Detroit: Henry Ford Museum.

I started listening to an audiobook written by Arthur Hailey “Wheels”. I love this author and I have read almost all of his books. He always has the ability to develop an entertaining plot, precisely describe the production environment, specific details of jobs, and occupations. I read his book with great pleasure.

In this novel “Wheels”, Arthur Hailey takes readers to Detroit, inside the auto industry. Of course, the book is not only about cars; it is also about people’s lives and their dramas, jobs, careers, powerful unions, and dealerships. 

While I listen to a book, I recalled to my trip to Detroit. We were heading to Niagara fall, and had a stop in Detroit for a couple of days.The main reason for it was the Henry Ford Museum.Second: Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, which is an International highway tunnel that goes under water and sits right on the bottom of the Detroit River. The tunnel connects Detroit, Michigan, USA, and Windsor, Ontario, Canada.This is the first international vehicle tunnel, the second-busiest crossing between the USA and Canada over the Ambassador Bridge, and the world’s third tunnel between two countries. I was very curious and yes, we use it. 

Detroit is a significantly big city and also known as Motor City or The Automotive Capital of the World. The “Big Three” Detroit-based automakers include General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler. General Motors owns the impressive glass Renaissance Centre (RenCen), which was constructed on the Detroit International Riverfront. 

RenCen is a group of connected glass skyscrapers. The central and highest tower is Detroit Marriott which has 73 floors. Wintergarden, the complex’s structural glass entry lobby, offers expansive views of the Windsor skyline. The modern complex includes offices, a hotel, shops, restaurants and the GM World exhibit inside the Renaissance Center. 

It is a popular tourist landmark and great photography spot in Detroit, but if you want to have even more fun, you should also take a picture of it from Windsor, Ontario.

Also, the Renaissance Center is featured in the films Action Jackson, Bird on a Wire, crime thriller Killshot, Renaissance Man, The Upside of Anger, Need for Speed and many more. It was a primary filming location for the movie Real Steel, starring Hugh Jackman and Eminem chose the RenCen as the backdrop for his album cover Recovery.

We didn’t have enough time to see a lot in the city, but we did some exploring in RenCen and walk along the riverfront promenade. Architecture is absolutely fascinating, and I can feel the power of modern buildings. Needless to say, we took lots of pictures of Detroit and Windsor skylines from both sides of the two countries. 

Henry Ford Museum

We spend the entire day at the Henry Ford Museum and I never regretted that we went there. At first, I went to the automobile museum with my husband since I thought it would be more fascinating for men. Later, I was surprised to discover that the exhibitions captured me as well. It was really interesting and incredible to me.

The Henry Ford Museum is a large historical museum and national landmark in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan. It contents vast collections of artifacts from American automotive industry. There are three sections of the museum: The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, and Ford Rouge Factory Tour. 

The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation 

Establishing the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation was a result of Henry Ford’s interest for collecting historic artefacts, which he started collecting as early as 1906.

Nowadays, the museum exhibit unique collection of antique machinery, pop culture items, automobiles, locomotives, aircraft, and other artefacts.

The museum houses a number of historical exhibits, including the presidential limousine that John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated; the chair from Ford’s Theater where President Abraham Lincoln was shot; an incredible collection of several fine 17th and 18th-century violins including Stradivarius; 1950 Oscar Mayer Wienermobile; Fokker Trimotor airplane that made the first flight to the North Pole, Byrd Arctic Expedition exhibit, 1896 Ford Quadricycle; the bus on which an American activist Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat leading to the Montgomery bus boycott and there many others historical exhibits. 

Greenfield  Village 

Greenfield Village is part of the Henry Ford Museum complex. The village futures historic buildings from the 17th century and shows how American people have lived and worked there at that time.

Artists demonstrate how local people made pottery and glassblowing, explain how they farming, sewing and cooking there.

Greenfield Village has a Wright Brother’s bicycle shop, and Henry Ford prototype garage where he built the Ford Quadricycle. 

The Ford Rouge  Factory  Tour 

The Ford Rouge Factory Tour takes you behind the scenes of a modern automobile factory. People can observe the industrial complex where Ford has built, created, and invented the most progressive concept of cars. 

We had a great time exploring the museum for noth of us.

Tips for travelers: 

If you are able to travel to Canada, I suggest booking a hotel there and spending a day in Detroit. We stayed at a hotel in Windsor, crossed the border, spent the entire day at the museum and RenCen in Detroit, and returned to Windsor in the evening. It was safer and simpler.

To be sure, with all these COVID-19 situation gather more information about crossing the boarder. Also, please  check the visiting hours and specific protocols for the museum as well.

Henry Ford Museum address: 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI 48124, United States

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