The Heidelberg Project

3600 Heidelberg St, Detroit, MI, 48207
Dec 11, 2017
2 min read

If you haven't heard of The Heidelberg Project, it's about time you did...

One day, about six years ago, I was driving around the city of Detroit and I came across a house on the corner of a street with random things hanging from every side. I was curious, so I turned down the road and discovered the most unique place. It was a street filled with endless colors and toys and random things placed in perfect spots. It was a street filled with art.

This is by far one of the most spectacular attractions in Detroit. Created by Tyree Guyton, The Heidelberg Project was created to bring the community together through art. This is a place I can visit unlimited times; it will never get old.

"All citizens, from all cultures, have the right to grow and flourish in their communities."

Below is a photo of me and my good friend who came to visit for the weekend. She wanted to see Detroit and I was unsure where to take her until suddenly, I figured it out. Of course I took her to see this amazing place.

We saw painted sidewalks, trees covered in clocks, a fence filled with shoes, a house covered in numbers, painted cars, and so much more. Everything was perfect.

We were dying to get a picture on the steps of the Polka dot house when all of a sudden a kind woman opened the front door. She happily allowed us the pleasure of capturing this moment.

After the many photos were taken we got to talking and discovered the house had been passed down to her from her grandparents. She told us that one day her son decided he wanted to change the way people viewed his neighborhood. He painted the house with polka dots and Guyton and his grandfather began working to clean up the area. After some time the empty lots became filled with art and the abandoned houses became colorful masterpieces. Soon, the community fell in love with the Heidelberg Project and I did too (when I discovered it, that is).

Finding this street six years ago helped me realize that you never know what you're going to find. There are so many incredible places out there that many people have never heard of. Any day could be the day you fall in love with a place you discover. All you need to do is find it.

So, if I were you, I would go exploring on your next free day. You never know what you're going to find, and I guarantee you won't regret it!