Henry Ford Museum - Michigan

[dad911]

Side trip with my father, in the early 70's, on the way to a cousins wedding. I have fond memories of this museum.

Dad passed in '92, for some reason I have an urge to go back.

Will I enjoy a revisit or be disappointed?

[Crowbob]

It probably depends on how old you were when you last visited.

[dad911]

I was about 12.....

[Chocaholic]

Was there this past spring with my son. Just as amazing as ever. A great day. You won’t be disappointed.

[nvr2mny]

I was there too about 7-8 years ago, so when I was 50 or so. Amazing museum. I say go. Pretty cool you have (I assume) a good memory there with your pop. It might bring back some more good memories of father/son times.

[HardDrive]

You will not be disappointed. I grew up nearby. If you love all things mechanical, its great.

[ckelly78z]

We went a few years ago and enjoyed reminiscing with some exhibits that have been on display for a long time. The truly memorable part of the day was touring the River Rouge F150 factory plant tour, and seeing all the innovations at work on the factory floor.....It was truly stunning that the tacconite (raw balls of mined steel) that are showing up on the lake freighters from Wisconsin at the docks, are being forged into steel, stamped into parts, assembled into vehicles, and driven off the assembly line in less than 48 hours.

[wdfifteen]

It’s a wonderful museum, with a wide variety of machinery from sewing machines to locomotives. Try to spend a day at Greenfield village and a day at the museum and archives. To use the archives pick a subject you want to research and make an appointment. You might be interested in the OHC V8 or the development of the Pinto. You will be given access to the inner sanctum, where there are the internal communications and drawings for all sorts of projects. If you have a kid along let him pick an artifact and do deep research on it in the archive. Last time I was three I was working on a story about the Fordson truck. It was kind of cool to read Henry’s handwriting in his letters about the truck.

[john70t]

Dinner at the Eagle Tavern was a colonial experience w/good food.
https://www.thehenryford.org/current-events/calendar/holiday-nights-in-greenfield-village/

[kach22i]

Bring a camera that does well with low level lighting.

The locomotive is incredible but black and not well lit.

Where the original mid-engine Mustang concept car is located is better lit, but not it's outside or anything.

The lighting for taking photos still sucks, a variable lens zoom will come in handy.

I approach these events two ways now, either get into the moment and have "the experience", or see the venue though the lens of a camera and take a hundred pictures.

I lean towards having the experience now, let someone else take the pictures or buy a few postcards at the gift shop with photos taken by professionals.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Try to spend a day at Greenfield village and a day at the museum and archives.

Grew up in Toledo. School field trip to Greenfield Village as a kid cost fifty cents. Maybe 1966?

I think they had a rendition of Edison's workshop there.

Almost old as dirt now and Henry Ford Museum is now on the bucket list. Would be a super cheap treat for a three day trip from Akron to revisit Greenfield Village and hit Henry Ford Museum.

[Chocaholic]

The chair Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot:



A few othe pics: