The Henry Ford Museum, Michigan
The Henry Ford Museum (which is actually just called “The Henry Ford”) is the interior extension of the outdoor Greenfield Village that houses Ford’s original collection of historically-significant artifacts and industrial prototypes with an emphasis on pop culture of the 20th century, automobiles, and mechanisms of air travel. The Ford seeks to acquire landmark artifacts of historical and innovative importance, celebrating American history and the ingenuity of its citizens; it also tells stories of varying importance such as the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of modern furniture design.
Though its exhibits relentlessly promote the narrative of progress as tied to technological ingenuity and development, the museum houses important, one-of-a-kind items that can be viewed as artifacts without the agenda and which regardless, shed light on the ways in which development has shaped the world in which we inhabit. Together with Greenfield Village, the museum paints a fascinating picture of the transition from a self-sufficient, rural way of life with a hyper-localized economy to our present reliance on global industrial production that enables leisure time for a segment of the population hitherto unseen in history.
The 1961 Lincoln Continental in which JFK was assassinated, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
Replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
A 20-ton 1923 Canadian Pacific snowplow, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
A 1955 Corvette Roadster, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
Copy of the Declaration of Independence, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
Restored actual bus in which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
Slavery exhibit, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
Marshmallow soda, designed 1956, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
Newcomen Engine – oldest surviving steam engine, ca. 1760, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
Watt Canal Pumping Engine, 1796, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
Combination steam and gas generator used from 1912 – 1930 at Ford’s Highland Park Plant, relocated to The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
Massive flywheel from Highland Park Generator, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
Steam engine electric generator installed in New York City, 1891, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
Hey Meghan, glad you enjoyed your visit to the Henry Ford. At some point they’ll change that sign about the dates of the Gas Steam generator (was that the first hybrid engine, by the way?)- it should read ‘Built in 1916’ as the building it went into wasn’t even completed by 1912. My grandfather was the draftsman to the designer, Edward Gray. The engine with that date was the very first version- a 5,000hp engine, the next nine were the slightly larger version. By the way, that giant flywheel weighs 100 tons, the two keys that hold the two halves together weigh nearly a ton each. They came within six inches of the ceiling putting it together in there and had to heat those keys ‘cherry red hot’ to assemble it. This of course was done before those beautiful teak floors were installed. See more at https://prentz2.wordpress.com/2015/06/23/edward-gray-highland-park-to-grayhaven/
Wow, thank you so much for all the information. I found my visit there fascinating and so I’m looking forward to learning more. Thanks again!
Amazing! They have a lot of neat artifacts. I was there as a child, but remember very little about it. Obviously, it is time for a new trip!
It’s a fantastic and really interesting collection, wineandhistory. I learned quite a bit.