This gorgeous aquarium was built in 1904 by well-known architect, Albert Kahn. It was the oldest continuously open aquarium in the United States until 2005 when it was closed. Reopened in 2012, the aquarium has flourished with the help of various organizations that merged to become the Belle Isle Conservancy. Steeped in history, the Belle Isle Aquarium is housed in a beautiful Beaux Arts style building with a grand entrance that incorporates the Detroit emblem and two spitting fish in a stone façade. The viewing gallery offers large tanks teeming with aquatic life, a swordfish mosaic, and an arched ceiling adorned in sea foam glass tiles reminiscent of being underwater. Both saltwater and freshwater species are found here, most notably native fish from the Great Lakes area.
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Whether a Detroiter or a visitor, if you are a baseball fan then the Detroit Tigers and Comerica Park is something not to be missed when in Downtown. The Comerica Park Public Tours is a definite must for sports enthusiasts. This summer tour from June through September is offered on Tuesdays and Fridays, though the pricing changes slightly during game days. During non-game or non event days, the 90-min tour takes place three times and starts at the Tiger Club lobby. See the Wall of Fame, Champions Club, Dugout, Ernie Harwell Media Center, Party Suite, Visiting Batting Tunnel and Visiting Clubhouse. Since this tour is offered by the stadium itself and not any other tour operator, the trivia and facts attached to it will make this visit even more memorable. Group and private tours are offered throughout the year.
