The Motorcities Tour celebrates the automotive heritage in and around Detroit, Michigan.

Understand

A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business. – Henry Ford

The MotorCities National Heritage Area was designated by US Congress in 1998.

Get in

The American Industry Tour showcases the Industrial Revolution, beginning in colonial Massachusetts, going on through New York City and Pittsburgh. It is a good introduction to the 20th century motor industry.

Destinations

• 1 Detroit. The "motor city", the name "Detroit" was long a metonym for the US automobile industry. As the industry downsized since the late 20th century and population moved to the suburbs, much of the city lies deserted. The already-struggling city was hit hard by the housing crash of 2007/2008; though there are signs of recovery and "new urbanism", a long way remains to go. 

• 2 Dearborn. Ford River Rouge Complex, opened in 1928, is the world's largest integrated factory. The Henry Ford Museum can be found here, as well. 
• 3 Highland Park Ford Plant. The second production site for the Ford Model T. 
• 4 Alfred P. Sloan Museum, Flint, 1221 E. Kearsley St, ☏ +1 810 237-3450, sloan@sloanlongway.org. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su noon-5PM. Sloan Museum and the Buick Gallery & Research Center are devoted to the documentation and interpretation of local history. The Buick Gallery and Research Center one block away at 303 Walnut Street features several dozen classic GM cars, including several concept designs. $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 children (3-11), free for children 2 and under. 
• 5 R.E. Olds Transportation Museum, Lansing. A museum dedicated to the founder of Oldsmobile, which was later bought by GM and was for years a popular US auto brand. Many traces of R.E. Olds still remain in Lansing. The tallest building in the city, the Boji Tower (noted for its large red clock), was built as the Olds Tower, after its major financier, R.E. Olds. The area near the location of an old Olds factory is now called REO Town, after R.E. Olds. The Lansing Lugnuts, a minor league baseball team plays in a stadium that used to be known as Oldsmobile Park near downtown Lansing. 

Go next

• The automotive industry continues onto Canada's beaten-path Windsor-Quebec Corridor with largely the same companies. Windsor is directly south of Detroit; there's a Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village near Kingsville. Oshawa, some 260 miles (415km) to the east, offers a Canadian Automotive Museum; General Motors entered the Canadian market by acquiring Col. Sam MacLaughlin's motor works in that city.

• American Industry Tour westward to Chicago and Route 66.