The birthplace of the automobile also gave rise to Motown music, but Detroit has struggled in recent years as car makes moved their plants outside of Michigan. Thanks to a government cash infusion and some pretty nifty planning, the Big D is on its way back.

That’s a happy message for culture and history freaks, who probably already know about these 20 free things to do in Detroit.

1. Detroit Museum Adventure Pass 
The Motor City has some of the best museums in America and I spent my childhood wandering through them. Now cash-strapped Detroiters get to do the same for free, thanks to the Museum Adventure Pass. While it’s not always available, the program allows residents to check out a pass from their library that gets them into many participating cultural attractions for free. Let’s hope the collaborators continue to sponsor this worthy program.

2. Edsel and Eleanor Ford House Grounds and Gardens 
Grosse Point used to be the suburban home of Motor City’s auto executives but now it’s perhaps best known for the Ford grounds and gardens. You’ll see native plants in natural landscape designs, including a wildflower meadow and “Bird Island,” a peninsula created from a sandbar.

3. Detroit RiverWalk 
Saunter, skate, bike or blade your way down the 3.5-mile RiverWalk, with the Detroit River on one side and a greenway on the other. It’s a great way to check out the skylines of both Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. You can access the RiverWalk from the GM Renaissance Center in the heart of downtown.

4. Monthly Meetup and Blues Jam
Sit in on a blues jam with Detroit’s best at the Detroit Blues Society’s monthly meet-up. The Broken Arrow Blues Band sets the key and beat.

5. Holocaust Memorial Center 
Uniformed services always receive free admission to the Holocaust Memorial Center, the first of its kind in the United States. There are two core exhibits: “The Museum of European Jewish Heritage” and the “International Institute of the Righteous.” Make sure you check out the exterior, which was built to resemble the walls of a concentration camp.

5. Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum
Remember that fortune telling machine from the movie “Big” that made Tom Hanks an adult? Well that’s the kind of thing you’ll find at Marvin Yagoda’s museum. In addition to coin-operated palm readers and side-show exhibits, the museum contains a 55-piece mechanical orchestra that plays over 300 songs. Other oddities include an electric chair from Sing-Sing prison; P.T. Barnum’s Cardiff Giant; and over 50 airplanes circling overhead.

7. Yates Cider Mill 
This one is a bit outside of Detroit, but it’s well worth the drive. Go on a sunny Fall day when the trees are turning those magnificent colors only Michigan can produce. The cider mill has been around since 1863 and the clock ticks just a bit slower as you watch this age-old process. It’s perfect for the entire family and free to watch, although you may not be able to resist buying a gallon or two of cider before leaving. Interesting face: Each gallon contains the juice of about 36 apples.

8. Detroit Historical Museum 
The best part of this museum is its signature exhibit “The Streets of Old Detroit.” which recreates the cobblestones and shops of Detroit’s early days in the basement of the building. You can also check in on “Frontiers to Factories” and the “Motor City” exhibit, to learn how the automobile industry shaped the region. The third Sunday of each month is free to all visitors.

9. Belle Isle 
Located just three miles from downtown in the Detroit River between the U.S. and Canada, Belle Isle is an island park connected to Michigan by the MacArthur Bridge. It’s home to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, the Detroit Yacht Club n an adjacent island, the James Scott Memorial Fountain, a Coast Guard station, and more. Admission to the conservatory’s 13 acre greenhouse and botanical garden space, is always free. The building is vintage Detroit and contains a massive orchid collection.

10. Chene Park Amphitheatre 
One of Detroit’s newest parks, Chene is a unique amphitheatre that views the Windsor skyline across the Detroit River. The venue offers many free summer concerts.

11. Detroit Institute of Arts
Residents get a break on Fridays when admission is free with proof of residency. The museum is well worth taking a day off, however, if only to see the Diago Rivera Detroit Industry Fresco cycle, inspired by the glory days of the city’s manufacturing industry during the glory days of the 1930s. Other attractions in the sprawling 600,000 square-foot building include multicultural art and the priceless Vincent Van Gogh Self Portrait.

12. International Festival 
Sponsored by the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit, the festival usually takes place in mid to late October. Performers represent the region’s diverse culture, including Polish, African, Chinese, Spanish, Indian and many others. The festival is free but you might end up dropping some cash on the craft items, jewelry, food and other goods from many nations.

13. Detroit Science Center 
Granted free admission is limited to first weekend of the month for Bank of America cardholders, but it’s still a freebie. The center encompasses 110,000 square feet and includes multiple exhibit laboratories as well as learning environments. Located in the heart of Detroit’s Cultural Center, the DSC is a family venue that both entertains and educates.

14. Architectural Tour 
Detroit is a unique blend of everything from skyscrapers built during the pre-Depression ear to Frank Lloyd Wright private homes. These stunning works sit cheek-by-jowl with hearthbreaking abandoned regions, perfect for those with a fascination for urban decay. Check out ExperienceDetroit.com for self-guided tour maps.

15. Detroit International Jazz Festival 
Motown ain’t just about Motown these days. Jazz has moved front and center, with the Detroit International Jazz Festival, held each Labor day, serving as the largest free jazz festival in North America.

16. GM Renaissance Center 
Rising 73 stories above the Detroit River, the RenCen is topped by the Coach Insignia restaurant. Take a breathtaking ride on the glass elevator for a panoramic view of Motor City. You might want to spend some time wandering around a few of the seven towers that encompass 5.5 million square feet.

17. Detroit Opera House 
A crown jewel of downtown Detroit, the Opera House is a stunning piece of Renaissance architecture that will leave you slack jawed. The 4,250-seat theater is the fifth largest in the world and boasts lavish crystal chandeliers, marble stairways, frescoes, and rich damask curtains and draperies.

18. The Heidelberg Project 
One man, one vision, one amazing 25-year project. This open-air art environment is located at the heart of an urban community on Detroit’s East Side. Founder and artistic director Tyree Guyton uses discarded, everyday objects to create a two-block area of color, intrigue and symbolism. The Project is recognized internationally as “a demonstration of the power of creativity to transform lives.”

19. Cliff Bell’s Open Organ Jam
You can find host RJ Spangler and his group performing free at 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Cliff Bell’s in the heart of Detroit’s entertainment district. You’ll hear music “emphasizing the greasy sounds of the Hammond B-3 organ.” Instrumentalists are invited to sit-in.

20. Sanders Candy Factory Tour
You haven’t experienced hot fudge until you’ve sampled Sanders’ finest. Founded in 1875, the Detroit favorite allows the public to tour their production facilities solo or by calling 1-800-651-7263 for a guided tour. You’ll see the internal makings of candies, cakes, chocolates, ice creams and dessert toppings.

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