Some cities have a rep. Good or bad, misguided or well deserved, there are some towns you feel you already know–even before your first visit.

For most people, this is the case with Detroit. If you’re not from this American city, you can easily make assumptions based on the media and opinions of friends. 

Your Detroit knowledge most likely includes Motown and the historic music that originated from a small studio on West Grand Boulevard called Hitsville USA. A tour of this historic landmark will certainly bring you closer to the music of Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Marvin Gaye and more. Motown is part of Detroit’s foundation. Still, there’s more to this city than the music.

The auto industry (literally) put Detroit on the map. The “Big 3”–General Motors, Ford and Chrysler–offered jobs with a living wage at a time when many people of color were unable to find sustainable work in other regions of the country. This Great Migration increased Detroit’s African American population by more than 600%, along with increased population of many other ethnicities. This was the beginning of Detroit’s worldwide automotive recognition. And although the auto industry has expanded to many other cities worldwide, Detroit continues to reign as the home of the automobile. 

If you know all this about Detroit that’s a great start, but there’s so much more to know about this city. We encourage you to explore online to get to know the many unexpected facts about Detroit. But as with any city, great or small, you have to visit in person to really understand it. You can prepare for a visit using Tripadvisor’s Explore Detroit page or Detroit’s official tourism website. 

Until then, if a picture is worth a thousand words, have we got a story for you. The team at Urban Upscale has captured photos throughout the city of Detroit, including some of the many artistic murals you can find throughout the city. Take a look at these works of art along with a few downtown Detroit images. And pack your bags!

Detroit art in the streets

Detroit’s Got Talent: Click through this slideshow to see samples of artwork that adorn the streets of Detroit.

Detroit’s downtown continues to change.

Detroit sight-seeing: Just a few of the spots in and near downtown Detroit.