Motown Museum

Motown Museum is at 2648 W. Grand Blvd. Whether it's “Dancing in the Streets,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “My Girl” or “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” there isn't a baby boomer alive who hasn't been touched by the music of Motown. This guided tour experience offers an opportunity for older folks to relive their youth and younger ones to experience a sound that defined a generation.

Berry Gordy Jr. started Motown Records in the apartment that now houses the museum, christening his fledgling company “Hitsville U.S.A.” Artists from Smokey Robinson and Diana Ross to Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye all got their start here. Visitors can see Studio A, where many of Motown's biggest hits were recorded; the original control room, where the “Motown Sound” was perfected; and the echo chamber, where recording engineers created sound effects in a pre-digital age.

Exhibits chart the rise of Motown as a business and cultural force and include musical instruments, sheet music, promotional materials and rare photos. Motown artists also had a distinct sense of style, and outfits worn by the Supremes and the Temptations are on display, along with Michael Jackson's trademark jeweled white glove and black fedora. The complex also includes a plaza, theater, conference space and studio.

Guided tours are available. Time: Allow 1 hour minimum.