Discover Detroit Scavenger Hunt
Discover Motor City with a scavenger hunt across Detroit's comeback story. Stand at the punching fist of Joe Louis, walk Diego Rivera's industrial murals at the DIA, sing along at Hitsville USA where Motown rolled out hit after hit, and watch Canada's skyline glow back at you across the river. Auto roots, Motown beat, fresh rye in the Eastern Market.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Campus Martius
Navigate to Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit and check in by the fountain.
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2
Detroit Riverwalk
Walk south to the Detroit Riverwalk and check in at Hart Plaza or in front of the Renaissance Center.
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3
Eastern Market
Rideshare north to Eastern Market and check in in the central shed (Shed 2 or 3 on a Saturday).
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4
Detroit Institute of Arts
Rideshare to the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) on Woodward Avenue and check in at the main entrance.
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5
Motown Museum
Rideshare west to the Motown Museum on West Grand Boulevard and check in on the sidewalk in front of Hitsville U.S.A.
Challenges (20)
Detroit kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Detroit backdrop (a Motown record sleeve, a vintage Ford, the RenCen skyline) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Campus Martius
Navigate to Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit and check in by the fountain.
Spirit of Detroit pose
A block south, the Spirit of Detroit is a massive bronze of a seated figure holding a gold sphere and a family, in front of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. Find the statue and take a group photo with the team posed below the outstretched hands.
Joe Louis Fist pose
Across the street stands "The Fist", a 24-foot bronze punch by Robert Graham honouring boxer Joe Louis. Find the fist, line the team up under it and take a group photo where everyone throws a matching punch into the air.
Trivia: Detroit founded
Detroit was founded by French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, who landed on the river and built Fort Pontchartrain. In what year?
Answer: 1701
Checkpoint: Detroit Riverwalk
Walk south to the Detroit Riverwalk and check in at Hart Plaza or in front of the Renaissance Center.
RenCen river shot
The Renaissance Center's seven cylindrical towers loom over the Riverwalk. Find a vantage point on the river side and take a group photo with the RenCen's glass towers behind the team.
Trivia: Country across the river
Detroit sits across the Detroit River from another country. Name the city (or country) you can see on the far bank.
Answers: Windsor / Canada / windsor / canada / Windsor, Ontario / Windsor Canada / Ontario
Checkpoint: Eastern Market
Rideshare north to Eastern Market and check in in the central shed (Shed 2 or 3 on a Saturday).
Eastern Market mural shot
Eastern Market's warehouses are covered in murals from the annual Murals in the Market festival. Find a striking mural and take a group photo where the team mirrors a colour, gesture or shape from the artwork.
Vendor produce portrait
Eastern Market is one of the largest public markets in the country. Find a vendor with their stall stacked high, ask permission and take a squad photo with the colourful produce in the background.
Checkpoint: Detroit Institute of Arts
Rideshare to the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) on Woodward Avenue and check in at the main entrance.
Diego Rivera mural shot
Diego Rivera's "Detroit Industry" frescoes cover the walls of the DIA's Rivera Court, painted in 1932-1933. Walk in (admission is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties; modest fee otherwise) and take a respectful group photo with the team gathered in front of one of the panels.
Trivia: Ford Motor founded
Detroit became the Motor City after Henry Ford founded Ford Motor Company. In what year?
Answer: 1903
Checkpoint: Motown Museum
Rideshare west to the Motown Museum on West Grand Boulevard and check in on the sidewalk in front of Hitsville U.S.A.
Hitsville U.S.A. sign pose
The white house at 2648 W. Grand Boulevard with the blue "Hitsville U.S.A." sign is where Berry Gordy founded Motown Records in 1959. Find the sign, line the team up on the front lawn and take a group photo with the house behind everyone.
Trivia: Motown Records founded
Berry Gordy founded Motown Records in his Detroit family home. In what year?
Answer: 1959
Detroit-style pizza
Detroit-style pizza is the rectangular, deep-dish pizza with caramelised cheese around the edges. Order a Buddy's or Cloverleaf pie (the originals), share among the team and take a group photo with everyone catching the cheese pull on the first slice.
Local Detroiter tip
Convince a local Detroit resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Detroit finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Detroit spot (the RenCen lit up at night, Campus Martius at golden hour, the Riverwalk with Canada glowing across) and take an amazing closing group photo. Cheers from Motor City!
Frequently asked questions
Five to six hours covers downtown (Campus Martius, Riverwalk), Eastern Market, the DIA and the Motown Museum at a relaxed pace. The five anchors spread across town so most groups rideshare between them. The DIA alone can absorb two hours if you let it.
The five anchors and the corridors between them are well-trafficked, well-lit and visited daily by tens of thousands. Stick to the main streets, use rideshare between districts after dark, and the hunt is no riskier than any other big-city outing. Downtown has seen a major safety and reinvestment surge over the past decade.
Yes if you love the music, the Hitsville USA house is the original site where Berry Gordy recorded Marvin Gaye, the Supremes and the Jackson 5. Buy timed tickets online for the guided tour. Even if you skip the tour, the white-and-blue house with the "Hitsville U.S.A." sign is the photo every Motown fan wants.
Campus Martius is the natural starting point: the geographic centre of the city, parking garages on every corner, and the Spirit of Detroit and Joe Louis Fist are within a five-minute walk. From there walk south to the Riverwalk, then rideshare to Eastern Market, the DIA and Motown.
Yes. Campus Martius has a sandy beach in summer and an ice rink in winter, the Riverwalk has carousels and playgrounds, Eastern Market has free-sample vendors and family-friendly food trucks, and the DIA has a free Kids' Town gallery. The Motown tour welcomes kids who can stay still for an hour.