In Dearborn Michigan, between the vast buildings of Ford Motor Headquarters, is a museum simply known as The Henry Ford.
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Traveling through the Detroit area, I had a couple of spare hours to visit The Henry Ford museum. Not nearly enough time to see all this massive complex has to offer, like Greenfield Village or the Rouge Factory. Instead, I concentrated on the Innovation Center.
Henry Ford was fascinated by technological innovations, especially those that generate power. He collected the best examples of steam and diesel machines, often giant in scale.
The museum featured exhibits honoring Edison, Westinghouse, and they even had Nikola Tesla’s death mask. Okay, that was creepy.
Ford’s interest in breakthroughs spilled over to furniture and household appliance design.
I visited this museum decades ago and my only lasting memory was the massive steam locomotive, Allegheny. It’s still here. And still impressive. One of the largest ever built.
The theme of transportation runs throughout this museum. From stage coaches on train wheels to Model T’s to airplanes.
The history of automobile racing is well documented with examples from every era. I liked this early two-person model, where one brave dude hung off the side to serve as a counterbalance.
There was a high-tech race car simulator here. Special tickets were required, but the attendant let me in to take pictures. Finally that press badge I subscribed to came in handy!
Of course, being Ford, the main emphasis here was cars and American car culture.
The day of my visit the entire museum was devoted to the Invention Convention for high schoolers. Teens filled every available space with science-fair type booths. Anxious parents hovered nearby or practiced speeches with their kids in the corners. A large cadre of judges spent considerable time at each booth. The event was so crowded I couldn’t get near enough to see what the kids had invented.
By early afternoon the museum was packed with kids and families. I started the long walk to the exit and passed by a collection of presidential cars, including the Kennedy car. Yes, the one he was killed in. Oh, dear! Thankfully they had cleaned the upholstery.
It was a quick tour around The Henry Ford, but a memorable one!
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6 comments
While there are a LOT of transportation exhibits, they truly do have everything! I remember the sewing machines, from the first model ever thru massive industrial models with everything in between (and similar for every category one can imagine!) We usually budgeted a day to the museum, a half day to the Village, and the remainder to the plant, his home, whatever.
Henry collected the best of the best, didn’t he!
I never knew this museum existed! Have done Greenfield Village every time Detroit was on the travel list .Once when I was a kid, then after I got my first car — red 1967 Mustang my Dad found for me — though I got the payment book handed to me. And the last time was when my Dad’s WW II shipmates got together for a reunion in the 1990s and I played chauffeur for the parents on the trip. Considering I lean toward Steampunk, seeing that giant locomotive would be right up my alley! Great tour via photos once more, Richie!
Beth
There’s a lot to this museum!
That looks like a great museum!
Legendary!