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What to See in Royal Oak - Top Sights and Attractions

Discover 7 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Royal Oak (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Royal Oak Music Theatre, National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, and Horace H. Rackham Memorial Fountain. Also, be sure to include Creative Arts Studio in your itinerary.

Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Royal Oak (Michigan).

Royal Oak Music Theatre

Event venue in Royal Oak, Michigan
facebook / RoyalOakMusicTheatre / CC BY-SA 3.0

Event venue in Royal Oak, Michigan. Royal Oak Music Theatre is a music venue located at 318 W. Fourth Street, Royal Oak, Michigan. It was built as a vaudeville theatre and opened in 1928.[1]

Address: Royal Oak, 318 W. Fourth Street

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National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica

Church in Royal Oak, Michigan
wikipedia / Nheyob / CC BY-SA 3.0

Church in Royal Oak, Michigan. The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica Catholic Church is a Catholic church in Royal Oak, Michigan. A designated national shrine, the church building is well-known for its execution in the lavish zig-zag Art Deco style. The structure was completed in two stages between 1931 and 1936. The sanctuary, at 2100 West Twelve Mile Road at the northeast corner of Woodward Avenue, is a parish of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Its construction was funded by the proceeds of the radio ministry of the controversial Father Charles Coughlin, who broadcast from its tower in the 1930s.[2]

Address: 2100 Twelve Mile Rd, 48073-3910 Royal Oak

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Horace H. Rackham Memorial Fountain

Horace H. Rackham Memorial Fountain
wikipedia / Corrado Parducci / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Horace Rackham Memorial Fountain, also known as the Bear Fountain, is a fountain located in the Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak, Michigan. It was designed by Frederick A. Schnaple and sculpted by Corrado Parducci.

The fountain consists of a large bowl supported by two standing bears—as well as several frogs, turtles and even a couple of seals—along with some granite putti on the outside of the fountain.

Mary Rackham, widow of the Detroit industrialist Horace Rackham, made several significant donations in his name, including the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies at the University of Michigan, the Rackham School at Eastern Michigan University and the Horace H. Rackham Building in the Cultural Center in Detroit. Horace Rackham had served as the first president of Detroit's Zoological Commission, and to commemorate his connection with the zoo Mary Rackham donated the funds to create the fountain.

Parducci's maquette for one of the bears has survived in the Detroit Historical Museum collection.

About this commission Parducci said, "I didn't like that. I made it against my will. They wanted, Mrs. Rackham was sold on that, bears..."[3]

Address: 8450 W 10 Mile Rd, 48067 Royal Oak

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Creative Arts Studio

Creative Arts Studio
facebook / CreativeArtsStudios / CC BY-SA 3.0

Paint and pottery studios, Classes and workshops, Art gallery, Entertainment, Museum, Arts and crafts

Address: 114 W 4th St, 48067 Royal Oak

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Hilzinger Block

Hilzinger Block
wikipedia / Andrew Jameson / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Hilzinger Block is a commercial building located at 106-110 South Main Street in Royal Oak, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.[4]

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B and C Grocery Building

B and C Grocery Building
wikipedia / Andrew Jameson / CC BY-SA 3.0

The B and C Grocery Building is a commercial building located at 417-19 South Main Street in Royal Oak, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.[5]

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Royal Oak Public Library

Royal Oak Public Library
facebook / royaloaklibrary / CC BY-SA 3.0

Library

Address: 222 E 11 Mile Rd, 48067 Royal Oak

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