Rackham Auditorium

DIRECTIONS & PARKING // DESCRIPTION // ACCESSIBILITY

915 East Washington Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

734-764-2538

DIRECTIONS

I-94 Eastbound (from Jackson and Chicago)
Take I-94 East to Exit 172, Jackson Road. Jackson Road becomes Huron. Continue on Huron to State Street. Turn right on State Street, then turn either left or right onto Washington Street (parking lots are located in both directions). See map for exact parking locations.

I-94 Westbound (from Detroit)
Take I-94 West to Exit 177, State Street. Turn right (north) on State Street. Continue on State Street to the U-M campus. Turn either left or right from State Street onto Washington Street (parking lots are located in both directions).

US-23 Northbound and Southbound
Take US-23 to Exit 37 B, Washtenaw Avenue (to Ann Arbor). Go west on Washtenaw (from the Northbound exit you will automatically go west; from the Southbound exit turn right at the end of the exit ramp). Continue on Washtenaw until it forks. Veer to the right at the fork. Washtenaw becomes Huron. From Huron, turn left at the light on Fletcher. See map for exact parking locations.

M-14 Westbound (from Plymouth or Livonia)
Take M-14 West to Exit 3, Downtown Ann Arbor, Main Street. Continue on Main Street. Turn left on Washington. See map for exact parking locations.

I-96 Eastbound (from Lansing)
Take I-96 East to US-23 South to M-14 West. Follow directions for M-14 Westbound.

I-696/I96 Westbound (from suburban Detroit)
Take I-696 or I-96 West to I-275 South to M-14 West. Follow directions for M-14 Westbound.

PARKING

We know that parking in downtown Ann Arbor can be difficult and take longer than expected. Please allow plenty of time to park. Parking is available in the following structures:

1. Fletcher St (Power Center) Structure (201 Flecher St): Entrance off Fletcher Street at Washington. Event parking is $6.

2. S Thayer St Structure (216 S Thayer St): Entrance off Thayer Street between Washington and North University Avenue. Event parking is $6.

3. Palmer Dr Structure (200 Washtenaw Avenue): Accessible to University of Michigan blue and gold permit holders with an AVI device.

4. Liberty Square Structure (510 E Washington St): Entrance off Washington between State Street and Division. See current rates.

5. Maynard St Structure (324 Maynard St): Entrances off Maynard Street and Thompson between William and Liberty. See current rates.

6. Thompson St Structure (508 Thompson St): Open to the public after 6 pm Mon-Sat and all day Sunday.

Description

Fifty years ago, chamber music concerts in Ann Arbor were a relative rarity, presented in an assortment of venues including University Hall (the precursor to Hill Auditorium), Hill Auditorium, Newberry Hall and the current home of the Kelsey Museum. When Horace H. Rackham, a Detroit lawyer who believed strongly in the importance of the study of human history and human thought, died in 1933, his will established the Horace H. Rackham and Mary A. Rackham Fund, which subsequently awarded the University of Michigan the funds not only to build the Horace H. Rackham Graduate School which houses Rackham Auditorium, but also to establish a $4 million endowment to further the development of graduate studies. Even more remarkable than the size of the gift, which is still considered one of the most ambitious ever given to higher-level education, is the fact that neither of the Rackhams ever attended the University of Michigan.

Designed by architect William Kapp and architectural sculptor Corrado Parducci, Rackham Auditorium was quickly recognized as the ideal venue for chamber music. In 1941, the Musical Society presented its first chamber music festival with the Musical Art Quartet of New York performing three concerts in as many days, and the current Chamber Arts Series was born in 1963. Chamber music audiences and artists alike appreciate the intimacy, beauty and fine acoustics of the 1,060-seat auditorium, which has been the location for hundreds of chamber music concerts throughout the years.

Accessibility

Access for Persons with Disabilities

All seating in the auditorium is on the main floor with no stairs. There is a wheelchair ramp on the Washington Street side of the building.

Rackham Auditorium is equipped with assistive listening devices. Earphones may be obtained upon arrival. Please ask an usher for assistance.

Entrances and Elevators

The main entrance is off of Washington Street. Elevators for the upper level are found on either side of the lobby.

Ticket Office Location

For ticket sales and ticket pick-up, see the Rackham ticket booth, located on the left side of the lobby as you enter the building. The Ticket Office opens 90 minutes prior to the performance and remains open until 30 minutes after the performance begins.