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The most beautiful interiors in Detroit, mapped

16 Detroit spaces that take our breath away

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Detroit’s skyline is undoubtedly beautiful. But what about the city’s interiors? In many cases, they’re just as, if not more, stunning.

For this map we bring you 16 of city’s most beautiful interiors, from skyscrapers and theaters to museums and even an aquarium. We’ve decided not to include homes on this list (except for one exception)—otherwise it would be far too long. And we also have only one church with suggestions of others to see.

Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments section and we’ll add them to the list.

Note: Buildings are ordered from west to east.

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Most Holy Redeemer Church

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Designed by Donaldson and Meier and 1921, this Roman Catholic church in Southwest Detroit has a stunningly ornate sanctuary with coffered ceiling, arches and columns, painted panels, and much more.

It’s the only church we’re putting on this list but there’s many more whose interiors are worthy of note: Ste. Anne de Detroit, Sweetest Heart of Mary, St. Joseph, Woodward Avenue Presbyterian, and Historic First Congregational, to name a few.

Fisher Building

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How do you begin to describe something this gorgeous? Designed by Albert Kahn, “Detroit’s largest art object” has a stunning marble exterior that’s arguably exceeded by its interior. The most impressive section of the building is surely the main arcade, with its vibrant frescoes, barrel-vaulted ceiling, gold panels, marble pillars, and countless other decorations.

Had the Fisher Theatre not been renovated, removing many of the ornate elements, it would have made this list as well.

A long hallway with arched ceilings and walls with gold inlays. People walk around with light streaming in through the main entrance’s windows. Photo by Michelle Gerard

Cadillac Place

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While not as opulent as its neighbor across West Grand, the former General Motors Building, also designed by Albert Kahn, has a beautiful interior as well. The long barrel ceiling in the arcade with panels of various designs and materials is especially impressive.

McGregor Memorial Conference Center

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You’d be hard-pressed to find a more pleasant interior than this Wayne State University building. Designed by renowned midcentury modern architect Minoru Yamasaki, the pyramidical skylights, windows that extend the length of the two stories, and graceful overhangs, create an atrium with a wonderfully inviting atmosphere.

Detroit Main Library

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Designed by renowned American architect Cass Gilbert, the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library has a wonderful interior with marble walls, grand frescoes, and ornate ceiling panels.

Maccabees Building

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The Wayne State University–owned building in Midtown designed by Albert Kahn gets included on this list for its lobby alone, which has a jaw-dropping barrel ceiling, marble floors and walls, gold clad elevators, and wonderful Art Deco fixtures.

Detroit Institute of Arts

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Many rooms in the DIA are among the finest in the city, whether it’s the light-filled Kresge Court, C. Howard Crane–designed theater, or the numerous galleries. But none compare to Rivera Court and the 27 painted panels that make up Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry Murals.

Photo by Michelle Gerard

The Whitney

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We said we weren’t including homes on this list, and technically The Whitney is a restaurant and venue now. But with its sumptuous wood paneling and stained-glass windows, this wildly opulent Romanesque Revival mansion is too beautiful to ignore.

Masonic Temple

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There are too many stunning features, both inside and out, of this Neo-Gothic masterpiece designed by George D. Mason to mention—it’s the largest Masonic temple in the world, after all. But each of the theaters, rooms, and lobbies, with its various nods to world cultures (Egyptian, Byzantine, Italian), is a site to behold.

Photo by Michelle Gerard

Orchestra Hall

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The exterior of Orchestra Hall is rather plain—the interior, however, is magnificent. There’s dozens of painted panels and archways, including the grand proscenium arch surrounding the stage, as well as corbels, medallions, and much more.

A grand hall with red velvet seats, a balcony, and empty chairs on a stage. There’s painted panels and other impressive details on the walls. Courtesy of the DSO

Fox Theatre

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The shockingly opulent theater designed by C. Howard Crane is arguably one of the most beautiful venues in the world. It contains an eclectic and ornate mix of decorations in Egyptian, Far Eastern and Indian styles.

David Whitney Building

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Designed by Daniel H. Burnham & Co. and opened in 1914, this Beaux Arts–style building recently got a historically accurate redevelopment. Which is fortunate, since it has arguably the most impressive atrium in the city—four stories tall, with a skylight, and covered in decorative terra cotta and marble.

Photo by Michelle Gerard

Detroit Athletic Club

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If you can gain entry into the private, Albert Kahn–designed club, it’s well worth it. The impressive lobby has an ornate ceiling with decorate panels and wood-paneled walls, and the main dining hall is just as lovely with its pained coffered ceiling.

One Campus Martius

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The most recently constructed building on this list is probably its most controversial entry. But the Bedrock Detroit–owned One Campus Martius is on here because of its glass-filled lobby with skylight atrium and multi-floor waterfall—it’s a pretty impressive sight.

Guardian Building

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Opened in 1929 and designed by Wirt C. Rowland of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, the “Cathedral of Finance” definitely stands out in the skyline. But the jaw-dropping lobby and banking hall—with its three-story, Aztec-themed design made of Rookwood Pottery and Pewabic Tile, metal screen with Tiffany-clock inlay, and Michigan commerce mural—make it arguably the most beautiful interior in the city.

Belle Isle Aquarium

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Designed by Albert Kahn, the oldest aquarium in the country makes the list for its glowing green-tiled and vaulted ceiling.

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Most Holy Redeemer Church

Designed by Donaldson and Meier and 1921, this Roman Catholic church in Southwest Detroit has a stunningly ornate sanctuary with coffered ceiling, arches and columns, painted panels, and much more.

It’s the only church we’re putting on this list but there’s many more whose interiors are worthy of note: Ste. Anne de Detroit, Sweetest Heart of Mary, St. Joseph, Woodward Avenue Presbyterian, and Historic First Congregational, to name a few.

Fisher Building

How do you begin to describe something this gorgeous? Designed by Albert Kahn, “Detroit’s largest art object” has a stunning marble exterior that’s arguably exceeded by its interior. The most impressive section of the building is surely the main arcade, with its vibrant frescoes, barrel-vaulted ceiling, gold panels, marble pillars, and countless other decorations.

Had the Fisher Theatre not been renovated, removing many of the ornate elements, it would have made this list as well.

A long hallway with arched ceilings and walls with gold inlays. People walk around with light streaming in through the main entrance’s windows. Photo by Michelle Gerard

Cadillac Place

While not as opulent as its neighbor across West Grand, the former General Motors Building, also designed by Albert Kahn, has a beautiful interior as well. The long barrel ceiling in the arcade with panels of various designs and materials is especially impressive.

McGregor Memorial Conference Center

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more pleasant interior than this Wayne State University building. Designed by renowned midcentury modern architect Minoru Yamasaki, the pyramidical skylights, windows that extend the length of the two stories, and graceful overhangs, create an atrium with a wonderfully inviting atmosphere.

Detroit Main Library

Designed by renowned American architect Cass Gilbert, the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library has a wonderful interior with marble walls, grand frescoes, and ornate ceiling panels.

Maccabees Building

The Wayne State University–owned building in Midtown designed by Albert Kahn gets included on this list for its lobby alone, which has a jaw-dropping barrel ceiling, marble floors and walls, gold clad elevators, and wonderful Art Deco fixtures.

Detroit Institute of Arts

Many rooms in the DIA are among the finest in the city, whether it’s the light-filled Kresge Court, C. Howard Crane–designed theater, or the numerous galleries. But none compare to Rivera Court and the 27 painted panels that make up Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry Murals.

Photo by Michelle Gerard

The Whitney

We said we weren’t including homes on this list, and technically The Whitney is a restaurant and venue now. But with its sumptuous wood paneling and stained-glass windows, this wildly opulent Romanesque Revival mansion is too beautiful to ignore.

Masonic Temple

There are too many stunning features, both inside and out, of this Neo-Gothic masterpiece designed by George D. Mason to mention—it’s the largest Masonic temple in the world, after all. But each of the theaters, rooms, and lobbies, with its various nods to world cultures (Egyptian, Byzantine, Italian), is a site to behold.

Photo by Michelle Gerard

Orchestra Hall

The exterior of Orchestra Hall is rather plain—the interior, however, is magnificent. There’s dozens of painted panels and archways, including the grand proscenium arch surrounding the stage, as well as corbels, medallions, and much more.

A grand hall with red velvet seats, a balcony, and empty chairs on a stage. There’s painted panels and other impressive details on the walls. Courtesy of the DSO

Fox Theatre

The shockingly opulent theater designed by C. Howard Crane is arguably one of the most beautiful venues in the world. It contains an eclectic and ornate mix of decorations in Egyptian, Far Eastern and Indian styles.

David Whitney Building

Designed by Daniel H. Burnham & Co. and opened in 1914, this Beaux Arts–style building recently got a historically accurate redevelopment. Which is fortunate, since it has arguably the most impressive atrium in the city—four stories tall, with a skylight, and covered in decorative terra cotta and marble.

Photo by Michelle Gerard

Detroit Athletic Club

If you can gain entry into the private, Albert Kahn–designed club, it’s well worth it. The impressive lobby has an ornate ceiling with decorate panels and wood-paneled walls, and the main dining hall is just as lovely with its pained coffered ceiling.

One Campus Martius

The most recently constructed building on this list is probably its most controversial entry. But the Bedrock Detroit–owned One Campus Martius is on here because of its glass-filled lobby with skylight atrium and multi-floor waterfall—it’s a pretty impressive sight.

Guardian Building

Opened in 1929 and designed by Wirt C. Rowland of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, the “Cathedral of Finance” definitely stands out in the skyline. But the jaw-dropping lobby and banking hall—with its three-story, Aztec-themed design made of Rookwood Pottery and Pewabic Tile, metal screen with Tiffany-clock inlay, and Michigan commerce mural—make it arguably the most beautiful interior in the city.

Belle Isle Aquarium

Designed by Albert Kahn, the oldest aquarium in the country makes the list for its glowing green-tiled and vaulted ceiling.