As the Motown Museum’s $75-million expansion moves into the final stage of construction, the Detroit institution will suspend public tours for about a year starting Oct. 1.
Work began in September 2024 on the third and final phase of expansion, a 40,000-square-foot complex behind the iconic Hitsville, U.S.A., on West Grand Boulevard. The initial target completion date was summer 2026. That date has shifted “due to material timelines,” museum officials said in a June 16 announcement.
“To continue momentum with our expansion, this is a necessary step toward completing our bold vision for Motown Museum,” CEO and Chairwoman Robin Terry said in a statement. “When we resume tours, the expanded museum will be completed. Visitors from around the world will experience an immersive, one-of-a-kind tribute to the Motown legacy with more important stories of those who built it being told — inspiring and engaging generations to come. Throughout this process, Hitsville, U.S.A., will continue to be thoughtfully preserved and receive needed maintenance and care.”
The museum’s front plaza, including a retail activation, will remain accessible to the public during the downtime. Its community programming, such as summer camps, the “Amplify” singing competition and “Motown Mic” spoken word event, will also continue.
In April, the Motown Museum unveiled the Esther Gordy Edwards Centre for Excellence, a West Grand Boulevard space that houses rehearsal and performance space for those programs.
The museum, founded in 1985 at the site of Motown’s original studio and headquarters, is among Detroit’s best-known historic places and most popular tourist destinations, drawing visitors from across the world.
Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Motown Museum to suspend public tours for one year amid $75-million expansion construction
Reporting by Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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