The word graffiti conjures up images of urban decay, blight, and crime. But there are some artists who have taken the medium and have turned out masterpieces, worthy of acclaim. Their pieces have the potential to transform a once ugly, long-forgotten structure into a beautiful place that people flock to see and photograph. Here are some such examples that will change everything you thought you knew about street art.
This prolific artist was responsible for the iconic Hope poster of Obama during his 2008 campaign. The massive red, cream, and black mural in the distance was a commissioned piece to cover a major high rise in Detroit.
This vaguely resembles a Lisa Frank print, doesn't it?
These are some of the pieces that really inspire us. But we know these are the types of things that often go unnoticed unless you see them on a regular basis. Tell us, or SHOW us, some works of graffiti that really belong in a category of their own.
Hello, my name is Jacki and there are three things I do every time I visit a new state. The first thing is, of course, creating an extensive list of all the food I want to try in an area.
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The second thing I do is figure out if there are any baseball games during my stay. In fact, the first thing I did when I moved to Michigan a few years ago was attend a Tigers game. No exaggeration - that's how I spent my first day of living in Michigan.
The third thing I do is a deep dive into nearby museums. In this instance, Michigan is an incredible state. I mean, we're home to the top museum in the country for two years running! However, that's not the Michigan museum I want to talk about today.
Today, I'd like to take you on a (virtual) trip to a Michigan museum that houses one of the most unique mini-gold experiences I've ever had. Let's go to the Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Cranbrook Art Museum is located about 30 minutes away from the Metro Detroit area. This fabulous museum is a part of the private Cranbrook Academy and is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Along with the purchase of 11 holes of artist-designed mini-golf, visitors also get to explore the museum and its surrounding grounds. There are a variety of gardens to walk through, including the Japanese Garden pictured above.
The entire experience of this museum and its incredibly manicured grounds was lovely. Before we made our way to the mini-golf course, we explored the variety of gardens on the grounds, including the Japanese Garden pictured above.
There's also a Bog Garden that almost had me feeling like I was back in Florida again.
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My favorite part of adventuring around the extensive grounds at this Michigan museum was tucked between the Japanese and Bog gardens. It was a gigantic non-descript tree that grew all the way to the ground - that you could walk inside.
Of course, I did! It was truly one of the most magical experiences of my life. It felt like I was smack in the middle of a J.R.R. Tolkien book!
After spending some time inside of a massive tree, we made our way to the unique mini-golf course at this Michigan Museum. You can see it sprawled along the museum grounds above.
To the right of this Michigan putt-putt course, there is a gorgeous fountain filled with sculptures, providing a beautiful view throughout your play.
There are 11 holes at this artist-designed mini-golf course at the Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. After playing through the first hole that saw us traversing gates and fountains, I knew I was in for a one-of-a-kind experience.
It didn't hurt that I got the ball in the hole in only two strokes. Even better - on the second hole, which was an echo of a light fixture inside the museum, I got a hole-in-one... on my first try!
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I say first try, because the second hole was pretty tricky. The two moms and four kids who played through before us made many attempts before finally getting a hole-in-one! During our playthrough, they offered more than once to let us play ahead of them.
However, they were having so much fun together that they were adding to our own fun, so we told them we weren't in a rush and kept playing fun holes like the one pictured above.
That one was the only one I couldn't learn from the previous player's mistakes - the entire green was hidden from view.
Some holes didn't start off like normal mini-golf holes. For example, "At The Wheel" (pictured above) had us placing our ball in a giant vase, rotating it, and then releasing the ball to land wherever the vase shot it out. I... was not good at this hole, y'all.
Other holes focused on design elements, like the aforementioned museum lights or the chairs pictured below.
This one was way more fun to watch the group before us play than it was to play through ourselves. This hole saw the non-putting players sit in the chairs and try to distract the golfer with their legs. The group before us got really into it in the most wholesome way.
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Each hole comes with a placard that talks about the inspiration for the hole, as well as any playing mechanics you might need to know. I loved how many of these holes were focused on the architecture and buildings around the museum grounds.
As we played through the hole pictured above, we could look up and see the full version right in front of us. The entire course was just so thoughtful and artfully designed.
After playing through the course, we explored the library right across from the museum. The art books available to peruse at this museum were incredible. True pieces of history that you'll need the assistance of one of the librarians to look through. We're going back to the library on its own for a full day coming up soon.
We met up with the families playing before us while we were looking through the gift shop. They asked us who won and I was so proud to tell them that it was me! Also - even if you don't plan to buy something, definitely stop by the gift shop at the Cranbrook Art Museum, because there is some absolutely stunning stained glass inside.
Visiting the Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills was such a full day of fun. I honestly thought we'd go for a couple of hours, play some mini-golf, and head back home. Instead, I got a full day of inspirational fun. Honestly, I can't wait to go back - to the museum, to the library, to the Science Center, and to play (and win!) the most unique mini-golf in Michigan.
Plus, I know where I'm eating next time I visit in the wintertime, too. I've always wanted to eat in an igloo. Guess what? There's a restaurant right down the road that allows diners to do just that!
Hmm, this is beginning to sound more and more like an overnight trip. Maybe I should find a place to stay too? If I suddenly come into a bunch of money and decide to splurge, I'm staying here. However, that's not a likely scenario for me, so I also found this cute spot.
I'm feeling ready to play another round of mini-golf, too, y'all. Have you visited any unique mini-golf spots in Michigan? I'd love to hear about them in the comments!
Located at the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula, just south of L'Anse, Alberta is a former logging town that was designed and built by the Ford Motor Company in the 1930s to supply wood for its cars. This fascinating slice of Michigan history is now owned by Michigan Tech and makes for an incredible afternoon of exploration. Don't just take our word for it. Read on to learn about one of the most historic small towns in Michigan.
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As you cruise along U.S. Route 41, just south of L'Anse on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, your eyes may be drawn to the large, seemingly out-of-place "Ford" logo on the shoreline of Lake Plumbago. Don't let this divert your attention from the fascinating site that lies on the other side of the highway.
The Ford Center and Forest is a conference center, retreat, and learning center that is owned and managed by Michigan Tech University, whose main campus is located in Houghton.
The focal point of the center is the former logging town of Alberta, MI, which consists of several houses and other buildings that were developed and built in the 1930s.
What makes it truly fascinating is that this small town in Michigan was the brainchild of Henry Ford, who had the village built to meet his auto company's burgeoning need for lumber and wood products.
However, as manufacturing methods changed, the demand for wood diminished precipitously.
In 1943, less than a decade after Alberta, Michigan opened for business, Ford ceased its operations there, and the community dispersed.
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In 1954, the sawmill cut its last board and shuttered. The Ford Motor Company subsequently donated the sawmill and the entire village of Alberta to Michigan Tech's College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science.
Ford also donated 1,700 acres of surrounding woodlands, lakeshore, and streams to Michigan Tech when it turned the town of Alberta, MI over to the school.
Although Michigan Tech welcomes visitors to Alberta, certain parts of the center remain off-limits, like the Sawmill Museum, for safety and other reasons. Therefore, it's best to visit the Ford Center on the web or call ahead for the most up-to-date information about visiting.
Have you visited this fascinating slice of Michigan history? Let us know in the comments. Feel free to also share if you have a favorite Michigan small town that you recommend for others to check out.
We think it's truly incredible what you may find lying along the backroads of the Great Lakes State. For example, while you're exploring the Upper Peninsula, you may also run into other abandoned villages and small towns in Michigan like Shelldrake, off Whitefish Bay, or Nonesuch, in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. So, when you're ready to explore some more, please refer to our coverage of small towns in Michigan. We also suggest checking out Wear Your Roots if you'd like to show off how much you love Michigan.
