The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation – A Treasure Trove of History

After our fantastic Rouge Factory Tour, we headed back to The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, a sprawling tribute to American ingenuity. The museum isn’t just about cars; it’s a treasure trove of historical artifacts that highlight innovation across multiple industries and time-lines. While cars are a big part of the story, the museum also showcases everything from early aeroplanes to steam engines, home appliances, and even presidential limousines.

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Iain Shankland, Gail Shankland, TravelBloggers.ca

Click on the pictures for larger versions…

Before embarking on a wander through the museum, we stopped for lunch. It was surprisingly tasty and not overly pricy either. We’d recommend it… before or after your visit.

After lunch we entered the museum at the entrance right beside the restaurant. One thing we could not figure out was who designed this place? There is no logic to the entire building and the exhibition layout.

Where was the Mustang?! Ford’s most iconic vehicle next to the F-150 – not here.
How about the history of Lincoln – a very important part of Ford’s history? Not here – except for the one in which JFK was assassinated and a couple of other presidential limo’s.
How ‘bout the all-important F-150? Ain’t one in the entire building!
How ‘bout Ford’s presence in Formula One? Nope.
How ‘bout Ford’s battle with Ferrari? Huh… whatwuzthat?
How ‘bout the different varieties of the model T? Huh? There was more than one?

The display at the Rouge Factory was more in keeping with what we were expecting…being that we were in a Ford environment.

You don’t see a model T until the very end!! Then you get to see the beginning of Ford vehicles until about the 1940’s. It jumps all over the place. The innovation bits made a bit of sense, but the auto stuff was clearly an afterthought.

What does a steam train have in common with a Dodge Caravan and a Dodge Omni (one of the biggest pieces of shit ever built)? I have no idea. They were virtually side by side. And let’s not forget about Rosa Parks who refused to move to the back of the bus. What the hell has the evolution of civil rights got to do with innovation or the automotive landscape? Leave that important piece of history to another exhibition – in a different context.

There was a speed expedition area…of a Chevy Camaro and other manufacturers. An electric bit… Chevy Bolt. There was an exhibition of how auto’s downsized from a gas-guzzling V8 to 4 cylinder Honda, Toyota and Chrysler’s…but no Ford’s!!! (not even the shitty Pinto-based Mustang?!!)

F-150 Lightning was there…right? Uhmmm we make electric vehicles?! You mean the Prius right? Yeah, there’s one over there by the locomotive train…that Ford never made…EVER.

Remember the Mercury brand? Well, Ford doesn’t. There was one…ONE Mercury Cougar from the 1960’s thrown in among the Chrysler and Chevy cars that gave plenty of praise to Chrysler for their innovation like adding rear doors to their pickup truck and fuel efficiency in the 4-bangers from the early 80’s.

Here’s a tip… when you go through the main entrance and pay for your tickets – go all the way to the end of the building and work your way back to the entrance of the building. It will definitely make a lot more sense for you.

Conclusion
We came away impressed but completely confused. Why not give us a better history of Ford vehicles through the ages? Why was the automobile – especially Ford’s, treated like an afterthought rather than THE reason we were there to begin with? Yes, it a museum of American innovation – but there’s no actual separate FORD museum anywhere else – it just seems odd.

Visiting the Ford Rouge Factory and Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation (same day) was an experience that left us with a newfound appreciation for the huge impact that Henry Ford has had on American industry and culture.

The museum does an excellent job of highlighting Ford’s contributions beyond the automotive industry – Henry Ford was not just a car manufacturer – he was a visionary who revolutionized the assembly line process, making products affordable for the average person. The museum’s exhibits illustrate how Ford’s ideas changed not only the way cars were built, but also how factories around the world operate today. It ties in beautifully with a trip to Greenfield Village – located next door.

Whether you’re a car enthusiast, a history buff, or simply curious about American innovation, these sites are must-visit destinations that provide a fascinating glimpse into the past, present, and future.

—————————

Check out our other adventures in our “Road Trip Across America: From Houston To Detroit, We Celebrate The Interstate, Cars, Culture and History” series of articles (also published on Road-Test)… ** Please note, these links will become live once we actually publish them in the near-future – everything will be inter-connected **

—————————

If You Go….
Note: We use What3Words to give you exact locations. The app is free and you can use it on your phone or desktop/laptop

Everything is located at the one spot… “The Henry Ford”
Park and enter the main entrance to the building. You can pay for all of your experiences at once and then proceed to enjoy your visit.

For the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation there are three main entrances: the first one is just past the main entrance on your left, the second is half-way down the long hallway, and the third is all the way to the end. We recommend you go all the way to the end and work your way back to the main entrance.

The Henry Ford – 20900 Oakwood Blvd. Dearborn, MI 48124-5029 – Website
Entrance: ///buddy.paper.love ~ Parking/driveway: ///slides.peanut.impact ~ Parking: ///radio.cabin.soft
Google address: 8Q38+98 Dearborn, Michigan, USA

Directions & Parking – Parking is available in several lots surrounding The Henry Ford for $9 – it’s charged when you purchase your tickets (on-line or in person). On busy days the lots fill up quickly – we recommend getting there as close to 9am as possible. Parking is free for Members and Giant Screen Experience-only patrons. *A $3.00 service fee will be added to orders placed over the phone and online.

*** Special Note: Alternatively, purchase the Membership Pass for one at $200. The Member gets a free guest pass, so 2 people…and get free parking and unlimited visits along with discounts and other perks.

> Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation – Inside The Henry Ford building (separate article)
Admission: $34 – Youth (5-11): $25.50 (online discount price)
– Open Daily – 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m

> Ford Rouge Factory Tour – Leaves from The Henry Ford building. (separate article)
Admission: $24 – Youth (5-11): $18 (online discount price)

Open Monday-Saturday – 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Active assembly is not available on Saturdays, and the tour is closed on Sundays. Last tour bus departs at 3 p.m. Tours begin with a 10 minute bus ride from The Henry Ford to the Ford Rouge Factory Tour Visitor Center.

> Giant Screen Experience – Free Parking – Inside The Henry Ford building
Admission: $10.00 – Youth (5-11): $7.50 (online discount price)
Members and the Giant Screen Experience-only patrons will not be charged for parking

> Greenfield Village – A Trip Back In Time (separate article)

You can enter via the Henry Ford building and walk the full length of the building, or park closer to the main entrance, but it’s best to park as close as possible to their main gate. You can pay to enter at their gates or pay at the main entrance and walk all the way down to the Village Entrance.

Entrance: ///card.layers.casino ~ Parking: ///rear.mops.privately
Google: 8Q39+HF Dearborn, Michigan, USA
Website

Admission: $37 – Youth (5-11): $27.75 (online discount price)
April 13-May 20 – Open to the Public: Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Monday
May 21-September 8 – Open to the Public: Daily
September 9-29 – Open to the Public: Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Monday
September 30-October 27 – Closed
October 28-December 1. Open to the Public: Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

Special Note: *A $9.00 parking fee will be added to each online order during the checkout process. Members will not be charged for parking. *A $3.00 service fee will be added to orders placed over the phone and online.

** Also published on Road-Test.org **

Be sure to follow us on X
…or sign up for our newsletter via the blog so you don’t miss future articles!
X: @TravelBloggerz
YouTube: youtube.com/@TravelBloggers/videos

About TravelBloggers…
Iain & Gail started blogging in order to inspire and motivate people to travel the world from their perspective – specializing in having the most fun while using the least amount of money…travelling on the cheap without sacrificing comfort.

** In the end you will only regret the things you didn’t do **