The Motown Museum recently announced it will undergo a $50 million expansion that aims to transform the complex into a world-class tourist destination along West Grand Boulevard.
The 50,00 square foot project will rise around the existing museum, housed in the humble Hitsville U.S.A. building where Berry Gordy launched the careers of stars such as the Supremes, the Temptations and Stevie Wonder. The expansion will feature interactive exhibits, a state-of-the-art performance theatre, recording studios, an expanded retail experience and meeting spaces.
The Motown house, with its blue Hitsville sign, is one of the most iconic visuals associated with Detroit and is among the most familiar sites in American popular music. The current museum, founded in 1985 and run by the Gordy family, holds just a fraction of the operation’s memorabilia collection. The expanded museum will showcase exhibits drawn from private collections and will likely branch out beyond the historical Motown theme.
Gordy, who moved the Motown operation to Los Angeles in 1972, applauded the planned expansion:
“When I look back on that magical time in Detroit, I’m reminded of how a company, based on love, fairness and competition, came together to create something special. It was about music and so much more. It brings me real joy, and I am proud and humbled to know that the inclusive legacy of Motown, and the most talented people who are so near and dear to my heart, will have their stories told in this new museum.”
