Based on its history alone, the Motown Museum is one of the coolest tourist attractions in Detroit. The tour of the place was a bit lacking in my opinion, but the museum is still a must-see for any music fan.
Also known as Hitsville USA, the Motown Museum is an unassuming house in a decent-but-not-great neighborhood. It’s the actual former house of Motown founder Berry Gordy. Back in the ’60s, it was one of the epicenters of musical creativity in America.
People commonly ask questions about Motown Museum parking, ticket prices, hours of admission, and what exactly you’ll see inside the building. Here’s the place to answer your questions about visiting this American music institution!
Hitsville USA: The Motown Museum Tour
All the big Motown singers recorded here. Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson… the history in this small house is remarkable.
You can stop by and tour the building where it all went down. My tour was a few years back, and it lasted just 15 minutes (the tour has since been extended to 45-60 minutes.)
You head upstairs to begin the tour and move past artifacts and photos from the early years. Eventually you’re taken downstairs into the carefully-preserved studio, standing in the very spot that all these legendary singers recorded some of the most famous songs in history.
Review of the Motown Museum
People in Detroit gush about the Motown Museum, which makes me think they’ve never been to Sun Studio in Memphis, which is far better.
The Sun Studio tour is much longer, is led by people with intimate knowledge of rock & roll (not just random local kids), and most importantly, you’re allowed to touch things and take pictures at Sun Studio.
The Motown Museum also did not allow photos inside the museum when I visited, but they finally relented and changed their policy.
Their website now states, “Photography is allowed everywhere in the museum except in the Video Presentation room.” However, taking video is not permitted.
The other thing that bothered me is that the Motown tour felt rushed. We had to stay with the group, so there wasn’t much time to admire the artifacts on the walls.
And sadly, some of our precious minutes were spent having the guides teach us a Temptations dance routine. I appreciate the attempt to make the tour interactive, but sorry… we’re here for the history, not the dancing.
Don’t let me dissuade you – if you’re a music fan, you should visit the Motown Museum, if only to stand in the house and Studio A where so much musical history was made. That experience alone is worth the price of admission.
Now, my visit was a few years back, and I understand that tours have been extended to an hour long. That’s a much better value.
I look forward to going back and having the new Motown Museum tour experience to see how Hitsville USA is currently being presented.
Motown Museum Parking, Hours, Tickets and More
What is the Motown Museum parking situation like? As of 2024, there is no parking lot at the museum. You’ll have to use street parking.
Since this is a residential neighborhood, finding a spot can be difficult during busy times (such as Saturday afternoons). But most of the time, street parking can be found outside the museum without issue.
Curbside street parking is free. The museum recommends downloading the Park Detroit app to help visitors locate a parking spot.
The Motown Museum address is 2648 W Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan. That’s about 3.5 miles from downtown.
As for hours: From May through September, the Motown Historical Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm (and stays open later until 8 pm on Saturday.)
How long is the Motown Museum Tour? The current tour takes 45-60 minutes. The last tour begins one hour before close, so be sure to arrive in time.
Tickets currently cost $20 for an adult admission. Seniors and kids up to age 17 are charged $17. You can buy tickets online up to 21 days in advance. You can still visit the Motown Museum without buying tickets ahead of time, but you’ll be placed in the first-come, first-serve line.
The museum also holds special programs like spoken word competitions and summer camps for high school students interested in music.
Interestingly, Motown is still going strong as a record label. Current acts include hip hop and R&B stars such as Migos, Lil Baby, Erykah Badu, and Ne-Yo. These singers extend the tradition first established by ’60s acts such as the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Isley Brothers, Commodores, and Boyz II Men.
And while you’re in Detroit, don’t forget to check out the Heidelberg Project, the Joe Louis fist statue, and the Henry Ford automobile museum!
READ ABOUT RELATED MUSIC HISTORY ATTRACTIONS:
Michael Jackson’s Birth Home
Freddie Mercury’s Birth Home
Pictures from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Elvis Presley’s RCA Studio B in Nashville
The Country Music Hall of Fame
