They say necessity is the mother of invention and pandemic times have proven this adage to be true time and time again! In our case, during lockdown, we began to imagine a way for guests to safely interact with our tours and hit upon the idea of going virtual. We teamed up with app developer TOTAGO (Turn Off The App And Go Outside) to develop the concept and we are now the proud launch-ees of a self-guided tour app!

Each download includes a detailed route map and, at each stop, one of our tour guides will “join” you with an informative video narrative that will bring to life the very spot at which you are standing.

Be sure to download the app and purchase the tour ahead of your ride so you’ll have time to work out any technology kinks. Links to download the free TOTAGO app are at the bottom of the page.

Auto Heritage

Discover how Detroit became the center of the automotive industry on this tour. The tour takes in the Globe Building, Dequindre Cut, Packard Plant, the GM Detroit-Hamtramck (Poletown) Assembly Plant, Milwaukee Junction with a stop at the Piquette Plant, New Center (old GM Headquarters and Fisher Building) and TechTown, where you will learn how industry is evolving with advanced technology. On the return trip, you will pass the Michigan Theatre, the location of Ford’s original workshop, the Bagley Garage.

Your video tour guide, Mike Darga, will wow you with his depth of knowledge at each of the 11 stops on the 12-mile route.

Partners include Motorcities National Heritage Area and Ford Piquette Avenue Plant.

Preview at TOTAGO →

Corktown

Get inside info on the oldest neighborhood in Detroit. Check out Victorian homes, historic churches and buildings, vibrant and dynamic businesses and urban farms. Stops include Most Holy Trinity, North Corktown and several of its community gardens and urban farms, the West Riverfront, the site of Tiger Stadium, Michigan Central Station, and Roosevelt Park.

Discussion centers on historic demographic changes, urban renewal and the impact, good and bad, of current development in the community. Wheelhouse owner Kelli Kavanaugh will be your virtual tour guide. She lived in Corktown for 19 years, wrote the book "Detroit’s Michigan Central Station," and previously worked for the Corktown Citizens District Council and Greater Corktown Development Corp.

At one of the stops, several local food and drink establishments will be pointed out, so we encourage you to plan to spend some time at one or more of them! The tour route is approximately 9 miles and features 7 stops.

Preview at TOTAGO→

Under Development

Haunted (pictured), Public Art, Belle Isle, Historic Religious Sites, Music Heritage, Prohibition, Breweries