The Guardian Building
The Guardian Building
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience The Guardian Building and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighborhood: CBD
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
837 within 3 miles
Attractions
226 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- MidwestKathMDetroit, Michigan910 contributionsArt deco masterpiece!Detroit's Guardian Building in the heart of downtown is a stunning red brick Art Deco building that pays homage to its roots as a financial institution in the 1920s and 1930s. Enjoy the lobby with its Rookwood-tiled ceilings, mosaic wall, and sumptuous elevator lobbies. Walk up into the Cathedral of Finance (the original bank lobby) and enjoy the painted ceiling and the Michigan mural on the far wall. As you depart the Griswold Street entrance, be sure to look up over the door for the carved figures and tilework executed by some of Detroit's greatest artists!Visited May 2023Traveled with friendsWritten May 16, 2023
- Jonathan82 contributionsHidden Detroit - do not miss!The lobby and arcade of this fantastic art deco building is open to the public free of charge - great place for a coffee in beautiful surroundings. Right at the heart of Detroit's art deco quarter. Be sure to pick up the leaflet explaining the history from the building reception.Visited August 2023Traveled soloWritten August 12, 2023
- marcainWashington DC, District of Columbia222 contributionsGreat building, good for a short visit. Free.The exterior is quite interesting, but obscured by all of the other tall buildings nearby. The interior is amazing. Well worth a pop-in visit only takes as long as you need to see the decorations. Bank of America branch office in the atrium, very nice gift shop. They offer tours of the building ONLY on Sundays (as of Aug 2023), so plan accordingly. Without a tour, it's VERY worth seeing for a short visit. I wasn't there on a Sunday, so can't speak to the tour.Visited August 2023Written August 15, 2023
- Marta P1 contributionJourney through American art deco styleOne of the most impressive buildings we have ever seen. We had a chance to take a free tour guided by a local guide (ask in the souvenir shop in the main hall of the building). We learned about the history of the building and its current status. We also had a chance to see the vaults and the magnificent view of Detroit from its 32nd floor. Both the adults and kids loved it! A big "thank you" to the Guide who showed us around.Visited August 2023Traveled with familyWritten September 6, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
757 reviews
Excellent
575
Very good
149
Average
27
Poor
4
Terrible
2
Irene L
Toronto, Canada3 contributions
Jul 2022
Definitely worth a few minutes of your day exploring downtown Detroit. Essentially, you are visiting the lobby of the Guardian building with its elevators and stained glass windows and an operating bank branch. We wandered in after business hours, so it was relatively quiet, just a few tourists gawking at the spectacular ceilings covered in intricate mosaics. At the rear of the bank is a fresco reminiscent of Soviet Art: a celebration of the worker and farmer. I didn't realize that this was a thing in the US in the 1920's as well.
Written July 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.
MidwestKathM
Detroit, MI910 contributions
Jul 2022
Through the years I have shared this Art Deco skyscraper masterpiece with local family and friends as well as out-of-town visitors, mostly recently a Detroit native back for a visit. Designed by architect Wirt Roland, it was built in the late 1920s for the Union Trust bank. Start by checking out the building's main entrance from across the street. It's Guardian Red bricks make the building stand out in the city's skyline. The dome above the entrance is made of custom Pewabic tile, and on either side are sculptures by Corrado Parducci. Walk inside the lobby...it's free! Enjoy marble floors, walls, and stairs. Look up and all around at the Rookwood tile ceiling...and at the mosaic tile mural by Ezra Winter behind the guard desk. At the top of the stairs, note the Tiffany clock set in a beautiful Monel steel screen. Walk up the stairs into what originally was the bank lobby and look up at the indigenous-inspired ceiling done on horsehair. Another Ezra Winter mural depicts the industries and natural resources around the State of Michigan. Before you leave, check out the elevator lobbies with beautiful stained glass, ornate elevator doors, and reproduction light fixtures. Definitely worth a visit to appreciate this Art Deco treasure...a sign of the 1920s boom in Detroit.
Written July 23, 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.
Marta P
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
One of the most impressive buildings we have ever seen. We had a chance to take a free tour guided by a local guide (ask in the souvenir shop in the main hall of the building). We learned about the history of the building and its current status. We also had a chance to see the vaults and the magnificent view of Detroit from its 32nd floor. Both the adults and kids loved it! A big "thank you" to the Guide who showed us around.
Written September 6, 2023
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.
marcain
Washington DC, DC222 contributions
Aug 2023
The exterior is quite interesting, but obscured by all of the other tall buildings nearby. The interior is amazing. Well worth a pop-in visit only takes as long as you need to see the decorations. Bank of America branch office in the atrium, very nice gift shop. They offer tours of the building ONLY on Sundays (as of Aug 2023), so plan accordingly. Without a tour, it's VERY worth seeing for a short visit. I wasn't there on a Sunday, so can't speak to the tour.
Written August 15, 2023
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.
Lenore J
Livonia, MI3 contributions
Apr 2019
Beautiful building, great tour! Everywhere you look there is something that catches your eye. The tiles are colorful works of art. The outside of the building is gorgeous too. Parking was easy. The Saturday & Sunday tours are great because there are fewer people if you want to try to get some photos.
Written March 7, 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.
Lonny
Secaucus, NJ16 contributions
Dec 2019
Breathtakingly beautiful Art Deco building in the beating heart of downtown Detroit. Stunning interior with stunning mosaics, stained & leaded glass panels, mosaic marble floors, etc. Retail Concourse also has incredible architecture & vaulted ceilings. Worth a visit just to savour the talent & craftsmanship of a bygone era. Simply Beautiful.
Written April 21, 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.
MidwestKathM
Detroit, MI910 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
Detroit's Guardian Building in the heart of downtown is a stunning red brick Art Deco building that pays homage to its roots as a financial institution in the 1920s and 1930s. Enjoy the lobby with its Rookwood-tiled ceilings, mosaic wall, and sumptuous elevator lobbies. Walk up into the Cathedral of Finance (the original bank lobby) and enjoy the painted ceiling and the Michigan mural on the far wall. As you depart the Griswold Street entrance, be sure to look up over the door for the carved figures and tilework executed by some of Detroit's greatest artists!
Written May 16, 2023
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.
Jonathan
82 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
The lobby and arcade of this fantastic art deco building is open to the public free of charge - great place for a coffee in beautiful surroundings. Right at the heart of Detroit's art deco quarter. Be sure to pick up the leaflet explaining the history from the building reception.
Written August 12, 2023
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.
LookingForFamilyFun
Houston, TX1,739 contributions
May 2021
If you're in Detroit, this is a definite must see! The outside of the building is interesting, but the inside is quite amazing, especially for the middle of a city like Detroit. It's easy to just step in and walk through the lobby and experience this blast from the past...even during covid you could still see the main atrium, although you couldn't walk around in it...an opportunity for people-free photos.
Written August 17, 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.
M K
1 contribution
Oct 2021
Unless you go on the official weekend tour, all you can see is the lobby. Yes it's a very nice lobby, but I saw the whole thing within about 5 minutes. Along with that, the security guards just act annoyed that you are there at all.
The Fisher building is way better. You can explore more of it and security guards don't hassle you.
The Fisher building is way better. You can explore more of it and security guards don't hassle you.
Written October 21, 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.
Is this tour handicap friendly? Specifically, are stairs involved in the tour?
Brian D
Asheville, NC1,887 contributions
There are elevators in the building and I am pretty sure the city made all buildings become ADA compliant. Enjoy!
catherinebam
Columbus, OH3 contributions
Does anyone know if the Guardian Building is open on Labour Day?
karbety
Vancouver, Canada61 contributions
I kind of doubt it. But you could call teh Destination Detroit tours. They would know.
Melissa E
Dubuque, IA64 contributions
Can you just drop by and tour anytime, or are tours just scheduled on the weekends? About how much does a tour cost? Tried to Google this info, but I got too much info that I didn’t need.
pogee06
Canberra, Australia96 contributions
You can get into the former banking chamber at any time during normal business hours, but the tour is run by docents from Pure Detroit which has a shop there. The tour is free but the docents are worth a top - and some of the stuff in the shop may entice you too. The tour takes you to parts of the building you could not otherwise access with a lot of explanatory information which puts a context to the whole thing.
Where to park for pure Detroit tours
13TigersLady
West Valley, NY27 contributions
There is often ample street parking available pretty much all over the city, but be careful to watch for the meters.
They are skinny units and not very tall and there may be only 1 in a middle of a block. Bikes are sometimes tied up to them which makes them even harder to spot.
There is zero tolerance for not seeing them even if you're an out-of-towner and the ticket costs $65!
You put in your credit card and plate # and pay $1-2 for 2 hrs. max. Kind of a pain if you want to spend any kind of time somewhere like the Guardian, DIA, Fisher Bldg.(a MUST see!), etc.
509anneke
Rotterdam, The Netherlands36 contributions
Hi all,
This summer we will visit the Motown Museum in Detroit.
That day we want to visit something else in Detroit, whatever you recommend, the Fox theatre or Guardian building?
dianewdrane
Royal Oak, MI5 contributions
Is 11:00 am the only time tours are available?
rosalie67
Windsor, Canada28 contributions
No there are 3 tours a day on the weekends. However, if there is a wedding or function the last one is usually cancelled.
johngoold1
Independence, MO
So they're still doing the pure Detroit tours of the Gaurdian? Do you happen to know what time?
StockholmKindaGuy
Marietta, GA7,324 contributions
You can also visit the building on your own, when it's open.
vreez
Lowell, MI22 contributions
Do you know if you are allowed to bring in a tripod?
John S
Royal Oak, MI162 contributions
Depending on the area that you are photographing, you will not likely be bothered by anyone for bringing a tripod. The mural in the "Cathedral of Commerce" is well-photographed from the public space. The Bank of America financial center in the main hall has a security guard, but he does not typically interfere with people photographing the public areas of the building. The main lobby off of Griswold likewise has a security desk, but also much less space to set up a tripod; the main lobby is also the access point to many of the Wayne County offices, so that could create some access or traffic issues. You can always check at the desk to see if there are any restrictions that may need to be followed.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingThe Guardian Building - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about The Guardian Building
- Hotels near The Guardian Building:
- (0.15 mi) Detroit Foundation Hotel
- (0.13 mi) Fort Pontchartrain Detroit, a Wyndham Hotel
- (0.20 mi) Sonder The Randolph
- (0.31 mi) Sonder Gabriel Richard
- (0.38 mi) ROOST Detroit
- Restaurants near The Guardian Building:
- (0.01 mi) Capital One Café
- (0.01 mi) Experience Zuzu
- (0.04 mi) Domino's Pizza
- (0.08 mi) London Chop House
- (0.07 mi) The Grand Trunk Pub
The Guardian Building Information
Excellent Reviews | 575 |
|---|---|
Very Good Reviews | 149 |
The Guardian Building Photos | 485 |