Some of the world’s most notorious criminals, mobsters, and gangsters bamboozled their way through Detroit. Meanwhile, some of history’s most infamous, brilliant, or honorable policemen tried to stop them. On our Felonies and Misdemeanors: The Detroit Cops and Mobsters Tour, escape into the city’s criminal underworld as we investigate stories about Jimmy Hoffa, Prohibition, The Purple Gang, “Joe the Hood,” The Gotham Hotel, and Detroit’s mob families.

You’ll hear the story of La Mano Nera—or Black Hand extortionists—in Detroit at the turn of the century. We’ll explore the illegal liquor wars of the 1910s. We’ll visit an iconic bar where we’ll learn about the police chief who resigned his appointment as a judge to bring “civility back to the police.” As we traverse the city, we’ll uncover the history of mobster-owned speakeasies and some of their most memorable raids.

From riots to rolling men into the river, from African American gambling rackets to Italian mobsters fixing professional football games, from hookers, madams, and street corner pimps to cops, mounted police, and mayors of all types—welcome to the criminal side of Detroit.

Because drinking and swearing are part of this history, all public bus tours are strictly for guests 21 years of age and older.

The tour leaves promptly at the ticketed time. Late arrivals cannot be accommodated.

This tour departs from and returns to The Detroit History Club (3103 Commor St., Hamtramck, MI 48212). Parking is on-street. Doors to the club open 30 minutes before the ticketed time; guests are invited to come inside, check into the tour, and relax until departure.

Your order confirmation email will serve as your only ticket. Please save your email and be prepared to show it on your phone or as a printed copy to board the bus. (We do this to avoid the ticketing fees that come with ticketing systems. The price of your ticket will remain the same throughout checkout, with no added fees for tax.)

Meet Your Guide:

Bailey Sisoy Moore

Bailey Sisoy Isgro is the owner of Detroit History Tours and the proprietress of the Detroit History Club. She is an author, humorist, workaholic, Faygo-loving tour guide from the great City of Detroit. A lover of city ephemera, her most prized possessions include her antique books about Detroit penned by Clarence M. Burton himself, her Library of Congress readers card, her collection of vintage jewelry, and signed pay stubs of Edsel Ford. A frequent essay contributor, her most recent work can be seen in The Detroit Neighborhood Guide Book. Her first children’s book, Rosie A Detroit Herstory, hit shelves in the fall of 2018 from Wayne State Press and is receiving rave reviews. She has appeared on television as a contributor on the Travel Channel’s Tough Boats and Globe Trekker series, is a common guest on history-themed podcasts, and has written op-eds for local papers. She also likes to think her mother is proud. When she isn’t tramping around Detroit giving tours, drinking at century-old bars, and talking history with anyone who’ll join her, she can be found at her home in Highland Park, “a little slice of heaven inside Detroit”. She is meticulous in her research and passionate about historical accuracy, yet she takes great joy in presenting history in the most exciting, playful, and accessible way possible. A passionate connoisseur of all things delicious, she adamantly argues the health benefits of coney dogs and Vernors floats.