Detroit's Hidden History Guided Walking Tour
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Ready to venture beyond the history books and uncover the hidden past of Detroit? Join our historian-led, 90-minute tour and dive into the Motor City’s most gripping tales—stories that shaped a legend, told as you stroll through North America’s most stunning architectural gems.
- Intimate small-group atmosphere and plenty of time for questions
- Tour is perfect for history buffs and first-time visitors
- Walking tour lets you get to know the city intimately
- Hear 8 unique historical stories from Detroit’s past
For those hungry for more, an optional 30-minute extension reveals Detroit’s strangest and most enigmatic legends—mysteries that linger in the shadows, waiting to be explored.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Stories to fascinate and delight
A knowledgeable local guide
Well researched history
Gratuity for the guide
What To Expect
Grand Circus Park
Our tour begins at Grand Circus Park, in the center of Downtown Detroit. We will introduce our tour and familiarize you to one of the most impressive bearded statues in Detroit. We will also discuss potatoes.
Michigan Theater Building
When a relentless tinkerer rolled his first horseless carriage out of a Detroit garage, he couldn’t have foreseen the revolution he’d ignite. Henry Ford crowned Detroit the Motor City—but did his legacy also sow the seeds of its unraveling?
Options
Standard Tour
Standard Tour + Extension
Duration: 2 hours
Extended Tour: An extra 30 minutes at the river's edge investigating shipwrecks, an evil curse, and pyramid symbolism.
Reviews
28 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great History Tour through downtown Detroit
Jamie N,
Aug 24, 2025
- Viator
5.00Great 90 minute tour. Our guide was very informative and also was able to give suggestions of other things to do while in Detroit.
Don't hesitate, book now -- it's LEGIT!
Sam R,
Aug 23, 2025
- Viator
5.00JUST what we were looking for... engaging storytelling that gave us an insiders scoop to what was, and thus what is. Really appreciated the ability to book the day prior (many operators required far in advance booking), and felt this activity was the perfect way to kick-off our stay in the city!!
He was very knowledgeable...
Monica W,
Aug 3, 2025
- Viator
5.00He was very knowledgeable and we had a great time. I would recommend this to local Detroit residents and to our out of town guests.
Great Stories About Detroit's History!
Sharon W,
Jul 30, 2025
- Viator
5.00Our tour guide, Michael, knew a lot about Detroit and it's history. He's great at telling very interesting stories about Detroit's past and the important people that influenced Detroit through the years. He answered all my questions and definitely helped me better understand what has shaped Detroit over the past 300 years. His tour was exactly what I was looking for to help me better understand buildings like The Guardian and Fisher Building. The extra 30 minutes we spent at Hart Plaza was also interesting. Michael's interpretation of the monuments was great, plus we got to see the lights come on on the fountain that's there.
Too many stories.
Jocelyn M,
Jul 4, 2025
- Viator
2.00Michael was a very nice young man, but I would have much rather heard the rich history of the buildings and artifacts that we were seeing. He would break off into stories and lose everybody in our group. When he actually talked about buildings it was interesting and it would've been nice if he could actually take us in somewhere rather than just walking on the streets. he kept telling us we should visit certain buildings, but yet we didn't have time for that and it would've been nice to actually visit them on a tour. it was very painful at the end when we had to continue to hear stories about things that happened with people in Detroit in the past. I was mentally done after 40 minutes. We are a rough crowd though because three of us are educators, and we have to capture people's attention every single day. He needs to talk less!
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Operated by Detroit's Hidden History Tours