Better Than I Remembered

It seems that every area of our country has some hidden, or partially hidden, treasure that far surpasses our expectations. I recently revisited one in this area: the museum portion of The Henry Ford.

Called America’s Greatest History Attraction, The Henry Ford, also known as the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, is located in Dearborn, Mich. and is the nation’s largest indoor-outdoor history museum complex. Founded by Henry Ford, the museum was based on his desire to preserve items of historical significance and tell the story of the industrial revolution – highlighting the growth of agriculture, manufacturing and transportation in America.

• Originally called The Edison Institute, it was dedicated by President Herbert Hoover to Thomas Edison, Ford’s longtime friend, on October 21, 1929. It opened to the public in 1933.
• Those in attendance at the dedication included Marie Curie, George Eastman, John D. Rockefeller, Orville Wright and Will Rogers.
• The Henry Ford Museum covers 9 acres on a single floor, with 40-foot ceilings — needed to accommodate the full-size locomotives and aircraft on display. Other historic objects, machinery, automobiles and forms of transportation are also part of the collection.
• Greenfield Village is comprised of almost 100 historic buildings, some dating back to the 17^th century, which were moved from their original locations and meticulously rebuilt and restored to their original condition. The buildings include famous homes, farms, laboratories, workshops and stores.
• Greenfield Village sits on 240 acres of land, 90 of which are used for the public attraction. The balance is a combination of forests, rivers and pastures for the sheep and horses that live on the grounds.

The museum is divided into several themed areas: Made in America, With Liberty and Justice for All, Heroes of the Sky, Agriculture, Fully Furnished, Your Place in Time, Automobile in American Life (currently being updated), and a continually updated Museum Gallery. Numerous original, one-of-a-kind items are integrated into the exhibition areas, and many are interactive, allowing viewers to touch, sit in, and experience the items or venues on display.

Greenfield Village opened April 15^th, and can be visited 7 days a week until the end of October (and on Friday through Sunday in November). I’ve included some photos shot by a friend during a visit to the Village last summer.

The Henry Ford is everything it’s purported to be, and then some. Spending some time viewing and reading about the stories and accomplishments of some of our greatest inventors, entrepreneurs and leaders was an incredibly positive, inspirational experience.