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The Henry Ford is a huge museum complex in Dearborn, Michigan. It’s a must visit if you’re in nearby Detroit.

 

Introduction to the Henry Ford

The Henry Ford was founded by American automobile magnate Henry Ford (1863-1947), who began collecting all sorts of antiques and gadgets in 1914. By the late 1920s, he was the world’s foremost collector of Americana. His collection got so big that he decided to build a museum to house it. He also acquired several historic buildings that would later become Greenfield Village.

The museum was dedicated by President Herbert Hoover on October 21, 1929, the 50th anniversary of the first successful incandescent light bulb, and was named the Edison Institute of Technology after Ford’s friend, Thomas Edison (1847-1931). At first it was a private educational institution, but it opened to the public on June 22, 1933, after growing interest in the project.

Today there are three main components of the Henry Ford: The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. I’ve only been able to visit two of them, with Greenfield Village being the exception due to seasonal closings. There’s also a theater called the Giant Screen Experience.

In this post I’ll cover the exhibits that I had the chance to visit, in order from the entrance to the end of the exhibition hall. I couldn’t cover everything in the time we spent there. I’ll definitely go back in the future to see the rest.


 

Visiting the Henry Ford

The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is open daily from 9:30am to 5pm. Greenfield Village is open daily from spring through fall from 9:30am to 5pm, Friday to Sunday in November, and select evenings in December. The Ford Rouge Factory Tour is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm, with the last tour leaving at 3pm. Showtimes for the Giant Screen Experience vary. Check the official website for more info.

Welcome center at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan
Welcome center

Adult admission to the museum only is US$38, to Greenfield Village only is US$41, and to the factory tour only is US$26. Tickets for traditional and classic films for the Giant Screen Experience cost US$11. Prices are current as of May 2024.

Different packages are available if you want to combine your visit and see more than one attraction. For example, you can get a discounted ticket to the factory tour with a ticket to the museum.

Give yourself at least a half day just to see the museum. I can’t give advice on Greenfield Village, but you can combine the Ford Rouge Factory Tour with a visit to the museum.

 

Where to Eat at the Henry Ford

There are two restaurants in the museum building.

 

Lamy’s Diner

Lamy’s Diner is an authentic lunch car converted into a diner in 1946. It serves original recipes popular in 1940s New England. The diner was originally located in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and later moved to Framingham and Hudson. The Henry Ford acquired it in 1984 and it’s now located within the Driving America exhibit.

Lamy's Diner
Lamy’s Diner

 

Plum Market Kitchen

The Plum Market Kitchen offers “organic, sustainable and artisanal foods”. They serve breakfast and a good variety of lunch items. You can visit without purchasing a ticket to the museum.

 

Michigan Café (Permanently Closed)

We ate at the Michigan Café, which specializes in the cuisine of the Great Lakes region. All food is locally sourced. It’s open from 11am to 4pm and can get very crowded around noon. You can visit the Michigan Café without purchasing a ticket to the museum.

Michigan Café
Michigan Café

The menu has a good variety of sandwiches, hot dogs, soups, salads, fish, and more. I had the buffalo mac and cheese which was delicious. Marisol had a loaded potato soup.

Buffalo mac and cheese at the Michigan Café
Buffalo mac and cheese

 

Shopping at the Henry Ford

A gift shop is located at the entrance to the welcome center. It’s open daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm and sells books, shirts, model cars, and other interesting items.


 

The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is the main component of the complex. The façade of the building incorporates replicas of Independence Hall, Old City Hall, and Congress Hall in Philadelphia. It was designed by architect Robert O. Derrick (1890-1961).

The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

The museum’s exhibition hall is a whopping 523,000 square feet, which is enough space to hold several permanent and temporary exhibitions. Artifacts from American history, cars, locomotives, agricultural machinery, and airplanes all have their place among countless other items on display. It takes at least a half day to admire them all.

Mathematica exhibit
Mathematica exhibit
Oscar Mayer Wienermobile at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Oscar Mayer Wienermobile

 

Agriculture

The Agriculture exhibit sits just inside the entrance to the museum galleries. It includes machinery and farming equipment used to grow and harvest crops, process eggs and dairy products, and raise livestock.

Agriculture exhibit
Agriculture exhibit
Agriculture exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Agriculture exhibit

 

Dymaxion House

The Dymaxion House is behind the Agriculture exhibit. Architect Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) designed the Dymaxion House in 1930, and redesigned it in 1945, as the home of the future. It was lightweight, cost-effective, and built to last. Only two prototypes were ever built, and no Dymaxion House was ever built according to Fuller’s intentions.

Dymaxion House at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Dymaxion House

The house on display at The Henry Ford was lived in by investor William Graham from 1948 to 1970. Graham purchased the two prototypes and constructed a hybrid as an extension to his ranch home. His family donated the home to The Henry Ford in 1990, and it was installed as an exhibit in 2001. Regular tours of the house are available. Visitors can walk through and learn about some of the unique features, such as the central mast, ventilation, rain collection system, and revolving closets.

Revolving closet of the Dymaxion House
Revolving closet

We were able to walk through the bedroom, with shelves that revolved at the push of a button, and kitchen, which featured built-in appliances.

Bedroom of the Dymaxion House
Bedroom
Kitchen of the Dymaxion House
Kitchen

The living room was the largest room of the house. It was built with a stainless steel fireplace connected to the central mast.

Living room of the Dymaxion House at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Living room
Living room of the Dymaxion House at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Living room


 

Your Place in Time

Nearby is Your Place in Time. It’s an exhibit that showcases technologies that shaped the five different generations of the 20th century.

 

Progressive Generation

The first generation covered is the Progressive Generation (born between 1890-1919). They witnessed the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the Wright Brothers’ first flight as well as Babe Ruth (1895-1948) and mass migrations. On display is a moving picture theatre showing silent movies and a 1917 Overland touring car among other items.

Moving Picture Theater in Your Place in Time
Moving Picture Theater
Overland car in Your Place in Time
Overland car

 

War Generation

Next is the War Generation (born between 1920-1932), who lived through some difficult times, including the Great Depression and World War II. They also witnessed the rise of Hollywood and grew up listening to the radio. One feature of this generation is a living room set up around a radio, telling the story of the War of the Worlds broadcast that caused major panic around the country.

War Generation in Your Place in Time
War Generation
War of the Worlds scene in Your Place in Time at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
War of the Worlds scene

 

Baby Boomers

Moving along are the Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964). The largest generation of the 20th century, they witnessed the moon landing, the Kennedy assassination, the rise of the Beatles, and fought in the Vietnam War. Representing their generation are a jukebox, typical teenage clothing of the era, Cold War memorabilia, and an early television.

Baby Boomers in Your Place in Time
Baby Boomers
Early television and Cold War memorabilia in Your Place in Time
Early television and Cold War memorabilia


 

Generation X

Fourth is Generation X (born between 1965 and 1979). They were shaped by a boom in affordable technology. Generation X witnessed Star Wars, the rise of personal computers, and the AIDS epidemic. On display are several different electronics, including Simon, an Atari Home Pong console, an Atari 2600 console, and Texas Instruments Speak & Spell.

Simon in Your Place in Time
Simon
Atari Home Pong console in Your Place in Time at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Atari Home Pong console
Atari 2600 in Your Place in Time at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Atari 2600
TI Speak & Spell in Your Place in Time at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
TI Speak & Spell

There’s also a replica teenager’s bedroom featuring a Pet Rock, cassette player, and a messy unmade bed as well as a case containing an 8-track player.

Messy teenager's room in Your Place in Time at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Messy teenager’s room
Pet Rock in Your Place in Time at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Pet Rock
8-track player in Your Place in Time
8-track player

 

Millennials

Finally are the Millennials (born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s), who grew up with the Internet, cell phones, and rapidly advancing technology. This section was most interesting to me because it featured several items I grew up with.

Millennials in Your Place in Time
Millennials

Some of the items on display are a Nintendo Game Boy, a pair of Nike Air Jordans, an RCA VCR, and an Apple Macintosh.

Nintendo Game Boy in Your Place in Time at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Nintendo Game Boy
Nike Air Jordan in Your Place in Time
Nike Air Jordan
RCA VCR in Your Place in Time
RCA VCR
Apple Macintosh in Your Place in Time
Apple Macintosh


 

Fully Furnished

Next is Fully Furnished, which showcases furniture produced in America from 1670 to the present. Several historic pieces of furniture are on display, including a table made between 1830 and 1860 used by Mark Twain (1835-1910) as a writing desk, a portable writing desk owned by Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) between 1830 and 1849, and a rocking chair made from tree roots and branches between 1865 and 1875 once owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877).

Fully Furnished at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Fully Furnished
Historic furniture in Fully Furnished at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Historic furniture
Portable writing desk owned by Edgar Allan Poe (left) and rocking chair owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt (right) in Fully Furnished at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Portable writing desk owned by Edgar Allan Poe (left) and rocking chair owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt (right)

There are also several furniture prototypes, and a section on how manufacturers turned technology into furniture in order to make it fit more nicely next to actual furniture. Another section highlights lighting while yet another displays dollhouses.

Turning technology into furniture in Fully Furnished
Turning technology into furniture
Dollhouse in Fully Furnished
Dollhouse

Finally, there’s a section with replica kitchens throughout different periods in American history. There are also examples of living rooms throughout the years.

Kitchen from the 1700s in Fully Furnished at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Kitchen from the 1700s
Kitchen from the 1840s in Fully Furnished at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Kitchen from the 1840s
Kitchen from the 1890s in Fully Furnished at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Kitchen from the 1890s
Kitchen from the 1950s in Fully Furnished at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Kitchen from the 1950s
Living room in Fully Furnished
Living room

 

Made in America: Manufacturing

Made in America: Manufacturing showcases American manufacturing from the 18th through 20th centuries. There are all kinds of machines on display, from planers to lubricators and stampers to screw machines.

Manufacturing exhibit
Manufacturing exhibit
Machines in the Manufacturing exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Machines
Manufacturing exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Manufacturing exhibit
Manufacturing exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Manufacturing exhibit

Some finished products are highlighted, including a child’s bicycle and sewing machines. You can peek into a cobbler’s workshop, and even see an exploded 1924 Ford Model T.

Finished products in the Manufacturing exhibit
Finished products
Cobbler's workshop
Cobbler’s workshop
An exploded 1924 Ford Model T at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
An exploded 1924 Ford Model T

Attached to the manufacturing exhibit are a collection of historic telephones, and Henry Ford’s personal collection of violins.

Telephones
Telephones
Henry Ford's violin collection at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Henry Ford’s violin collection


 

With Liberty and Justice for All

Next is With Liberty and Justice for All, which is one of the most important exhibits at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. It covers four key rights movements in American history.

Timeline of American history in With Liberty and Justice for All
Timeline of American history

 

American Revolution

The first movement is the American Revolution. On display is George Washington’s camp bed used during the Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1780, as well as a Speaker’s chair or Supreme Court chair (1790-1795) from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You can also find an original copy of Common Sense by Thomas Paine (1737-1809), printed in February 1776, and 1 of 200 engraved copies of the Declaration of Independence commissioned by John Quincy Adams and printed in 1823.

George Washington's camp bed in With Liberty and Justice for All at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
George Washington’s camp bed
Speaker's or Supreme Court chair in With Liberty and Justice for All
Speaker’s or Supreme Court chair

 

Antislavery

Next is a section on the antislavery movement and the Civil War era. Shackles worn by slaves, Civil War uniforms and artifacts, photos, and articles are all on display, as well as an original copy of the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery in 1865.

Antislavery and Civil War section in With Liberty and Justice for All
Antislavery and Civil War section
Slave collar in With Liberty and Justice for All at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Slave collar
Original copy of the 13th Amendment in With Liberty and Justice for All
Original copy of the 13th Amendment

Two of the most important items in this section are a life mask of Abraham Lincoln and a life cast of his hand. They were made by Leonard Volk (1828-1895), a sculptor from Chicago, Illinois.

Life mask and life cast of Abraham Lincoln in With Liberty and Justice for All at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Life mask and life cast of Abraham Lincoln

Another is the actual chair used by Lincoln when he was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC., on April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth (1838-1865), during a production of Our American Cousin. Henry Ford purchased the chair for his museum in 1929.

Lincoln assassination in With Liberty and Justice for All
Lincoln assassination
Abraham Lincoln's chair from Ford's Theatre in With Liberty and Justice for All at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Abraham Lincoln’s chair from Ford’s Theatre


 

Women’s Suffrage

The third section focuses on the Women’s Suffrage Movement. It includes posters, photos, pamphlets, and other items related to the movement, as well as a replica prison cell in which women would be imprisoned for supporting their right to vote.

Women's Suffrage section in With Liberty and Justice for All
Women’s Suffrage section
Replica prison cell in With Liberty and Justice for All
Replica prison cell

 

Civil Rights

Finally, the most moving section is about the Civil Rights Movement. As an ongoing struggle, the origins of the movement are still quite fresh in the minds of many Americans.

Civil Rights section in With Liberty and Justice for All at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Civil Rights section

The segregation laws in Southern states called for “separate but equal” facilities in schools, bus stations, trains, restrooms, and other aspects of public life. A replica bus station waiting room has two entrances – one labeled “White Waiting Room” and another “Colored Waiting Room”. When you step inside each room, you can clearly see the differences in the quality of the facilities. Facilities such as this were always separate but never equal.

Waiting room in With Liberty and Justice for All at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Waiting room
Waiting room in With Liberty and Justice for All
Waiting room

Outside the waiting room are two drinking fountains. One is labeled “Whites Only” and another labeled “Colored”. Both date back to 1954. A Ku Klux Klan uniform stands nearby in front of an original rally poster from 1950.

"Whites Only" drinking fountain in With Liberty and Justice for All at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
“Whites Only” drinking fountain
"Colored" drinking fountain in With Liberty and Justice for All at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
“Colored” drinking fountain
Ku Klux Klan uniform in With Liberty and Justice for All at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Ku Klux Klan uniform

The most interesting artifact in the Civil Rights section is a bus from Montgomery, Alabama. Inside this bus on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks (1913-2005) refused to give up her seat to a white man and was arrested soon after. The bus was made in 1948 and refurbished to what it would have looked like in 1955.

Rosa Parks bus in With Liberty and Justice for All at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Rosa Parks bus
Rosa Parks bus in With Liberty and Justice for All
Rosa Parks bus

Visitors can actually climb into the bus and take a seat. Every so often, docents lead short lectures about that day and how the bus came to be a part of the museum’s collection.

Rosa Parks bus in With Liberty and Justice for All
Rosa Parks bus
Rosa Parks bus in With Liberty and Justice for All
Rosa Parks bus

 

Made in America: Power

Continuing along is Made in America: Power. It gives visitors a look at historic machines that generated power from the 18th to 20th centuries. Also on display is a test tube supposedly containing Thomas Edison’s last breath as well as several firearms.

Power exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Power exhibit
Generator in the Power exhibit
Generator
Power exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Power exhibit
The first modern power source in the Power exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
The first modern power source


 

Heroes of the Sky

Heroes of the Sky is an exhibit on aviation history at The Henry Ford. The exhibit chronicles the history of flight from its earliest days, highlighting famous pilots and different vessels. At the entrance is an early Northwest Airlines passenger plane.

Heroes of the Sky at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Heroes of the Sky
Northwest Airlines plane
Northwest Airlines plane
Northwest Airlines plane
Northwest Airlines plane

 

1903 Wright Flyer

Heroes of the Sky includes a replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer, which Orville and Wilbur Wright flew at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. The original Wright Flyer is at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

Replica 1903 Wright Flyer
Replica 1903 Wright Flyer
Replica 1903 Wright Flyer
Replica 1903 Wright Flyer

 

Ford Flivver

Ford Flivver Airplane #1, built in 1926, was Henry Ford’s entrance into the world of aviation. He built three or four prototypes with the idea of making them the Model T of the sky, but abandoned the project after his test pilot, Harry Brooks (1902-1928), died in a crash near Melbourne, Florida.

Ford Flivver Airplane #1 at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Ford Flivver Airplane #1

 

1925 Fokker F. VII Tri-Motor

A 1925 Fokker F. VII Tri-Motor has an entire room dedicated to it. It’s significant because it was the very plane flown over the North Pole by Admiral Richard Byrd (1888-1957) in 1926. The expedition was financed by Edsel Ford (1893-1943), and Byrd named the plane “Josephine Ford” after Edsel’s daughter. Controversy surrounding the expedition is covered in the exhibit as well, because there have been serious doubts as to whether or not Byrd reached the pole.

1925 Fokker F. VII Tri-Motor at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1925 Fokker F. VII Tri-Motor
1925 Fokker F. VII Tri-Motor at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1925 Fokker F. VII Tri-Motor


 

1928 Ford 4-AT-B Tri-Motor

A 1928 Ford 4-AT-B Tri-Motor is also on display. This plane was flown by Byrd over the South Pole on November 28-29, 1929. It was named after Floyd Bennett (1890-1928), the pilot with whom Byrd claimed to reach the North Pole. Bennett died a few months before the South Pole expedition.

1928 Ford 4-AT-B Tri-Motor
1928 Ford 4-AT-B Tri-Motor

 

1927 Boeing 40-B2

In the same room as the South Pole plane is a 1927 Boeing 40-B2. It flew 6,049 service hours and crashed four times without any injuries to passengers or crew. The plane was donated to the museum in 1938.

1927 Boeing 40-B2
1927 Boeing 40-B2

 

Helicopters

Finally, another room is dedicated to two different types of vessels. Hanging from the ceiling is a 1931 Pitcairn-Cierva Autogiro, which was used by the Detroit News. This plane is unique because it could take off like a plane, but could land vertically like a helicopter. The engine was powered by a propeller and lift provided by a rotor. On the ground beneath it is a 1939 Sikorsky VS-300A Helicopter, which was the first successful helicopter developed by Igor Sikorsky (1889-1972).

1931 Pitcairn-Cierva Autogiro (above) and 1939 Sikorsky VS-300A Helicopter (below)
1931 Pitcairn-Cierva Autogiro (above) and 1939 Sikorsky VS-300A Helicopter (below)

 

Other Displays

Other sections of the exhibit include the Pride of Detroit, which traveled to exotic locations all over the world, and an exhibit on wing walking. There’s also an Amelia Earhart-branded overnight luggage case from the Orenstein Trunk Company and a blouse designed by Earhart.

Pride of Detroit
Pride of Detroit
Wing walking
Wing walking
Items associated with Amelia Earhart at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Items associated with Amelia Earhart


 

Commercial Aviation

Finally, a section of Heroes of the Sky covers commercial aviation. It explains the history of commercial airlines, the early standards of becoming a stewardess, and even lets visitors sit on four different replica passenger planes. The seats on the plane are authentic, you can hear the sound of the engine, and you can even look out the windows to feel like you’re actually flying.

The oldest “plane” on display is a 1927 Boeing 40 (not pictured), which was designed to carry mail but had room for two passengers. The cruising altitude was 900 feet with a cruising speed of 100 mph. The range was 650 miles. It featured blankets, a reading light, cotton to plug ears, coffee served in a thermos, and box lunches.

Next is a 1928 Ford Trimotor, which carried 15 passengers and had a cruising speed of 110 mph. The cruising altitude was 2,000 feet with a range of 570 miles. Passengers were able to open the windows while sitting in cushioned seats, and were given cold meals and cotton to plug their ears.

1928 Ford Trimotor
1928 Ford Trimotor

The 1939 Douglas DC-3 carried 21 passengers and had a range of 1,500 miles. The cruising altitude was 6,000 feet and it had a cruising speed of 200 mph. It had a heated cabin and soundproof interior, adjustable padded seats, hot in-flight meals, and pillows.

1939 Douglas DC-3 at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1939 Douglas DC-3

Finally, the 1967 Boeing 737 carried 130 passengers. It had a range of 2,100 miles at a cruising speed of 580 mph. The cruising altitude was 35,000 feet. Passengers enjoyed reclining seats, complimentary magazines, movies, music, and hot in-flight meals. It also had a climate-controlled cabin.

1967 Boeing 737 at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1967 Boeing 737

 

Driving America

Driving America is the largest exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum. It’s a complete history of the American automobile, dating back to 1865, covering such topics as style, safety, and speed. There are cars of all classes, and it delves into everything from racing to road trips.

Driving America at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Driving America
Driving America at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Driving America

The first cars in the exhibit are some of the oldest American cars ever produced.

Stagecoach
Stagecoach
1865 Roper steam carriage at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1865 Roper steam carriage
1899 Duryea trap
1899 Duryea trap
1901 Columbia
1901 Columbia
1903 Ford Model A at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1903 Ford Model A
1905 Ford Model B at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1905 Ford Model B
1908 Stevens-Duryea Model U limousine
1908 Stevens-Duryea Model U limousine
1914 Ford Model T at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1914 Ford Model T
1914 Detroit Electric Model 47 brougham driven by Clara Ford (1866-1950)
1914 Detroit Electric Model 47 brougham driven by Clara Ford (1866-1950)

You’ll find everything from iconic cars…

1936 Lincoln Zephyr at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1936 Lincoln-Zephyr
1956 Ford Thunderbird at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1956 Ford Thunderbird
1957 De Soto Firelite
1957 De Soto Firelite
1958 Edsel Citation
1958 Edsel Citation

…to luxury vehicles…

1931 Duesenberg Model J
1931 Duesenberg Model J
One of six 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royales ever made
One of six 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royales ever made
1941 Lincoln Continental
1941 Lincoln Continental
1956 Continental Mark II
1956 Continental Mark II

…to service vehicles.

1927 Blue Bird school bus
1927 Blue Bird school bus
1943 Willys-Overland Jeep
1943 Willys-Overland Jeep
Taxi
Taxi
Camper from On The Road with Charles Kuralt on CBS at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Camper from On The Road with Charles Kuralt on CBS

You’ll also find the very first Japanese car ever to roll off an American assembly line, which was the 1983 Honda Accord LX.

1983 Honda Accord LX at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1983 Honda Accord LX


 

Road Trips

A section on road trips displays plenty of pieces of Americana, including a replica motel room, McDonald’s sign, Holiday Inn sign, and even a Texaco station. The first traffic light ever created, which was developed by a police officer in Detroit, is also on display.

1959 Volkswagen camper at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1959 Volkswagen camper
Items from early roadside lodging
Items from early roadside lodging
Replica motel room
Replica motel room
Classic McDonald's sign at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Classic McDonald’s sign
Holiday Inn sign
Holiday Inn sign
The world's first traffic light at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
The world’s first traffic light

 

Kitchen Sink Engine

Perhaps the most important artifact in the Driving America exhibit isn’t a car at all. It’s Henry Ford’s kitchen sink engine. On December 24, 1893, Ford clamped an engine he made with scrap metal to his kitchen sink. He wired a spark plug to an overhead light and spun the flywheel while his wife, Clara, fed gasoline through an intake. The engine came to life and changed automotive history forever.

Henry Ford's kitchen sink engine at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Henry Ford’s kitchen sink engine

Three years later, Ford built his first ever car, the Quadricycle, which sold for US$200. He used the profits to develop his second car.

1896 Ford Quadricycle at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1896 Ford Quadricycle

 

Driven to Win

Driven to Win is an exhibition on the history of racing in America. It contains some of the most famous Indy cars, stock cars, and drag racers ever to grace the tracks. You’ll learn about innovations made by famous drivers  and there’s also a racing simulator.

1901 Ford "Sweepstakes" race car
1901 Ford “Sweepstakes” race car
1965 Goldenrod land speed race car
1965 Goldenrod land speed race car
2001 Ford Fusion stock car at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
2001 Ford Fusion stock car


 

Presidential Vehicles

Presidential Vehicles is an exhibit at the Henry Ford featuring five limousines used by 11 different presidents. It’s located next to the Driving America exhibit.

Presidential Vehicles at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Presidential Vehicles

 

1902 Brougham

The oldest vehicle in the collection is a 1902 Brougham used by Theodore Roosevelt. It was in service from 1902 to 1928. After Roosevelt, it was given to the White House housekeeping department to make grocery runs and run other errands.

1902 Brougham at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1902 Brougham

 

1939 Lincoln

Next is the Sunshine Special, a 1939 Lincoln used by Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was the first car built specifically for presidential use and got its nickname because Roosevelt enjoyed riding in it with the top down. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the car was fitted with armor and bullet-resistant tires and gas tank. It was in service until 1950 and also carried Harry S. Truman.

1939 Lincoln at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1939 Lincoln

 

1950 Lincoln

Truman continued riding in a 1950 Lincoln, which was also used by Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1952 to 1960. Eisenhower added the plastic bubble top, and after his presidency, the car was used as a spare for the next two presidents until it was retired in 1967.

1950 Lincoln at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1950 Lincoln

 

1961 Lincoln Continental (The Kennedy Car)

The most important car in the collection is a 1961 Lincoln Continental. John F. Kennedy was sitting in the back seat of the car when he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. Lyndon B. Johnson had the car rebuilt with a permanent roof, titanium armor, and bulletproof glass. It was used until 1977 and also featured during the presidency of Richard Nixon.

1961 Lincoln Continental (Kennedy Car) at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1961 Lincoln Continental

 

1972 Lincoln Continental

The fifth and final car is a 1972 Lincoln Continental. It was used by Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush until it was pulled from service in 1987. Reagan was getting into the car on March 30, 1981, when he was shot by John Hinckley in Washington, DC, and the car carried him to the hospital.

1972 Lincoln Continental at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
1972 Lincoln Continental


 

Railroads

At the very end of the exhibition hall at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is the Railroads exhibit. It includes historic trains and street cars.

 

Allegheny Steam Locomotive

The most impressive train in the collection is the Allegheny Steam Locomotive built in 1941. It was designed for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway and was the most powerful steam locomotive ever built. It could pull 160 coal cars each with a 60 ton load. The locomotive is 125 feet long and weighs 1.2 million pounds. Visitors are able to climb up inside the locomotive and feel like an engineer for a few moments.

Allegheny Steam Locomotive in Railroads
Allegheny Steam Locomotive
Allegheny Steam Locomotive in Railroads
Allegheny Steam Locomotive

 

Sam Hill

The “Sam Hill” Steam Locomotive, dating back to 1858, is next to the Allegheny. It pulls a replica Bangor & Aroostook Railroad passenger car, which ran between 1855 to 1865. The replica was built from 1925 to 1928.

"Sam Hill" Steam Locomotive in Railroads at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
“Sam Hill” Steam Locomotive

 

Snowplow

Behind that is a Canadian Pacific snowplow built in 1923. It was one of 36 built between 1920 and 1929. One or two locomotives had to push the plow to clear snow from the tracks.

Canadian Pacific snowplow in Railroads at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Canadian Pacific snowplow

 

Model Railroad

Besides some other cars and locomotives, there’s a decent model railroad layout as well as a Lego model of Detroit.

Model railroad in Railroads at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Model railroad
Lego model of Detroit in Railroads
Lego model of Detroit
Lego model of Detroit in Railroads
Lego model of Detroit


 

Temporary Exhibitions at The Henry Ford Museum

The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation presents temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

 

Rock Stars’ Cars & Guitars

One of my favorite exhibits at the Henry Ford Museum was Rock Stars’ Cars & Guitars. It was a temporary exhibit that ran from May 16 to September 7, 2009. The entrance to the exhibit featured the van that Soundgarden drove from gig to gig in the 1980s, spreading the “Seattle sound”, which later became known as grunge.

Soundgarden's van in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars
Soundgarden’s van

Also at the entrance was a checkered car, John Deere tractor, clothes, and equipment owned by Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, as well as costumes and memorabilia from Kiss.

Rick Nielsen's car, tractor, and gear in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars
Rick Nielsen’s car, tractor, and gear
Kiss costumes and gear in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars
Kiss costumes and gear

Inside the exhibit, there were several cars on display, including: Elvis Presley’s 1973 Cadillac; Snoop Dogg’s 1974 Cadillac Coupe DeVille (Snoop DeVille “Sticky Icky”); a 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback driven by Sheryl Crow in the “Steve McQueen” music video; and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons’ 1932 Ford Coupe (Eliminator).

Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Rock Stars’ Cars & Guitars
Elvis Presley's 1973 Cadillac in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Elvis Presley’s 1973 Cadillac
Snoop Dogg's 1974 Cadillac Coupe DeVille in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Snoop Dogg’s 1974 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

Next to a 1956 Lincoln owned by Pete Townshend, I was able to see guitars, drums, and clothing used by The Who.

Pete Townshend's 1956 Lincoln in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Pete Townshend’s 1956 Lincoln
The Who gear in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars
The Who gear

The memorabilia was just as interesting as the cars. Rick Nielsen lent his huge guitar collection to the exhibit, which included a 1955 Fender Stratocaster used by Jimi Hendrix during a sound check in Madison, Wisconsin, on February 27, 1968, and B.B. King’s “Lucille”, a 1999 Gibson.

Rick Nielsen's guitar collection in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars
Rick Nielsen’s guitar collection
Rick Nielsen's guitar in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars
Rick Nielsen’s guitar
A guitar used in a sound check by Jimi Hendrix in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars
A guitar used in a sound check by Jimi Hendrix
B.B. King's "Lucille" in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
B.B. King’s “Lucille”

Blues legends Howlin’ Wolf (1910-1976) and Buddy Guy each had a guitar on display, courtesy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Howlin' Wolf's 1949 Kay in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Howlin’ Wolf’s 1949 Kay
Buddy Guy's Harmony arch top guitar in Rock Stars' Cars & Guitars at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan
Buddy Guy’s Harmony arch top guitar


 

Ford Rouge Factory Tour

When visiting The Henry Ford, you can’t miss the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. This is where the Ford Motor Company assembles every F-150 truck sold in the entire world.

The historic Ford River Rouge Complex was once the largest integrated factory in the world. It was built between 1917 and 1928 and was designed by Albert Kahn (1869-1942). The factory has over 16 million square feet of factory space. At its peak, it included its own steel mill, electricity plant, docks, and rail lines, and once employed over 100,000 workers. Most Ford production took place there until the 1960s.

 

Start of the Tour

After purchasing tickets at the museum, we boarded a shuttle to the Ford Rouge Factory Tour building. We were dropped off at the entrance where we saw a statue of Henry Ford speaking to a student. The base of the statue says “Henry Ford ‘Father of Industrial Education'”. It was dedicated on September 28, 2004, by alumni of the Henry Ford Trade School.

Ford Rouge Factory Tour at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan
Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Statue of Henry Ford on the Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Statue of Henry Ford

When we walked inside, we met our first guide, Henry, who worked at Ford for over 40 years. He greeted our group and explained how the factory tour works. He then led us into the Legacy Theater where we watched a short film about the history of Ford and the factory.

Next, we walked over to the Manufacturing Innovation Theater to watch an amazing presentation with video, lasers, and robots. It went through the entire F-150 production process, explaining how the vehicles are designed, assembled, and tested. It was definitely one of the highlights of the tour.

 

Observation Deck

From there, we took an elevator up to the Observation Deck where another guide talked about some of the environmentally friendly features of the factory. Interpretive panels lined the windows highlighting the history of the plant and its features. What stood out to me is that Henry Ford purchased the land for a mere $1,100 on July 7, 1915.

Observation Deck on the Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Observation Deck

We were also able to get a panoramic look at the entire factory. To the left is a blue building, which is a steel mill owned by U.S. Steel.

Steel mill on the Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Steel mill

Directly in front of the building is the Living Laboratory, which was a brownfield converted into an ecological habitat. It contains crabapple and hawthorn trees as well as bee hives. During summer months, it’s possible to take a free guided walk through the laboratory. The employee parking lot behind the lab has the best spots reserved for Ford owners, while owners of other makes have to park in the back 12 rows. Finally, behind the parking lot, we could spot the blast furnaces (now owned by AK Steel), office buildings, paint plant, and power plant.

Ford River Rouge Complex
Ford River Rouge Complex

The building nearest where we stood is the Dearborn Truck Plant, where F-150s are assembled. It’s a green building with one of the largest living roofs in the world. Across the road behind the building are brand new F-150s waiting to be sent to dealerships around the world.

Dearborn Truck Plant on the Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Dearborn Truck Plant
New F-150s waiting to be shipped out on the Ford Rouge Factory Tou
New F-150s waiting to be shipped out


 

Mezzanine Level

When we finished, we went down to the mezzanine level, where there’s a small interactive area. Guests can try their hand at assembling a small truck or take souvenir photos before heading into the assembly plant.

Mezzanine level on the Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Mezzanine level
Visitors assembling an F-150 on the Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Visitors assembling an F-150

 

Assembly Plant

Inside the assembly plant, we walked along an elevated walkway and looked down to see how F-150s are made. Videos along the path gave more detailed information and guides were waiting to answer questions. What amazed me is that all orders are totally customized and a new truck rolled off the line every seven minutes during production hours, and is capable of producing one truck a minute at full operating speed. We weren’t allowed to take photos on this part of the tour.

 

Legacy Gallery

Finally, we walked through the Legacy Gallery, which is a showroom floor displaying some of the most famous vehicles made at the Rouge. A 1929 Model A, 1932 V8, 1949 Coupe, 1955 Thunderbird, and 1965 Mustang all showcase some of Ford’s greatest achievements.

Legacy Gallery on the Ford Rouge Factory Tour at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan
Legacy Gallery
1929 Model A on the Ford Rouge Factory Tour at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan
1929 Model A
1955 Thunderbird on the Ford Rouge Factory Tour at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan
1955 Thunderbird
1965 Mustang on the Ford Rouge Factory Tour at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan
1965 Mustang

In one corner sat a 2015 Ford F-150. Guests are able to get up close and kick the tires of the vehicle assembled in the plant they just visited.

2015 F-150 on the Ford Rouge Factory Tour
2015 F-150

 

Our Thoughts on the Ford Rouge Factory Tour

The entire tour took us about two hours to complete, including the shuttle rides to and from the museum. It complements a visit to the museum by giving visitors a more complete experience into the history and production of automobiles, and the importance and innovation of Ford.

 

Map with the Henry Ford

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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