Detroit Opera House

This tour is SOLD OUT. For wait list information, please call 313.833.1801.

Originally the Capitol Theatre, what is now known as the Detroit Opera House opened on January 12, 1922. At the time of its gala premiere, the 4,250-seat theater claimed to be the fifth largest in the world. Designed by renowned Detroit architect C. Howard Crane, whose genius for theater design took him to cities around the nation, the building was constructed with superb acoustics and in the style of the grand European opera houses. The theatre underwent several name changes in its first few decades but continued to showcase luminaries such as Louis Armstrong and rock and roll stars of the 1950s. The 1970s and 1980s proved tumultuous for the theatre, which closed its doors in 1985 after a small fire. After years of neglect, the Detroit Opera House was beautifully restored in 1996, when the nomadic Michigan Opera Theatre decided to transform the former Capitol Theater into a permanent home. Today, the Detroit Opera House is home to Michigan Opera Theatre and hosts many of the world’s best dance companies, Broadway shows and concerts.

Tickets available to members only until December 23.

Detroit Historical Society member benefits include priority registration for all tours and programs. For information on becoming a member please call Alanna Shahly at 313.833.0158. Call Rebecca McDonald at 313.833.1801for more information.