Josephine F. Ford Sculpture Garden, Detroit, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Josephine F. Ford Sculpture Garden is an outdoor sculpture space at 5020 John R Street in Detroit, in the Midtown Cultural Center district beside the Michigan Science Center. It is a short, easy stop for anyone exploring the museum quarter on foot, and a good place to pause between the neighbourhood's larger attractions.

The story behind it

The garden shares its address with the Michigan Science Center, so the story of the neighbour is the best-documented part of the story of the spot. The science museum began life in 1970 as the Detroit Science Center. In 2011 it closed because of financial problems, and for more than a year the building stood dark.

It came back. The museum reopened under its new name, the Michigan Science Center, at the end of 2012, and today it is home to an IMAX dome theatre and a planetarium. The garden is named for Josephine F. Ford, a member of the Ford family long associated with Detroit philanthropy and the arts. We have kept the details of the garden's own history to a minimum, as we cannot vouch for more.

What to look for

• Look at the sculptures in the garden itself and walk around each one, because a piece can read very differently from the street side and from the building side.
• Notice the dome of the Michigan Science Center next door, a reminder of the planetarium inside and of a building that closed and then reopened.
• Stand at the corner of Warren and John R and take in how the museum buildings sit close together in this part of Midtown.
• Check for any plaques or signs near the garden that name the artists and the people it honours.

Tips for your visit

• Plan 10 to 20 minutes for the garden alone, longer if you combine it with the Michigan Science Center.
• Daylight is best for seeing the sculptures clearly and for taking photos; check current access and opening hours before you go.
• The Cultural Center area has several other museums and the public library within walking distance, so it works well as part of a longer stroll.
• Wear comfortable shoes, since the best way to see this district is to walk between its sights.

See it on a quest

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Cultural Center, Detroit passes through this museum district, so you reach the garden on foot as one stop of a longer route. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and you solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Detroit Detective Mystery: Infiltrate a Secret Society. is a detective-style walk that takes you through the area on foot. At each place the app gives you a short story about what you see, then sets a puzzle in the surroundings. One ticket covers the whole group.

Ghost Hunt in Detroit suits anyone who likes their sightseeing with a spooky edge. You walk from stop to stop, hear about each place as you get there and solve a puzzle in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.