motown historical museum

Amazing tour of this historic musical birthplace of Motown music. Incredible photos and video start the tour that concludes with and fantastic look at the original studio A, recording booth, and even the candy machine where Stevie Wonder got his beloved Baby Ruth's.

It is quite small and only takes an hour to tour but what an hour. It gives the history of motown music and culminates standing in the original recording studio with original equipment and instruments. A Detroit must see.

The staff here are just lovely. You could tell they cared about the legacy of Motown as the enthusiasm and dedication to their jobs really showed. We started off with a short film about Motown which gave a visual look at what made these acts so popular. Then we ventured upstairs for a history lesson on Motown right from the beginning of Gordy's life. The real highlight was entering the studio and seeing all the old tapes in place in the old a&r department. Entering the recording space where all of the great used to record was chilling and gave me goosebumps. Hats off to the tour guide. She made this a fun trip and something I won't forget

You can only take photos on the outside. The spot inside you can roam on your own is the gift store. Everything else is done by guided tour that last roughly an hour. They do their best to preserve everything they can from the famous Studio A to Barry Gordy's residence. Like stepping into 1966. Very interesting indeed. I just wasn't crazy about their no photo policy. The least they can do is set up their own photographer to take pics and sell them to the visitors. That's a win-win!

Great guide, fun tour, and you learn a lot! One of the cool things about this tour is that the studio looks just like it did 50 years ago, so you are standing and seeing it just like the superstars who recorded there did. Plus there's a video clip of Stevie Wonder when he was just a kid, the Jackson 5 outfits (and Michael's sequin white glove) and much more. Do you know how the " Motown sound" of echo was achieved before the days of special effects? I do now! Definitely recommended!

I only had a very short time here before I had to fly out of Detroit and so 'Jack' gave me a whistle-stop tour of the famous Motown Studio A which was simply awesome. To stand in the very recording Studio where the likes of Stevie Wonder and the Jackson 5 made sweet musical history made the hairs stand up on your back! Jack also shared some interesting stories, like the Candy Vending Machine (the original one from the 60's) where there was always a 'Baby Ruth' bar in the 4th from the right position so Stevie Wonder could find it by counting along 4 vending knobs! Also the fact that Martha Reeves turned up unannounced for her audition and so ended up answering phones and thus became a secretary at Motown before she became a recording artist.So quite simply a massive chunk of musical history and an important part of Detroit that is well worth a visit despite its simplicity and scale. I managed to park on the street right outside the Museum which was great and entrance fee for an Adult is just US$15... Well worth the experience and to be able to stand in the legendary Studio A. There is no-photography allowed once you pass through the front door of the Museum but there is a gift shop selling all sorts of cool Motown branded products.Just a 2 minute drive further up the street is the famous landmark building "The Fisher Building" and I recommend a visit to this as well while you are so close as it's an amazing piece of architecture and stunning art deco.

Seriously, if you are going to Detroit, this is your first stop...or it should be. I pooh poohed the idea after seeing the nondescript building its housed in, but I am so glad I got over my first thought. This is the actual place where Berry Gordy started Motown....where Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, the Temptations, Diana Ross...the list goes on...started. Peggy was our guide and she couldn't hide her smile the whole way through the tour.....she is proud of where she works and she loves her job. She would break into song unannounced and highly encouraged us to join in and you couldn't stop yourself. Musically, this is HUGE in history....even if you aren't into this kind of music, do yourself a favor and see this. My husband was iffy, left the decision to me, I said yes, he went along...after it was over, you would have thought it was his idea.....he loved it! GO ON THIS TOUR.

Many displays of early Motown performers. Records hung on walls showing recording artists and record labels associated with Motown. Photographs of people associated with making Motown. Displays of Berry Gordy's family who helped him start his dream. The house with its original furniture where Berry Gordy lived during his Motown years. The recording studio where Motown artists recorded their music. The tour guide made the experience come to life. Very interesting insights into Gordy and the music he produced.

As a native Detroiter, I have taken several out of town visitors here. They are always pleasantly in awe of the neighborhood homes. Those who loved the Mowtown sound, love the museum.

This place is so awesome. you get the feel of whole Motown era. they have so many cool displays of what was going on during that time. you get to experience the magic of Motown music. You get the whole history of so many Motown artist. its just a GREAT experience for any music lover

When "Motown,the Musical"national tour played in Detroit,naturally ,I HAD to be there. As a fan of anything Motown ,Tamla,or Gordy (record labels), I wanted to see where it all began.Also, since my daughter was playing the part of "Diana Ross", I wanted to see the museum WITH her.The museum is actually the house that the artists "made their magic", and I was able to SEE the room that was the major studio for their recordings. The rooms still had the actual furniture and equipment. The photos,the album covers, the recordings of my favorite artists,the piano(!) were all there!As a added treat ,when my daughter came with us to see the museum ,she secretly told the guide who she was,and the guide let her walk ONTO the roped-off floor in the RECORDING STUDIO to perform " I Hear A Symphony" a capella ,for our group! (Naturally, I cried! )Needless to say, if you're a fan of Motown,you'll like this historical unobtrusive site.The store ,which we visited at the tour's end, had all the necessary stuff to buy ,like CDs ,bags ,clothes,jackets,etc. and the tour guide was excellent!

Very small, never realized the Motown studio was originally a house. Tour guides were extremely knowledgeable. Wish the gift shop had more music available. More unique gifts. All the music there could have been purchased in a regular stosre

If you love the Motown sound you'll love this place. See where all of those great hits were recorded.

Please make sure you're aware all tours are guided. No self-guided tours. If you're on a schedule, call ahead. This is a popular museum so tours do sell out.Begins with a film about Berry Gordy and the music. Then you head upstairs to view the exhibits. I only wish we were given more time to look around at the pictures and exhibits. Our tour guide was a performer and I felt I was being rude "ignoring" him and reading the picture captions.You are standing where history was made!The Michael Jackson Fedora and sequined glove need better conservation. The direct light on the black hat is doing irreparable damage! Please call a professional conservator to assist you. Please!You'll go through the Gordys' apartment/home. How cool. Then downstairs to the reception/studio rooms. Wow. You can feel it. If these walls could talk!No photography allowed inside the building (a shame, but understandable). I hope someone is working on a coffee table /collectible book showing everything.

This is one of my favorite museum's I've ever been to. I love motown music and the history is so interesting and important. You must stop here!