May 21, 2021
DETROIT – The MotorCities National Heritage Area Partnership, along with the Michigan Department of Transportation and many of our attraction and event partners, are hosting a celebration of the installation of their 14 highway signs and provide a look at the upcoming tourism season.
The event, which includes a press briefing and availability, is scheduled for Monday, May 24 at 10 a.m. at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, located at 461 Piquette Avenue in Detroit.
Drivers in southern and central Michigan have probably noticed something new along the highways -- those familiar brown National Park Service signs with a message welcoming them to the MotorCities National Heritage Area! The first 14 signs installed in late 2019 and 2020 were the culmination of many years of work with the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The signs can be found at the following locations:
- Southbound I-75 before the Mt. Morris exit north of Flint;
- Eastbound I-69 near Lansing Road northeast of Lansing;
- Eastbound I-96 near the I-69 interchange northwest of Lansing;
- Eastbound I-96 near the US 127 interchange southeast of Lansing;
- Westbound I-96 near the US 127 interchange southeast of Lansing;
- Westbound I-94 before the M-59 exit in Chesterfield Twp.;
- Eastbound I-96 on the ramp to southbound I-75 in Detroit;
- Northbound I-75 on the ramp to westbound I-96 in Detroit;
- Northbound I-75 near Monroe-Wayne County border;
- Northbound US-23 near Exit 15 in Dundee;
- Northbound I-75 just south of the Michigan Ave. exit in Detroit;
- Southbound I-75 just north of West Grand Blvd. in Detroit;
- Northbound I-275 at the Michigan Ave. exit in Canton;
- And Northbound US-23 just south of the I-94 interchange in Ypsilanti.
“The signs have proven to be a gamechanger with regard to generating additional awareness and name recognition for MotorCities National Heritage Area,” said Shawn Pomaville-Size, MotorCities executive director. “All of our key performance indicators for traffic on our MotorCities.org website more than doubled from 2019 to 2020, due in large part to the existence of these signs. That momentum has only continued through 2021 so far as well.”
In addition, the outlook appears bright for tourism as the 2021 summer season really kicks off Memorial Day weekend. MotorCities’ partner attractions and key automotive-themed events are gearing up, as the economy begins to re-emerge from the COVID pandemic. Guests at the press event from Travel Michigan and the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau will provide additional insight on the outlook for the region and state.
Here’s a quick guide to open automotive-themed attractions featured in MotorCities’ popular passport book:
Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn: Reopens Thursday, June 3 with hours from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thurs-Sun. automotivehalloffame.org/
Cambridge Junction Historic State Park/Walker Tavern Historic Site in Brooklyn: Grounds now open 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. through October 1; historic buildings open Wednesday, May 26 and are open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. through August 6. www.Michigan.gov/CambridgeJunctionHSP
Detroit Historical Museum: Open Thurs.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays 1-5 p.m.
www.detroithistorical.org
Detroit Institute of Arts/Diego Rivera Murals: Open Wed.-Fri. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
www.dia.org
Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores: Grounds are currently open Tues.-Sun. 8 a.m. - Dusk. New Visitor Center opens Wednesday, May 26. www.FordHouse.org
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit: Open Thurs.-Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. www.fordpiquetteplant.org
Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners: Open Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. www.gilmorecarmuseum.org
Greenfield Village in Dearborn: Open Thurs.-Sun. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. www.thehenryford.org
Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn: Open daily 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. www.thehenryford.org
Historic Fort Wayne in Detroit: Open Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through October 31. www.historicfortwaynecoalition.com
Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester: Open Fri.-Mon. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. www.meadowbrookhall.org
Michigan Firehouse Museum in Ypsilanti: Opening in June; www.michiganfirehousemuseum.org
Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society in Eastpointe: Open Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. except June 5 and August 14. www.mimths.org
Old Mill Museum in Dundee: Open 12-4 p.m. Fri.-Mon. www.dundeeoldmill.com
Packard Proving Grounds in Shelby Twp.: Open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. www.packardprovinggrounds.org
Plymouth Historical Museum: Open 1-4 p.m. Wed., Fri.-Sun. www.plymouthhistory.org
R.E. Olds Transportation Museum in Lansing: Open Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 12-5 p.m. www.reoldsmuseum.org
Roush Automotive Collection in Livonia: Open Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. www.roushcollection.com
Sloan Museum at the Courtland Center in Burton: Open Wed.-Sun. Visit http://sloanlongway.org/about-sloan/ for hours and tickets.
Stahl’s Automotive Collection in Chesterfield Twp.: Open Tues. 12-4 p.m. www.stahlsauto.com
Yankee Air Museum in Belleville: Open Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. www.yankeeairmuseum.org
Finally, these events are just a sampling of what’s taking place during the 2021 tourism season:
· Detroit Grand Prix: June 11-13 on Belle Isle in Detroit. www.detroitgp.com
· All-American Cruise: Saturday, June 19 along Wayne Road in Westland. www.allamericancruise.com
· Car Capital Car Show: Saturday, July 24 at Mi History Center in Lansing. www.reoldsmuseum.org
· Concours d’Elegance: July 23-25 at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth. www.councoursusa.org
· Woodward Dream Cruise: August 21 along Woodward Ave. in Oakland County. www.woodwarddreamcruise.com
· Woodward Dream Show: August 19-21 at the M1Concourse in Pontiac. www.woodwarddreamshow.com
· Back to the Bricks: August 17-21 in Flint. www.backtothebricks.org
· Cruisin’ Hines: Sunday, August 29 in Wayne County’s Hines Park. www.cruisinhines.com
· EyesOnDesign: Sunday, September 19 at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. www.eyesondesign.org
· American Speed Festival: September 30-October 3 at M1 Concourse in Pontiac. www.americanspeedfestival.com