Exploring Michigan – Side of Detroit We Didn’t Know About (and Loved!)

Exploring Michigan – Side of Detroit We Didn’t Know About (and Loved!)

Detroit. Is that safe? This was one of the first reactions when I told people I was going to Detroit. And it wasn’t surprising really because the only exposure the city really gets on a global stage is the story of a once great metropolis falling into economic devastation. The US recession has hit Detroit so badly. The city of Detroit is running out of cash. One in 51 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. But is that still Detroit today? We spent a weekend here, not to dredge up the past, but to explore some of the revitalized areas and key cultural institutions of the city. I guess we’re going to find out. With us for part of it was a friend who has seen firsthand the transformation of Detroit with nononsense policies and strong leadership, revitalizing the city in a way few could achieve. Detroit’s being revitalized. Today we are exploring the Eastern Market here in Detroit. Forget any quaint image you have of a small farmers market because this is something else. Spanning 43 acres, the Eastern Market is one of the largest and oldest historic public market districts in the United States. It’s been operating in some form since 1891 and can see up to 40,000 visitors in a single day during the busy season. There are so many different market stalls. Like there’s craft, there’s fruit and veg, there’s food, honey, all kinds of homemade treats. And I’ve been told this isn’t even like peak and this is what it’s like. So yeah, totally different vibe to my Trinidad market, but I like it, too. The Eastern Market is one of those areas where you can see the revitalization of Detroit in action. Their 2025 strategy reflects a vision to expand the district and solidify its role as a major food innovation hub, all while creating living wage jobs for Detroititers. The plan focuses on growing the space for food processing and distribution while simultaneously protecting the market soul by including affordable housing and community centered planning. I think this is the oldest presently operating pharmacy. Interesting. Like we had a place called Can Market like this. [Applause] You can bounce anywhere. [Music] [Music] Thank you. You’re welcome. [Music] There are all the cold storage buildings. She keeps looking at the camera. I didn’t realize she’s filming and filming us. Oh my. Can you Can you wash your windscreen so the cameraman can see out of it? What? What are you talking about? Why? After finishing at the market, we took a drive through downtown Detroit, admiring the various art deco buildings before heading to have lunch in Corktown, one of the revitalized suburbs that’s become a focal point for new businesses, residential projects, and cultural attractions. I thought it was a bank. After having what would be the best Italian meal that I have had outside of Italy. Uh we are heading to the Detroit Institute of Art which has been voted one of the best, if not the best, art gallery in America. So far, this place has been surprising. It definitely does not live up to the reputation that it has in Australia, that’s for sure, with what gets reported in the media. So, I am keen to see a lot more. Can we do Roki? The Detroit Institute of Art is a worldclass art gallery holding over 65,000 works. Wandering the collections, you do get a sense of who some of the bigger patrons are. And one that commonly came up was the Ford family. As part of this weekend adventure, we would be visiting the iconic Henry Ford Museum of Innovation in Dearbornne. as well as American art, they also have art from other places, times, cultures here, too. So, right now we’re in the bet that shows off Roman and Greek artwork, which is interesting for us because we have spent so much time in Italy before, especially in 2018 when we drove around the country. So, I’m getting kind of like a lot of memories and flashbacks, especially over here. There’s a piece of Pompei on the wall and we went to Pompei and we went to Herankam nearby which honestly I would have to say is better than Pompei if you ever get a chance to go. Uh but yeah, it’s bringing up some good memories. That’s for sure. It’s like you recognize the bits where you’ve been like, you know, I’ve been up that hill. I’ve got a photo I think near that triple piece there. Mhm. That’s very cool. That’s crazy. At the very heart of the institute are Diego Rivera’s breathtaking Detroit industry murals. These massive frescos are a powerful, gritty, and deeply moving tribute to the city’s industrial might and working people. To me, the magnificence of the Detroit Institute of Art is only enhanced by what you see as you drive around Detroit. It quickly becomes clear that this is a city where art is valued. It’s accessible and everywhere you look. You see it in the sprawling colorful murals that cover entire buildings. The onceforgotten downtown alleyways that have been transformed into dazzling exhibition spaces for public art and on the sides of businesses and community spaces like the river murals at the Institute of Art. Many of these works are a visual conversation about where Detroit has been and where it’s going. Today’s visit is the Henry Ford Museum, which is just on the outskirts of Detroit and holds a whole lot of different artifacts from American history, not just cars. So, this is one of the things that I was really looking forward to seeing while we were here. The name, the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, really says it all about this place. It is a testament to what courage, hard work, and ingenuity have achieved in the United States. The museum began as Henry Ford’s personal collection and has grown from there, carrying on his mission to preserve items of historical interest and capture what life was like during one of humanity’s most revolutionary ages. And then you can just go like that. This is like the oldest still existing steam engine. And it seems to be it goes from the boiler up over to there and then pushes this thingy up and down. Very technical explanation, I know, but it is very cool to see history from this time where everything was mechanical. I mean, personally, living on a boat, we love stuff that’s mechanical and simple. Uh, it’s just crazy what uh humans have managed to create at the time. The section we’re in now is a little bit like what we saw at the Gilmore Museum. This is historic tractors, but these ones are a lot older. Like, there’s even a steam tractor here. Uh, and I can see the hot dog car. So, I’m really not sure why that’s here. I guess we’re going to find out. Wooden wheels. Oh, the worm gear of the car. Yeah. Drags the chain in and out. Wow. That thing would turn so slowly. This weekend That’s amazing. The Wiener Mobile. The Wiener Mobile was a funny one for us. As Australians, we really just know it as the hot dog Hot Wheels car. She’s the best. Something I didn’t know until we visited was that Ford actually made planes for a while. And more to that, Henry Ford himself was instrumental in helping to convince people that commercial passenger planes were safe. That’s that’s that’s interesting. You sit where you sit where they drove the train. Oh, wow. All the controls still work. I bet they keep it well oiled. No idea what this is doing. Let’s play with it. How you going to start out there? weird that this is in all these videos. Our time in Detroit was far more interesting than I’d ever anticipated. And if you asked me if I would like to visit the city again, my answer is yes. The continued revitalization, which seems to be led by people who know Detroit and care about its future, make it somewhere that I think will get even better as time goes on. Is it perfect? No. Are there still very real problems to solve? Absolutely. But those are things I could say about most cities around the world. The difference is that Detroit seems to be on a clear path forward. A path that pays homage to the past while applying that same spirit of innovation to the future.

An iconic American city with a rich and storied history, Detroit has become infamous for the economic decline that left the city in despair. But is that Detroit today?

Join us as we explore the REAL Detroit, beyond the negative stereotypes and crises re-runs that tends to dominate the city’s reputation on the global stage. From the vibrant street art scene to the rich history and cultural landmarks, this is a city that’s reinventing itself, and in the process shedding the stereotypes that keep people away.

Get ready to challenge your perceptions and discover a side of Detroit you may not know existed!

👉 SUPPORT INDEPENDENT STORY TELLING
⛵ Gain access to our member only area: https://www.travelsketchsailing.com/join-in
😎 Tip jar: https://buy.stripe.com/6oE8A1d9Yabj4OA9AB

After backpacking Asia, road tripping Europe and doing a bit of van life, we’re now exploring the world aboard our Leopard 45 catamaran. Check out our website https://www.travelsketchsailing.com/

🎶 Music from Artlist ➼ Get yourself 2 months free with a subscription https://artlist.io/Telicia-1577425

0:00 Is Detroit Safe?
0:55 Eastern Market & Downtown
4:11 Detroit Institute of Arts
7:09 Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
11:39 Visiting Detroit