The Henry Ford facts for kids
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Edison Institute
Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum |
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The museum clock tower. The building is a replica of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | The Henry Ford 20900 Oakwood Boulevard at Village Road Dearborn, Michigan United States |
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| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | Robert O. Derrick |
| Visitation | 1.7 million |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000071 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 20, 1969 |
| Designated NHLD | December 21, 1981 |
The Henry Ford is a huge history museum complex in Dearborn, Michigan. It's also known as the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village. This amazing place shows off many important items from American history.
You can see things like the car that carried President John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln's chair from Ford's Theatre, and the bus where Rosa Parks made history. It's the biggest indoor and outdoor museum in the United States. Over 1.7 million people visit it every year! The museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
Contents
Discover the Henry Ford Museum's Purpose
The museum is named after its founder, Henry Ford, who created the famous automobile company. Henry Ford wanted to save important items from history. He also wanted to show how the Industrial Revolution changed the world.
The museum has homes, machines, and many other items from American history. These things help us understand what life was like in early America. Henry Ford once said he was collecting "the history of our people as written into things their hands made and used." He believed this was the best way to keep our history and traditions alive.
A Look at the Henry Ford Museum's History
The museum building was designed by architect Robert O. Derrick. It has a huge exhibit hall. The front of the museum looks like three famous buildings from Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. These include Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
The museum was officially opened on October 21, 1929. President Herbert Hoover dedicated it to Henry Ford's friend, Thomas Edison. This date was special because it was 50 years after Edison invented the first successful light bulb. Many famous people attended the dedication, like Marie Curie and Orville Wright. The event was even broadcast on the radio!
At first, the Edison Institute was only for educational purposes. But many people wanted to visit. So, it opened to the public on June 22, 1933. It included the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, and special schools. The Ford Motor Company used to own the museum. Today, they still help support it and offer the Ford Rouge Factory Tour.
In 1970, the museum bought a chair they thought was very old. They believed it was from the 1600s. But in 1977, experts found out it was a fake made in 1969! The museum still keeps the chair. It helps teach visitors about how forgeries are made.
In the early 2000s, the museum added an auditorium. It used to be an IMAX theater. In 2016, it was changed to better fit the museum's goals.
Explore the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
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The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation started with Henry Ford's own collection. He began collecting historical items in 1906. Today, this 12-acre museum has many antique machines, pop culture items, automobiles, locomotives, and aircraft.
Here are some of the amazing things you can see:
- A 4K digital theater that shows science, nature, and history films.
- An Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
- The 1961 Lincoln Continental car that President John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was shot.
- The rocking chair where President Abraham Lincoln was sitting when he was shot.
- George Washington's camp bed.
- A collection of old violins, including a Stradivarius.
- A sealed tube said to contain Thomas Edison's last breath.
- Buckminster Fuller's special Dymaxion house design.
- The bus where Rosa Parks was arrested, which helped start the Montgomery bus boycott.
- Igor Sikorsky's prototype helicopter.
- The Fokker Trimotor airplane that made the first flight over the North Pole.
- Bill Elliott's race car that went over 212 MPH in 1987.
- The Fairbottom Bobs, an old Newcomen steam engine.
- A working part of the original Holiday Inn "Great Sign."
- A huge Chesapeake & Ohio Railway steam locomotive, the #1601 "Allegheny."
- A Toyota Prius sedan, the first car to be mass-produced as a hybrid.
The Benson Ford Research Center is also part of the museum. It has many photos and documents that are not usually on display. Visitors can use these to learn more about American history. The center also holds the Ford Motor Archives.
In 2012, the museum had a special exhibit. It showed many items and stories about the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
Selected Museum Exhibits
- Airplanes
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A copy of the 1903 Wright Flyer
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The 1926 Fokker F.VIIa/3M flown over the North Pole
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The Byrd Arctic Expedition exhibit
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A 1939 Northwest Airlines Douglas DC-3
- Agriculture
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Fordson Tractor No. 1
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A Steam Tractor Engine
- Automobiles
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The 1896 Ford Quadricycle
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1908 Stevens-Duryea Model U limo (brown) and 1915 Chevrolet Royal Mail Roadster (green)
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A 1916 Apperson Touring Car
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1928 Model A Ford
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A 1949 Volkswagen
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1952 Oscar Mayer Wienermobile
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The first Ford Mustang ever made
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The bus where Rosa Parks was arrested
- Presidential Limousines
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The Sunshine Special, used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
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The SS-100-X used by John F. Kennedy
- Made In America
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Watt Canal Pumping Engine (1796)
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Thomas Horn Engine (1850)
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Water Engine and Electric Generator (1903)
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A copy of the 1831 DeWitt Clinton train
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Chesapeake and Ohio Railway locomotive C&O 1601
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Signs from McDonald's, A&W, and White Castle
Step Back in Time at Greenfield Village
Greenfield Village is the outdoor part of The Henry Ford complex. It's like a "living history museum." It opened in 1933 and was the first outdoor museum of its kind in the U.S. It inspired many other museums.
Almost 100 historical buildings were moved here from their original spots. They are set up like a small village. The goal is to show how Americans lived and worked throughout history. You can see buildings from the 1600s to today. Many are staffed by people in costumes who do old tasks like farming or sewing. There are also craft shops where you can watch glass-blowing or pottery making.
Greenfield Village has 240 acres of land. About 90 acres are used for the attractions. The rest is forest, a river, and pastures for sheep and horses.
Here are some of the famous buildings and attractions in the Village:
- Noah Webster's home from Connecticut.
- The Wright brothers' bicycle shop and home, moved from Dayton, Ohio.
- A copy of Thomas Edison's Menlo Park laboratory. It was rebuilt exactly as it was.
- The Edison Homestead, where Thomas Edison's father was born.
- Henry Ford's birthplace home.
- Henry Ford's first garage, where he built the Ford Quadricycle.
- Harvey S. Firestone's family farmhouse. It's now a working sheep farm.
- The Logan County, Illinois, courthouse where Abraham Lincoln practiced law.
- William Holmes McGuffey's birthplace.
- J. R. Jones General Store, one of the first buildings moved to the Village.
- Ackley Covered Bridge, a 75-foot wooden bridge built in 1832.
- Cape Cod Windmill, one of the oldest windmills in America, built in 1633.
- A 1913 Herschell-Spillman carousel with a special band organ.
You can also ride historic transportation in the Village! There are real Ford Model Ts, a 1931 Ford Model AA bus, horse-drawn omnibuses, and trains pulled by steam locomotives on the Weiser Railroad.
Greenfield Village Attractions Gallery
- General exhibits
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Noah Webster's home from New Haven, Connecticut
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A garden and the Ackley Covered Bridge
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The Burbank cottage (left) and Garden House Shop
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Charles Proteus Steinmetz's cabin
- Thomas Edison Exhibits
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Upper level of Thomas Edison's Menlo Park Laboratory
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Three crucibles in Thomas Edison's Menlo Park Laboratory.
- Wright Brothers Exhibits
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Wilbur and Orville Wright's house and bicycle shop
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The Wright Brothers' house
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The Wright Cycle Company building
Ride the Weiser Railroad
The Weiser Railroad's Torch Lake locomotive on the turntable
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| Overview | |
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| Locale | Dearborn, Michigan, U.S. |
| Dates of operation | 1929–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Length | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
The Weiser Railroad is a 2-mile long train line that circles Greenfield Village. It has four stations. One station includes the old Smiths Creek Depot building, built in 1858.
The railroad has a modern copy of an old roundhouse from 1884. This is where trains are stored and repaired. It also has a hand-operated turntable from 1901. This helps turn the locomotives around.
The Weiser Railroad is special because it connects to the main U.S. National Railroad Network. This means real Amtrak trains pass by the museum! A new transit center is next to the museum. It lets visitors walk directly into the complex.
| Number | Images | Name | Wheel arrangement | Year built | Builder | Original road | Status | Notes |
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| 3 |  |
Torch Lake | 0-6-4T | 1873 | Mason Machine Works | Hecla & Torch Lake Railroad | Operational | The only surviving Mason Bogie locomotive. It's the oldest working locomotive in the U.S. as of 2021. |
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Edison | 4-4-0 | 1875 | Manchester Locomotive Works | Edison Portland Cement Company | Operational | Henry Ford rebuilt this locomotive in 1932. |
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4-4-0 | 1897 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | Detroit & Lima Northern Railway | Operational | This was Henry Ford's own locomotive. | |
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4-4-2 | 1902 | ALCO | Michigan Central Railroad | Display | It is on display in the roundhouse. | |
| 1 | B | 1927 | Plymouth Locomotive Works | Mistersky Power Plant | Operational | This train runs on gasoline. | ||
| 1 | B-B | 1942 | General Electric | United States Navy | Operational | A 50-ton switcher train. |
Greenfield Village Transportation Gallery
- Greenfield Village transportation
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Herschell-Spillman Carousel
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Ford Model T rides
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Ford Model AA bus rides
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Horse-drawn omnibus rides
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Weiser Railroad
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Special Events at The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford hosts many fun and educational events throughout the year.
Civil War Remembrance Event
Every year, around Memorial Day weekend, the Village honors those who fought in the American Civil War. Hundreds of people dress up as Union and Confederate soldiers. They perform battle reenactments and play music from that time. You can learn a lot about the Civil War through exhibits and talks with historians.
Motor Muster Car Show
Motor Muster is one of two car shows held each year in Greenfield Village. It usually happens on Father's Day weekend. This event features cars built from 1932 to 1976. You can see between 600 and 800 cars! Experts talk about the cars as they drive by.
Summer Camp Adventures
The Henry Ford offers a Summer Camp every year from June to August. It's for kids in grades 2–9. Each grade has a different theme. Kids get to see the museum and village in new ways. They can try activities like glass blowing or canoeing.
World Tournament of Historic Base Ball
In August, you can step back in time to 1867 for the World Tournament of Historical Base Ball. Teams from all over the country play baseball using the old rules. It's a two-day event where you can watch throwing, batting, and competition.
Salute to America Concert
Around Independence Day, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra performs patriotic concerts. These concerts are held for four nights in the Village. Thousands of people come to enjoy the music.
Old Car Festival
The Old Car Festival happens every September. It has been a tradition since 1955. The Village streets fill with the sights and sounds of hundreds of old cars. These cars are from the 1890s through 1932. You can see cars being judged and even watch Model T cars being put together quickly.
Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village
In October, Greenfield Village celebrates Halloween. The Village is decorated with spooky themes. You might see a headless horseman or witches! There are treats and fun activities for everyone.
Holiday Nights Celebration
The Christmas season is very popular in Greenfield Village. Many buildings are decorated for the holidays. You can stroll through the Village and enjoy live entertainment. There's even an ice skating rink! You can also take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage or a Model T.
Take the Ford Rouge Factory Tour
The Ford Rouge Factory Tour lets you see a real, working car factory up close. You take a bus from the Henry Ford Museum to the River Rouge Plant. This is a huge industrial area where Ford has built cars for a long time. It once employed 100,000 people!
In 2003, the Ford Rouge Factory was updated. It became a very "green" building with a special roof. A new visitor center opened. It teaches visitors about the factory's history and how cars are made. You can watch videos and use touchscreens. You can also see the world's largest "Green" roof. Then, you get to walk through the actual assembly plant!
See also
In Spanish: Museo Henry Ford para niños
