Behind The Scenes Tours
Each season, the Detroit Historical Society hosts special Behind the Scenes tours of historic locations and other venues throughout metro Detroit. Let our expert guides show you these places in ways you’ve never experienced before!
These weekly tours normally take place on Saturdays, but some do take place on weekdays. On average, tours last from 90 minutes to two hours. To ensure the safety of our guests, tours require you to meet at the tour location.
Because reservations are required and many tours are only able to accommodate a very limited number of guests, we recommend that you make your plans well in advance - and become a member and create an online account to get the earliest access to tickets. Tour information is released quarterly and posted on the 1st of January, March, June and September for each upcoming season. Tickets will become available to members about two weeks later (please see postings for exact on-sale dates).
The Detroit Historical Society continues to monitor the COVID-19 public health situation closely. You can purchase Behind the Scenes Tickets with confidence. If any tour is cancelled or postponed due to the virus, your ticket price can be transferred to the new date, refunded or kept on credit for a future tour. However, tickets are non-refundable in all other circumstances; if you need to cancel, we will make every effort to reschedule you for a future tour but cannot offer refunds.
To take advantage of your Detroit Historical Society membership benefits online, you must create an online account by clicking here.
After your one-time sign up, you can shop for discounted Behind the Scenes tour tickets through the listings below. (Please sign in to access your discount.) Thank you for your continued support!
Need to buy or renew your membership? Click here.
Current Behind The Scenes Tours:
Hecker House
July 26 2024 | 10:00am to 11:00am
SOLD OUT! Architect Louis Kamper’s first major commission in 1889, this French chateau-like structure at the corner of...
The Whitney
August 2 2024 | 6:00pm to 7:00pm
SOLD OUT! Built by lumber baron David Whitney Jr., Detroit’s richest man and one of Michigan’s wealthiest citizens, this 25,...
Signal-Return
August 3 2024 | 10:00am to 1:00pm
On sale now! Go behind the scenes at Signal Return, a working letterpress studio dedicated to teaching, creating, and producing,...
The Turkel House
August 9 2024 | 10:00am to 11:30am
SOLD OUT! Architect Frank Lloyd Wright coined the term “Usonian” to describe the style of the Dorothy G. Turkel House,...
Bayview Yacht Club
August 10 2024 | 10:00am to 4:00pm
On sale now! In conjunction with our newest exhibition at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, join us to explore Bayview Yacht Club. ...
Society to Society
September 13 2024 | 10:00am to 11:30am
On sale now! Visit the other historical societies of metro Detroit in a new series, beginning at the Dearborn Historical...
Dequindre Cut
September 14 2024 | 10:00am to 11:30am
On sale now! Formerly a Grand Trunk Railroad line, this urban recreational path opened to the public in May of 2009 and is...
Frederick Stearns House Historic Inn
September 18 2024 | 10:00am to 11:00am
SOLD OUT! Tour the historic Frederick Stearns house, a tudor-style structure on E. Jefferson Avenue that is now a fully...
Book Tower Tour #1
September 20 2024 | 10:00am to 11:00am
SOLD OUT! Two tour dates! The wait is over. . . Book Tower has been restored to its former glory and is officially open. The...
Belle Isle's Indigenous History Walking Tour
September 21 2024 | 10:00am to 11:30am
On sale now! Join us on an important journey through Wanabeezee, known to most as Belle Isle, and explore the Indigenous...
Book Tower Tour #2
September 27 2024 | 10:00am to 11:00am
SOLD OUT! Two tour dates! The wait is over. . . Book Tower has been restored to its former glory and is officially open. The...