Ann Arbor

Detroit Observatory

The oldest astronomical observatory in Michigan and 2nd oldest building remaining on campus. Take a free tour of the observatory and learn how it set the stage for The University of Michigan to become a center of science and research. The telescopes at this observatory served to set time for the entire city and keep the trains running on schedule until the development of more reliable timepieces and telecommunications.

Closed · opens noon Thursday·free · Built 1854

University of Michigan Museum of Art

UMMA

Collections of African, American, Asian, European, and Middle Eastern art; modern and contemporary artwork; prints, drawings and photographs; and frequent rotating collections. Gift shop on-site.

Building hours: daily 8AM-midnight; gallery hours: Tue-Wed 10AM-5PM, Thu Fri 10AM-10PM, Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM·Free ($5 donation suggested) · Free entry

Kelsey Museum of Archaeology

Galleries featuring nearly 100,000 artefacts from Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Near Eastern civilizations.

Tue-Fri 9AM-4PM, Sat Sun 1PM-4PM, closed Mondays·Free (donations gratefully accepted) · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

Michigan Stadium

The Big House

Nicknamed the "Big House", the U-M stadium is the largest football stadium in America, with a seating capacity of 109,901. Home games are played in autumn on the well-known "Football Saturdays", when thousands of visitors clog the Ann Arbor streets to watch the Wolverines (or their opponents) play.

University of Michigan Museum of Natural History

Exhibit Museum of Natural History

Exhibits on natural sciences and anthropology, including prehistoric life, Michigan wildlife, Native American and other cultures, and rock and mineral specimens.

Mon-Sat 9AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM·Free (donations gratefully accepted) · Free entry

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library

The Gerald Ford Library collects and preserves the papers from Gerald Ford's presidency, including over 20 million pages of memos, letters, and personal papers. The collection also includes photographs, videotapes, audiotapes, and film. While these materials are by appointment only, there are free exhibits in the lobby on the life of President and Mrs. Ford, as well as a 20-minute film, narrated by President Ford. The Library hosts free evening events - author talks and programs by notable individuals.

Mon-Fri 8:45AM-4:45PM (closed Federal holidays)·Free · Free entry

The Cube

A 15-foot-tall (5 m), 2400-lb glossy black cube created by Tony Rosenthal; there's a similar one in the East Village of New York City. The Cube spins on its axis when pushed. Although Tony Rosenthal cubes often appear identical, the late artist always varied design elements on each of his cubes. Alamo has a distinctive curve element whereas Ann Arbor is more geometric.

Nichols Arboretum

It's in a secluded plot just east of the University of Michigan Hospital. "The Arb" is a favorite place to enjoy peace and quiet in a setting removed from the bustle and traffic of everyday Ann Arbor. The Arb has no signage, no parking lot of its own, nor any restroom facilities. What it has is an impressive peony garden, many different species of native trees, shrubs, and grasses, and the Huron River runs through it. A gem that's worth seeking out.

sunrise-sunset·Free entry

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Nine galleries with more than 250 interactive science demos and exhibits, on topics from physics to health to nature to mathematics. Kids will like it a lot; adults will be fairly entertained.

Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow·$9 (donations gratefully accepted)

Michigan Theater

A restored 1928 cinema, complete with two organs, one of them a vintage 1927 pipe organ. The theater shows mainly independent and foreign films, with special classic-film showings throughout the year. The organ is often played before performances, and during the Michigan Theater's special silent-film showings. The main auditorium also hosts other events throughout the year, particular musical groups and comedy shows, many fairly well-known.

Built 1928 · Wheelchair accessible

Kempf House

A restored Greek Revival house museum from 1853; once home to Reuben and Pauline Kempf, prominent Ann Arbor musicians, now offering guided tours and a glimpse into Victorian life in Ann Arbor.

Tours offered 1PM-4PM on Sundays, September through December and March through June, or by appointment·$1 · Free entry · Built 1853

Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry

Over 10,000 artifacts focused on the history of dentistry, with particular interest in dental practice and technology in the United States and Michigan since the 18th century.

Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM·Free

Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments

Housed in the School of Music, the Stearns Collection holds over 2500 pieces of historical and contemporary musical instruments from all over the world.

Mon-Fri 10AM-5PM·Free

Argus Museum

The Argus Museum, located on the second floor of 525 West William, Ann Arbor, Michigan, features products manufactured by the Argus camera company and tells the stories of the company, the people involved and showcases unique collections connected to Argus. The museum is housed in the Argus I Building, which was one of the facilities where Argus products were manufactured. The mission of the Argus Museum is to collect and preserve Argus Camera Incorporated products (including those manufactured under its prior names), publications and history of the company and its employees, to research the products and the people who were involved in the development and manufacturing of these products, to…

Free · Free entry

Gallup Park

A 69-acre (28 hectares) park along the Huron River and Geddes Pond, and Ann Arbor's most popular recreation area. Walkways with pedestrian bridges over the water, two playgrounds, picnic areas, open fields, over of asphalt trails. Canoe, kayak and paddleboat rental (canoes can also be taken from the Argo Park livery, 1055 Longshore Drive, +1 734-668-7411, to the Gallup livery).

Open now · closes midnight tomorrow·Wheelchair accessible

The Ann and Robert H. Lurie Tower

Lurie Tower

A 165-foot (50 m) tall structure which houses an operational carillon. The tower is open to visitors when the bells are being played, with two floors accessible by elevator. The top floor allows the visitors to see the carillonneur playing, while the lower floor provides a view of the carillon bells, and a skyline view of the Ann Arbor area. The current operational hours are posted at the base of the tower.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens

A 300-acre (120 hectares) site with outdoor display gardens, a conservatory filled with tropical plants, and miles of nature trails.

The grounds are open daily from 8AM-dusk. Conservatory and gift shop open Tue & Thu-Sat 10AM-4:30PM, Wed 10AM-8PM, closed Mondays·Free (gardens), $5 (conservatory, but free on Fridays from noon-4:30PM)

State Theater

An art-deco cinema from 1942, the State Theater works in conjunction with the Michigan Theater, and often plays films that have stopped showing at the Michigan.

Open now · closes 10 pm

The Wave Field

Created by Maya Lin, the Wave Field is an earth sculpture, 90 feet (27 m) by 90 feet (27 m) square, consisting of a series of fifty grass waves in eight rows.

Buhr Park

A 39-acre (16 hectares) park with picnic areas, children's play area, softball diamond, soccer fields, outdoor tennis courts, 25-yard (23 m) swimming pool, children's wading pool, outdoor ice arena for public skating and ice hockey, cross-country ski center, and snowmobile trails. Skate rentals available.

Matthei Botanical Gardens

Just east of Domino's Farms, on Dixboro Road, Matthei Botanical Gardens is operated by the University of Michigan and open to the public. There are trails to stroll, a greenhouse to visit, and plantings to enjoy. Every spring, Matthei hosts a plant sale that is very popular with gardeners.

Free

The Ark

A nonprofit, intimate music club with 400 seats, which usually hosts folk/rock performers. Private club liquor license (membership required for liquor purchase).

University of Michigan Diag

The heart of the University of Michigan's Central Campus, the Diag is the main quadrangle around which most of the key buildings on campus are arranged. Its name comes from the primary walkway that runs from the northwest to southeast corners of the Diag. In the middle of the Diag, just in front of the graduate library, is a brick courtyard with a brass M in the center; according to student legend, if you step on the M during your first semester at the university, you are doomed to fail your first exam. The Diag is often used for demonstrations, booths or student fairs, and is a popular hangout in warm weather.

Cobblestone Farm Museum

An 1845 two-family home, notable for its façade made of cobblestones in herringbone rows, now restored and interpreted to give a view of past rural life in Washtenaw County.

Tours offered 10AM-1PM on the last Sat of the month, beginning in May. On-site gift shop open during tours or by appointment·$2

University of Michigan School of Art and Design

Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design

Exhibitions by art students and faculty in two galleries on North Campus: the Warren Robbins Graduate Center and the Slusser Gallery. Also check out their small downtown gallery "Work".

Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM·Free

Ave Maria Fine Art Gallery

The largest art gallery in Michigan, specializing in early 20th century and Old World art.

Tue-Fri 9AM-6PM, Sat 10AM-2PM, closed Sun-Mon

Domino's Petting Farm

15 acres (6 hectares) of land with farm animals from around the world, including rare and near-extinct species, like the French Poitou donkey (only 200 reportedly in existence), African watusi cow, Horned Dorset ram, and Tibetan yak. The barn was once part of a working 1925-era farm, but was opened as a petting zoo in 1984. Tours, hay rides and educational presentations available.

Mon-Fri 9:30AM-4PM, Sat Sun 10:30AM-5PM·$5 adults, $4.50 children and seniors

Leslie Science Center

50 acres (20 hectares) of fields, woods and prairie, featuring outdoor, hands-on and discovery-based educational programs. Features an environmentally-friendly Nature House; a Critter House with frogs, turtles, snakes, and rabbits; live birds of prey, including owls, falcons, kestrels, hawks, vultures, and a bald eagle; and a mile-long trail through the Black Pond Woods.

Park open daily sunrise to sunset; Critter House open Sun noon-3PM·Free (donations gratefully accepted)

Herbarium

Collections of algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, monocots, dicots, fungi and lichens.

Museum of Anthropology

Archaeological collections of pottery, flaked and groundstone tools, animal bones, ethnobotanical and sediment samples, and accompanying field notes, site and survey maps, photographs, and other relevant documents and records; ethnographic collections of pottery, basketry, textiles, wood, and many other materials; and extensive photographic collections.