named #1 in the Metro Marvels Beautification Report, celebrated for its bold investments in public art, green spaces, and community design. Its park system now ranks among the nation’s best, with 84% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park—and the new Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park is set to transform the riverfront into one of the most exciting public spaces in the country, proving Detroit’s vision for the future is bold and people-centered. Detroit also earned its first Michelin Green Guide, highlighting the city’s cultural treasures from Eastern Market to the Detroit Institute of Arts, cementing its place alongside the world’s great cultural destinations.

Detroit is also one of the country’s hottest culinary capitals. The city’s food scene is earning national headlines with James Beard Award recognition: Selden Standard for Outstanding Restaurant, Vecino for Best New Restaurant, and Baobab Fare for Outstanding Hospitality. New arrivals like Adelina, Antica Nova, and Breadcrumb add to the city’s energy, while beloved staples—from Detroit-style pizza and coneys to global cuisines shaped by Mexican, Middle Eastern, Polish, and Vietnamese communities—make Detroit a true crossroads of flavor.