Motown Historical Museum - Detroit, MI - museum honoring the history of Motown music

Founded in 1985, the Motown Historical Museum celebrates the legacy of the Motown Record Corporation and its impact on United States culture during the 1960s. This museum is located in Detroit and attracts thousands of visitors every year. From the opening of Studio A to the innovative style of the Motown women, the Motown Historical Museum gives tourists exhibits on everything dealing with this musical style.

Motown's story begins in 1959 when Berry Gordy, Jr. purchased a two- family flat in Detroit and called it Hitsville USA. Today, that flat is the basis of the museum. Visitors can see the home as it looked in 1959-1960, with the original master bedroom suite and living room furniture. While Motown was first getting off of the ground, their producers, musicians, and administrators sat around the dining room table to prepare records for shipping. Along with this table, visitors to the Motown Historical Museum can see the original Motown control room, which was used to record Motown Sound. Some of the songs recorded on this equipment include "Shop Around'' and "Please Mr. Postman.'' Even after Motown outgrew its Hitsville USA headquarters and moved to a larger building, some of its recording artists continued to make records in this studio.

As Motown grew in popularity, so did the space they needed. Gordy and his family moved, and the company purchased 7 more houses in the neighborhood for their singers, songwriters, producers, and other employees. The Motown Historical Museum includes models of these buildings, which they used exclusively until moving to a high rise in downtown Detroit.

Along with the equipment used to make this company one of the most successful record labels in history, tourists can see the original stage uniforms that were worn by some of Motown's biggest stars. In the exhibit "Motown Style,'' the museum displays Michael Jackson's famous jeweled white glove and fedora, dresses worn by the Supremes, and outfits that were once designed for Brenda Holloway, among other costumes. Further memorabilia found at the Motown Historical Museum includes original sheet music, photos of Motown's stars in the recording studio, and promotional material from the early 1960s.

One of the most innovative recording methods during this time was the use of Motown's Echo Room. When visiting the Motown Historical Museum, guests can play with the special effects processes used before electronics could manipulate the music. They used a hole in the ceiling to create reverb, as heard in songs such as "Dancing in the Streets'' and "Where Did Our Love Go,'' and today's tourists can sing and clap in this studio to get similar effects.

Visitors to the Motown Historical Museum can view the exhibits themselves or participate in a guided tour. The museum offers tours regularly during normal hours, and larger groups can schedule private tours in advance. As this is a popular destination for all age groups, the museum also offers special tours for school classes, church organizations, family reunions, and other groups. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with hours on Monday as well during July and August. Price range from $6 to $10 per person depending on age and size of the tour group. For more information, tourists can call the museum at 313-875-3364.