Detroit, Motown, The City On The Strait: a plot of earth stretching back 8 millennia as inhabited land, and 3 centuries since its French founding as Fort Pontchartrain, du Detroit. A city with more than its fair share of dubious characters, tragic occurrences, and unexplained happenings. From phantom ships and mysterious oddities to mass graves and urban legends; Detroit's dastardly past hides just below the surface of our roads, parks, and grand downtown buildings…if you know where to look.

On this 90-minute walking tour, you will discover the governor whose body was once lost, thrice moved, and reburied a mere four times. Together with your expert guide, you’ll explore stories of Edwardian plagues and Victorian peculiarities, as well as prohibition gangsters, French folklore, and scoundrels of several varieties.

We hope you’ll join us on the dark side of Detroit history as we explore: Dastardly Detroit: a downtown spooky history walking tour.

THE DETAILS:

• This tour departs from the GM Plaza Promenade, on Atwater St. overlooking the Detroit River, in front of the Renaissance Center at 300 Atwater St, Detroit, MI 48226. Please meet your guide on the river side of the Plaza Promenade, directly opposite the Renaissance Center Doors and Andiamo's Restaurant. Your guide will be wearing a grey, Detroit History Tours shirt.

  • Several parking options are available, including parking garages (rates vary from $10 all day to $12 an hour depending on the lot and day of the week), on-street metered parking ($0.75 an hour weekday or $1.50 an hour weekend), or park and ride with both the People Mover (you’ll need to exit at the Ren Cen stop and walk two blocks) or the Q Line (Exit at the Jefferson Ave/Spirit of Detroit stop and walk 3 blocks).

• This tour travels one way, at a leisurely pace, and is just shy of a mile and a half in distance. This tour concludes at Grand Circus Park. At that time, guests are invited to return to their vehicles on their own (it’s a well-lit, safe, easy, straight shot down Woodward Ave. back to the starting location of the tour) or enjoy one of the many fabulous bars and restaurants dotting the route.

• We are happy to welcome guests 12 years old and older on this tour. However, we remind guardians that all minors must be accompanied, and that the themes of this tour include violent crime, death, illness, and the supernatural, etc. Topics and themes will not be edited due to young guests being present. We reserve the right to deny any child under the age of 12 inclusion on the tour.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

• Good shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are highly recommended.

• Age 12 and up.

• To best enjoy this tour, guests should be able to climb inclines, as well as walk over uneven surfaces, grassy areas, and sidewalks.

• Guests must be able to stand for extended periods of time.

• Guests are welcome to bring a nonalcoholic drink on the tour. We recommend a bottle of water.

• Public bathrooms are not available on the 90-minute tour. Guests are kindly asked to plan accordingly.

• Recreational photography is permitted (encouraged) on this tour. Professional photography or videography of any kind are not permitted without written approval at least 15 days in advance.

• We are a history tour company; this is not a haunted house. Nothing will jump out and scare you. This tour is designed to be an educational experience into the creepy side of Detroit’s history.

• This tour takes place in all weather conditions, with the exception of thunder and lightning. In the event the tour is canceled due to weather, all guests will be refunded or have the option to rebook.

• Guides will be on site at least 20 minutes prior to the ticketed start time. The tour will depart at the ticketed start time.

• Late guest arrivals cannot be accommodated.

• Your order confirmation email will serve as your only ticket. Please save your email and be prepared to show it on your phone or printed at the start of your tour. Guides will also have a manifest with each guest's name. (We do this to avoid the ticketing fees that come along with all ticketing systems. The price of your ticket will remain the same throughout checkout with no added service charges, fees, or tax. However, absolutely nothing will be mailed to you, and no physical ticket will be sent.)

Meet Your Guide:

Jeff Pollock

Jeff Pollock is a public historian, event organizer, and advocate for the ‘Vernors Cure.’ Prior to coming to Detroit History Tours, Jeff (known as Pollock at Detroit History Tours) had stints at museums in Monroe, Sanilac County and Detroit. He has a passion for history, but is especially drawn to the history of crime in Detroit, the Civil War, sports history and the W.P.A. He is an advocate for all things East Side, and relishes a good trivia question. Pollock’s only regrets in life are being born too late to watch Norm Cash bat with a table leg or see a Goodfellow Game.