On Wednesday August 4th we visited The Henry Ford in Dearborn MI. CBS program that Dorcas really likes is CBS' Innovation Nation hosted by Mo Rocca and filmed at the The Henry Ford, so we decided to visit since it was on our way. The Henry Ford consists of three distinct attractions: The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village and Ford Rouge Factory Tour. Each attraction can take pretty much a full day. Dorcas had pre-ordered tickets for The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, but when we arrived, we decided to also try to do the Ford Rouge Factory Tour and watch the production of Ford F-150 trucks. Those two activities represent more than a full day, but we wanted to do both, so we would do the best we could. Next time maybe we can tour Greenfield Village.
Our first activity was a tour at the
Ford River Rouge Complex where Ford F-150 trucks are manufactured. From the Welcome Center we rode on a shuttle bus to the Rouge Complex. The Rouge Complex measures 1.5 miles wide by 1 mile long, including 93 buildings with nearly 16 million square feet of factory floor space. With its own docks in the dredged Rouge River, 100 miles of interior railroad track, its own electricity plant, and integrated steel mill, the Rouge is able to turn raw materials into running vehicles within this single complex. It takes only about 4 1/2 hours for the complete assembly of an F-150 pickup truck.
 |
| Restored Vintage Fords in the Legacy Gallery of the Rouge tour area |
Photos of the assembly line are prohibited, but I was able to snap few clandestine shots. Crew cab bodies were being assembled during our visit.
 |
| Here you can see the truck beds traveling down the line |
Our tour only allowed us to see a very small part of the assembly complex. We watched the installation of windshields, rear windows, moon roofs, lights and center consoles to the cab. The bodies were assembled and painted in another part of the plant. The "marriage" of the body and chassis occurred elsewhere in the plant.
 |
| The view of the plant from the observation deck |
This photo shows the exterior of the part of the production facility we toured. The roof is covered with more than 10 acres of sedum, a low-growing ground cover. The sedum retains and cleanses rainwater and moderates the internal temperature of the building, saving energy. The roof is part of an $18 million rainwater treatment system designed to collect and clean rainwater annually, sparing Ford from a $50 million mechanical treatment facility. The vegetation on the vertical walls also reduces solar gain and heat and saves energy.
 |
| Dorcas flirting with Kermit |
The exhibit included a number of authentic and original Muppets.
 |
| Jim, Frank and Jerry, the The Country Trio, representing Jim Hinson, Frank Oz and Jerry Nelson |
 |
| Beaker and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew |
 |
| The set for Slimey the Worm of "Wriggling Brothers" worm circus acrobat act |
The Henry Ford comprises a huge number of exhibits, too many to fully describe and show here. Exhibits included primarily industrial, energy and transportation items.
 |
| Triple Expansion Steam Engine, 1891 |
 |
| 1928 Ford 4-AT-B Tri-Motor Airplane, "Floyd Bennett," Flown Over the South Pole by Richard E. Byrd. AKA the flying wash board! |
 |
| 1939 Douglas DC-3 |
On November 12, 1965, Goldenrod streaked across Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats at 409.277 miles per hour, setting a new land speed record for wheel-driven cars. Builders Bob and Bill Summers powered Goldenrod with four massive Chrysler V-8 engines. Although other car builders copied its sleek design, Goldenrod held the record until 1991.
Jim Clark won the Indianapolis 500 with this rear-engine car in 1965. After his victory, a traditional front-engine car never won that race again. The Lotus-Ford combined a European Formula One-inspired lightweight chassis with a big Ford V-8 engine. The Lotus-Ford's success effectively killed the traditional Indy roadster and established a new design for American race cars.
 |
| 1973 FMC 2900R Motorhome, Used by Charles Kuralt for CBS "On The Road" Television Show |
"On The Road" aired for 27 years, from 1967 to 1994. During that time, in addition to his wife, Charles Kuralt kept a mistress in Montana. The scandal became known shortly after his death in 1997. Read about it
here.
 |
| 1961 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine Used by John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy was riding in this car when he was assassinated. Click for more info |
 |
| Wrong number through the ages |
The museum contains an exhibit documenting the Civil Rights Movement in America.
 |
| Ku Klux Klan Robe and Hood, circa 1925 |
This bus, the site of Rosa Parks' stand against segregation laws, sat in a rusted storage shed before The Henry Ford acquired it and began a full restoration. Parks' act of defiance on December 1, 1955 sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which helped to ignite the Civil Rights Movement. Today, the restored bus survives as a reminder of her courageous activism.
 |
| Rosa Parks bus prior to restoration |
We saw as much as we could, but still had to rush on by many of the exhibits without really getting a chance to see them. That part was disappointing. Hopefully we can come back some other time and see more of the museum, as well as Greenfield Village.
After visiting The Henry Ford we had dinner at
Ford's Garage only a few blocks away. Ford's Garage is not owned by or affiliated with Ford Motor Company, although it is located on the Ford Motor Company property. Ford Motor Company licenses its logo and trademark to the restaurant chain. Ironically there is only this single store located in Michigan, while there are 14 other stores scattered across Florida. We thought we were eating at a quaint local joint. Go figure.
 |
| There is a clear old timey garage theme working here |
 |
| The napkins are blue shop towels and the napkin rings are hose clamps. Pretty cool! |
By eating at Ford's Garage and enjoying the great burgers and experiencing the painfully slow service, we were able to miss the rush hour traffic out of town on our way back to camp. We arrived home exhausted to find a grateful pup. We will sleep well tonight.
Tomorrow we move north about 275 miles to Wolverine MI, high on the lower peninsula.
No comments:
Post a Comment