Ann Arbor is located in southeastern of Michigan on the Huron in the US state and the county seat of Washtenaw County. Ann Arbor is the 6th largest city in Michigan. The city is about 40 miles west of Detroit and 45 miles east of Lansing. The city attracts thousands of visitors to its festivals throughout the year. It is a pleasant place to enjoy the great outdoors. There are lively places filled with restaurants, cafes, hotels, shops and live music.
Following are some of the tourist attractions of Ann Arbor, Michigan:
1. University of Michigan
University of Michigan was established in Detroit in 1817. Ann Arbor is home to University of Michigan. It is one of the oldest and top universities of the world. There are nearly 42,000 students and the campus is divided into four main areas: the North, South, Medical and Central Campuses. It is a public institution of higher learning and nurturing excellence in research.
2. Michigan Theater
The Michigan Theater was constructed in 1925 and stands 13 floors in height. It was designed in French Renaissance style. The theater features independent and foreign films throughout the year and seats 1,700 people. The main auditorium also hosts other events throughout the year, particular musical groups and comedy shows.
3. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library is located on the north campus of the University of Michigan, where Ford was a student and football player. The library houses documents, files and audio-visual materials on the life, career, and presidency of President Gerald Ford, the 38th President of United States and also other White House staff.
4. Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum was opened in 1982. It has nine unique galleries comprising more than 250 interactive science demos and exhibits. It is a place for kids as each of these exhibits different focus to bring physics, geology, math, music and more to life.
5. Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
The Kelsey Museum houses a collection of nearly 100,000 ancient and medieval objects from Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Near Eastern civilizations.
6. Nichols Arboretum
Nichols Arboretum spreads across 123 acres and is operated by the University of Michigan. It is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Ann Arbor. It was designed by Ossian Cole Simonds in 1906. The arboretum is popularly known as “the Arb” by locals; it has more than 500 species of trees and is home to many creative events such as performance art shows. Today, it is more than 100 years old and one can see the collections of North American plants and miles of nature trails.
7. Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Matthaei Botanical Gardens is also operated by University of Michigan and comprises 300 acres. The garden is known for its beautiful plants that have educational markers. The garden includes outdoor display, the Gaffield Children’s Garden, a 10,000+ square-foot conservatory, and natural areas with walking trails. Today, it is more than 100 years and one can see collections of North American plants, tropical plants, and miles of nature trails.
8. Ann Arbor Art Center
The Ann Arbor Art Center was founded in 1909. It is the third oldest arts organization in Michigan. The Art center’s mission is to engage the community in education, exhibition and exploration of visual arts. The Ann Arbor Art Center has a gallery shop promoting regional artist’s works for sale such as sculptures, pottery, paintings and jewelry.
In addition, there are some more tourist attractions at Ann Arbor, Michigan like: The Downtown, Domino’s Petting Farm, The Ark, Kempf House. Ann Arbor has a number of public sculptures and murals, particularly well-known are The Cube, Alley mural, The Wave field, Book store mural, Fairy Doors and Painted fixtures.