Zany History: A Downtown Ann Arbor Tour

Downtown Ann Arbor is quirkier than your average midwestern college town. On this walking tour through the city center and the University of Michigan campus, you’ll hear the town’s wildest stories, from the Pearl Harbor submarine that made its way downtown, to the gambling ring run by the police chief. You’ll find out how this little city developed its unique character.

This circular tour starts and ends at the downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. From there, you’ll journey through the heart of the city to hear the true story of its two shady founders, and their wives, the “two Anns”. You’ll explore the famous Pretzel Bell building, a restaurant that was once the center of both celebration and a civil rights controversy. The tour weaves through the historic European-style pavilion, Nickels Arcade, and past the iconic Cube installation, twin to New York City’s famous sculpture.

From Native American heritage to 1970s streaking traditions, this tour strips away Ann Arbor’s polished veneer to reveal its fascinating underbelly.

Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:

• Connect the dots between Ann Arbor and the founding of the Center for UFO Studies
• Hear about stings and criminal enterprises while strolling past the Ann Arbor Police Department
• Strut along the infamous Naked Mile and learn about its origins
• Learn about the university’s role in the revolutionary “Earth Closet” (compost toilet) movement, which was eventually thwarted by flushing toilets
• Find out about Jacob Slimmer, a cranky bouncer who once sparked the city’s biggest riot
• Delve into the Legendary Weed Contest of 1975

This 60-minute walking tour brings together Ann Arbor’s most outrageous tales and hidden history. The area offers plenty of local coffee shops and restaurants for refreshments after the tour.