The Heidelberg Project
The Heidelberg Project
4
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
Our Mission The Heidelberg Project (“HP”) is an outdoor art environment in the heart of an urban area and a Detroit based community organization with a mission to improve the lives of people and neighborhoods through art. Our Vision The theory of change for the Heidelberg Project begins with the belief that all citizens, from all cultures, have the right to grow and flourish in their communities. The HP believes that a community can re-develop and sustain itself, from the inside out, by embracing its diverse cultures and artistic attributes as the essential building blocks for a fulfilling and economically viable way of life. **download our award winning walking tour app on Itunes and Google Play!**
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
387 reviews
Excellent
182
Very good
117
Average
48
Poor
15
Terrible
25
Troy B
New York City, NY8 contributions
Aug 2022
We loved Detroit. The food was great and the locals were even better. If you go, don't miss The Heidelberg Project. Tyree Guyton has created an evolving installation that is beautiful, haunting and pointed. It needs to be seen.
Written September 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
66dino66
Bloomingdale, IL185 contributions
Sep 2020
I liked it even if I didn't understand it. We were in the area to see the Sweetest Heart of Mary Church, which looks beautiful, but was closed due to Covid. The Heidelberg project is unique and you should see it. It takes about 10 minutes.
Written September 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MGM
3 contributions
Dec 2021
Junk, junk and more junk. Dirty, weathered stuffed animals supreme. An oddity and and a freak attraction for sure. But, we all know that this abomination would never be allowed in the burbs. And just wait until it all gets torn down to build more of the hideous condos going up in Deteoit.
Written November 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alicia Riot
Castle Rock, CO9 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
The pictures on trip advisor depict the project exactly. It’s mostly random stuff all over the sides of a street. I wouldn’t go again but it’s worth seeing once just for the experience. It’s in a questionable area but worth seeing other parts of Detroit.
Written June 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amberenergy84
Fort Lauderdale, FL79 contributions
Jul 2012 • Solo
I don't understand all these rave reviews. I appreciate the idea of trying to make some good in a sketchy neighborhood, but let's face it: it's a bunch of trash thrown on some houses. I was completely unimpressed. If you want to drive through it and get out for a second, go for it.
I took the bus. AT NOON. On a Friday. I have lived in and traveled in "rough" areas (east Harlem, Colombia etc...) and never felt as uncomfortable as I did in this neighborhood. The second I got off the bus I wanted to get back on. I walked down the street, spent 5 minutes looking at the "trash art" and went back to the bus stop. I was talking to someone who was waiting for the bus for about 10 minutes about the project. He was saying how amazing it was that they had something like this in the neighborhood and then he made a grab for my purse. I held on as long as I could, but he kept punching my face and head over and over again until I could not hold it any longer.
To make matters worse, I practically had to beg the convenience store owner to let me use the phone to call the cops. When I started crying in his store (I was bleeding and bruised) he threw me out and locked the door. Maybe a handful of people in this neighborhood tried to make something better of it, but the rest are not getting the memo. Let the animals alone.
Why anyone would want to go and support this neighborhood is beyond me. Even the police told me no one should go there. That pile of trash on houses is not worth risking your life. They are just luring tourists in so they can rob them. Until the police start patrolling this area on a regular basis, DON'T GO!!! I was beaten up in broad daylight. If any of the reviews on here had painted THAT picture I wouldn't have gone. I would had photos to this review but my camera was stolen.
I took the bus. AT NOON. On a Friday. I have lived in and traveled in "rough" areas (east Harlem, Colombia etc...) and never felt as uncomfortable as I did in this neighborhood. The second I got off the bus I wanted to get back on. I walked down the street, spent 5 minutes looking at the "trash art" and went back to the bus stop. I was talking to someone who was waiting for the bus for about 10 minutes about the project. He was saying how amazing it was that they had something like this in the neighborhood and then he made a grab for my purse. I held on as long as I could, but he kept punching my face and head over and over again until I could not hold it any longer.
To make matters worse, I practically had to beg the convenience store owner to let me use the phone to call the cops. When I started crying in his store (I was bleeding and bruised) he threw me out and locked the door. Maybe a handful of people in this neighborhood tried to make something better of it, but the rest are not getting the memo. Let the animals alone.
Why anyone would want to go and support this neighborhood is beyond me. Even the police told me no one should go there. That pile of trash on houses is not worth risking your life. They are just luring tourists in so they can rob them. Until the police start patrolling this area on a regular basis, DON'T GO!!! I was beaten up in broad daylight. If any of the reviews on here had painted THAT picture I wouldn't have gone. I would had photos to this review but my camera was stolen.
Written July 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TracelDude
Youngstown, OH21 contributions
Jul 2013 • Solo
Let's be absolutely clear: Detroit is going through some rough patches right now. With the city on the verge of bankruptcy and the reality of a half century of population losses sinking in, there is an unease lingering over this metropolis. The Heidelberg Project, for all intents and purposes, is a worthwhile artistic endeavor, but I was always aware that I was in a place where I did not feel welcome and did not feel entirely safe. That's the feeling throughout most of the city, though. I can't stress enough that you're going to see some troubling scenes driving to this spot. We're talking Third World style poverty here, perhaps the worst in the country.
I saw some people snapping pictures while I quickly ventured through this neighborhood. I don't know how they felt so comfortable. The few residents mulling about on porches and in yards had scowls on their faces (perhaps rightfully so). The absurdity of all of this strange artistic expression in the middle of what is perhaps hell on Earth for the residents doesn't make much sense. No matter how good it is, there's no escaping the larger picture. If you're all right with just focusing on the artistic merits of the project, by all means have at it. I'd go in the morning and park on one of the adjacent streets. Always be aware of who is around and make it quick. Don't linger. Get back to the car and have a safe route already planned out. Do not trust GPS here.
I saw some people snapping pictures while I quickly ventured through this neighborhood. I don't know how they felt so comfortable. The few residents mulling about on porches and in yards had scowls on their faces (perhaps rightfully so). The absurdity of all of this strange artistic expression in the middle of what is perhaps hell on Earth for the residents doesn't make much sense. No matter how good it is, there's no escaping the larger picture. If you're all right with just focusing on the artistic merits of the project, by all means have at it. I'd go in the morning and park on one of the adjacent streets. Always be aware of who is around and make it quick. Don't linger. Get back to the car and have a safe route already planned out. Do not trust GPS here.
Written July 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kisaa
Royal Oak, MI5 contributions
Junk and trash pretending to be art. Waste of time and gas ...................................................
Written November 16, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tsar811
Buffalo, NY41 contributions
I dunno what happened to the woman in Florida who commented about being beaten and mugged while leaving the exhibit and waiting for a public bus. I just want to know what kind of out of town visitor would even consider taking a bus there or back. Common sense dictates that you at least have a rudimentary grasp of your surroundings or at least did a little research on Detroit's woeful transit system. Whatever happened to her did not happen at the project since there isn't a bus stop for blocks in that area. It's very simple: you drive or take a cab to the exhibit, park, walk around and stare in amazement for an hour or so, hop back into your vehicle or cab and hightail it out of there back to your hotel or suburb. Makes sense of course to go during the day, if you go after dusk I wish you the best of luck. Just notify next of kin beforehand. I've been to this area twice: first time in the Spring of 2000 and just this past May before a recent rash of fires (including one arson this night 12/8/13) so you better catch it before it completely disappears. From what I understand there are only four basic structures remaining. The Heidelberg has been heaped in controversy since it's inception in 1986. Even the City didn't want it, demolishing much of it throughout the 90s. Don't know if the recent spate of arsons is an organized effort by someone to rid what remains of the vacant structures or if the City itself is responsible. It's all mere speculation but I recommend stopping by and taking a brief look. You will never see anything like it. And yes it is safe. First time I went was with my girlfriend, two white thirtysomethings completely at ease. Second time I took a co-worker in his twenties and we spent a solid two hours before a Tiger game. As for residents of the street good luck spotting any. I think there might be two houses that might be occupied. I don't think there is a set definition of "art" and gallaries and museums bore me. This is a nice alternative to the wine and cheese crowd even if it is nothing more than a melange of pop culture artifacts.
Check it out. It's going fast.
Check it out. It's going fast.
Written December 9, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brittany L
34 contributions
Dec 2018
The Heidelberg Project is a decades-old found object art installation in one of Detroit's urban neighborhoods. We were there on a cold day, but the artist and caretaker Tyree Guyton was still walking around, greeting visitors, and picking up litter. He began creating this when I was only 6 years old, I visited at 38. My fiance is 36 and went here with a high school art class when he was 16-17 years old. He said it's much bigger than it was at the time. It's a weird thing to see for sure, but I enjoyed looking at everything. I would imagine that in the summer, with flowers and plants growing, it's a bit different than on a grey day in the winter when it's cold enough that ice has formed in the lion's teacup. There's a fresh sign on the numbers house that says it's being restored.
Written January 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlotte S
Bettendorf, IA130 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
Not sure what to make of this place. Apparently a lot of the installations have burned down or been removed by the city. I saw mostly dirty stuffed animals. There were two or three "houses" left that were actually really cool. But the project spans blocks, and for every cool thing, there was a whole bunch of moldy junk.
Even so, I probably would have enjoyed it, but I felt uncomfortable because I don't know how the people who live in that neighborhood feel about it. It was interesting to see, but I don't think I'd want to look at it every day, or deal with clueless tourists trying to park/ traipsing across my lawn. One of the houses in the middle of the project had a sign telling people they were not part of the project, and asking people to please not take pictures of their home...or of them. Visitors must be really clueless if they had to put up that sign. Their home was well maintained and clearly not part of the project. I'm glad the lady in the yellow house is able to make some money off the project (you pay her a dollar to sign her house and she uses the money to make home improvements) but I don't know how this is helping the rest of the neighborhood. It seems like this project started out with great intentions, but most of the art that is left after all the arson just makes the neighborhood look worse.
Even so, I probably would have enjoyed it, but I felt uncomfortable because I don't know how the people who live in that neighborhood feel about it. It was interesting to see, but I don't think I'd want to look at it every day, or deal with clueless tourists trying to park/ traipsing across my lawn. One of the houses in the middle of the project had a sign telling people they were not part of the project, and asking people to please not take pictures of their home...or of them. Visitors must be really clueless if they had to put up that sign. Their home was well maintained and clearly not part of the project. I'm glad the lady in the yellow house is able to make some money off the project (you pay her a dollar to sign her house and she uses the money to make home improvements) but I don't know how this is helping the rest of the neighborhood. It seems like this project started out with great intentions, but most of the art that is left after all the arson just makes the neighborhood look worse.
Written June 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TimB3647
Detroit.
The majority of these images are not of the Heidelberg Project, they are of my artwork in front of my studio gallery Detroit industrial Gallery, on Heidelberg Street where I've been for 17 years.
The yellow house with the robot in front of it, the mushroom looking installation, as well as the other metal robot within the mushroom looking installation
I know that this is an old post, get these photographs need to come down and be properly identified as Detroit industrial Gallery artwork of Tim Burke.
I am just now seeing these images so for five years you have created the false narrative that my artwork was somebody else's artwork.
Heidelberg Street is a residential street with other residents here you need to fact check before posting images as I had signs right there on the front of my house that read Detroit industrial gallery artist Tim Burke with my phone number
TimB3647
Detroit.
Here's what you don't know I've known Tyree Guyton for 30 years I'm the guy that gave him all of his mannequins in his early artwork here's the issue you posted images of my artwork and call it the Heidelberg Project irregardless of all the other bull junk that you're ascribing to and all of the excuses that you're making they may be your photos but they're my artwork and you liked my artwork so much that you took photos of them but what you did afterwards when I asked you to properly identify my work is unconscionable and disrespectful but you are too full of yourself to even understand that that my work is my work are regardless of where it is or not there are a thousand artists in the Detroit Institute of Arts each one of them has their own name tag I was making art in that house 29 years ago so you as an outsider flying in to make these kind of comments to me well you know what you can go do
TimB3647
Detroit.
This is not the Heidelberg Project, My name is Tim Burke. I have been on Heidelberg Street for 17 years, the pink House is not the Heidelberg Project neither are the robots in front of it I painted the words right on the house that this is not the Heidelberg Project Orange head robot has a sign in its hands and it reads Detroit industrial Gallery Artist timber with my phone number on it,
I own five lots on Heidelberg Street to include that pink House, the name of my business's Detroit industrial Gallery.
You have three photographs year of my artwork two of the pink House, and one of the tall crazy cats which are sculptures made out of wood and are about 8 foot tall, you are creating a false narrative that my artwork is the artwork of Tyree Guyton and it's not this needs to be corrected immediately.
A simple Google search of Detroit artist Tim Burke we'll give you a plethora of information about myself to include images and videos
Jonna H
Berkley, MI68 contributions
There is no question to answer. I am not an expert on either artist merely a local tourist. They share a bock in Detroit and I found it all interesting even if I don’t completely understand it.
TimB3647
Detroit.
Hi my name is Tim Burke, a lot of people are taking photographs of my artwork and studio Gallery on Heidelberg Street and misrepresenting my artwork as the artwork of the Heidelberg Project, which it's not, I have been on Heidelberg Street for 17 years I own at pink House it serves as my studio gallery, and as a copy written art installation with the United States copyright office, on the front of the pink House there're two signs that properly identify my business they read Detroit industrial gallery artist Tim Burke with my telephone number on them, I have also painted the words approximately 20 times on the pink House that this is not the Heidelberg Project, I also painted the words that I was making art in this house 28 years ago in big bold letters and printed my name right underneath that, I also own for lots next to my house which comprise my metal sculpture garden with the big giant red flower it is surrounded with a green fence made out of pellets. So this is not a question for anybody to answer this is a public service announcement, to say that there are two artists on Heidelberg Street it's a residential street that serves as a venue in a residential neighborhood much like the Detroit Institute of arts houses over 5000 artists, and each artist has a name tag to identify their artwork, my artwork is not the artwork of Tyree guyton or the height of project
Penny0731
Ray, MI20 contributions
Hi Tim, I'm not answering but rather thanking you for clarifying for visitors. I have known about your installment on Heidelberg and I do appreciate your work. I have photos of different phases of your artwork next to the pink house starting in 2011. They are among my favorites on the street. Thank you for sharing your art with the visitors of Detroit.
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Frequently Asked Questions about The Heidelberg Project
- The Heidelberg Project is open:
- Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Hotels near The Heidelberg Project:
- (2.18 mi) HOTEL DAVID WHITNEY, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION
- (2.33 mi) ROOST Detroit
- (2.26 mi) The Inn on Ferry Street
- (2.43 mi) Sonder Gabriel Richard
- (2.14 mi) Element Detroit At The Metropolitan
- Restaurants near The Heidelberg Project:
- (0.17 mi) Grandy's Coney Island
- (0.40 mi) Gratiot Grill Coney Island
- (2.29 mi) Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails
- (1.33 mi) Supino Pizzeria
- (1.94 mi) Astoria Pastry Shop