The Detroit Institute of Arts sits on Woodward Avenue in Midtown, about two miles north of downtown. Its collection of more than 65,000 works runs from ancient Egyptian objects to contemporary art, shown across more than 100 galleries in a white marble Beaux-Arts building. The main draw is Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals, 27 fresco panels in the Rivera Court that depict Ford's plants. Plan for several hours, wear comfortable shoes, and give the Rivera Court time on its own.
Building and history
The museum was founded in 1885 and first had rooms on Jefferson Avenue. As the collection grew, it moved to its present site on Woodward Avenue in 1927.
The white marble Beaux-Arts building was designed by Paul Cret. Two wings were added in the 1960s and 1970s. A major rehabilitation and expansion began in 1999 and was completed in 2007.
William Valentiner, who directed the museum from 1924 to 1945, acquired many early works that form the base of today's collection. During Detroit's bankruptcy, the collection was at risk of being sold to creditors, but none of the pieces was sold.
Rivera Court and the Detroit Industry Murals
Diego Rivera painted the Detroit Industry Murals as 27 fresco panels on the walls of a large court inside the museum. Many of the panels are based on Ford's Rouge plant.
The panels show steelmaking, tall smokestacks, machine parts, and large numbers of workers on the assembly line. Plan at least 20 minutes in the court to look at them closely.
If you want a fuller picture of the murals, look up as well as around. Visitors often note the artwork on the ceilings, which is easy to miss.
What is in the galleries
The lower floors cover ancient civilizations, non-Western art, and European art from the medieval period through the Renaissance. The upper galleries hold modern European art, including works by Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Pablo Picasso.
The museum's first Van Gogh, the Self-Portrait from 1887, was the first of his works to enter a United States museum. Other galleries hold Egyptian mummies, sarcophagi, and hieroglyphs, as well as Jewish ceremonial objects and African American paintings.
Major thematic exhibits focus on Africa, Oceania, and the Indigenous Americas, as well as the arts of Asia and the Islamic world. A video in one gallery explains how papyrus and reed pens were made for calligraphy.
Planning the visit
Admission is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, which is funded by a property tax millage. Visitors from elsewhere pay admission. Current prices are listed on the museum's website, dia.org.
Guided tours are offered, and audio-assisted self-guided tours are available. A cafe and a restaurant are on site, along with a gift shop.
Families can use the Family Welcome Center, which has art-making activities and scavenger hunts. The building is wheelchair accessible at the entrance, elevators, restrooms, and seating, and there is accessible parking. The museum is across Woodward from the main Detroit Public Library, so the two can be visited together.
FAQ
Is there an entry fee?
Residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties enter free. Other visitors pay admission, and current prices are on dia.org.
How long do you need at the Detroit Institute of Arts?
Plan for two to four hours. Visitors who want to see the Rivera Court and the galleries often spend most of a day.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
The museum recommends getting tickets in advance.
Is the museum good for children?
Yes. It is family-friendly, with a Family Welcome Center that has art-making activities and scavenger hunts.
