The Henry Ford – America's History Attraction
The Benson Ford Research Center and Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Sep 22, 2009
Henry Ford has contributed much to the automotive world. He introduced the concept of the assembly line to automobile factories making the car affordable for the general public. Ford put the world on wheels and Detroit on the map, making it the Motor City. Henry Ford also contributed a vast amount to future generations.
With the creation of what is now known as The Henry Ford, people will truly be inspired to learn from past generations. Taking advantage of his friendships and prominence in society, Henry Ford gathered together a vast amount of artifacts with significance to American history. The Benson Ford Research Center, Rouge Factory Tour, IMAX Theater, Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum make up a complex that brings history alive.
The Benson Ford Research Center
The Benson Ford Research Center is an immense archive and library. Stored here are the historical records of Ford Motor Company, The Henry Ford, the Henry Austin Clark Jr. Automotive History Collection and other major documents important to automotive, industrial, social and cultural American history.
The Benson Ford Research Center is a library in the truest sense of the word in that there is a large collection of books and documents. Because the fact that most of the material there is rare and irreplaceable, they do not allow items to be checked out and taken off site. People can do any research there and they do offer and a photocopy service. They also ask that people do not bring in cameras or video equipment.
The Benson Ford Research Center is open Monday – Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm though they do ask that people make appointments. This way they can help make sure all of the material needed will be easily accessed. Access to the information stored here is absolutely free to the public.
The Ford Rouge Factory Tour
The Ford Rouge Factory Tour is a unique look at a working factory that makes the Ford F-150. Visitors will learn the history of the Rouge Factory and manufacturing. It’s a self-guided, five-part tour that combines different mediums in the presentations.
The Legacy Theatre uses rare, never seen historic footage that tells the triumphs and tragedies of the Rouge Factory. The Art of Manufacturing Theatre gives a 360-degree view at the art of car manufacturing. At the Legacy Gallery visitors will see five historic vehicles built at the Rouge Factory. There is the 20,000,000th Ford and people can hop into a new F-150. The Assembly Plant Walking Tour is where the new ford F-150s are made. Visitors can view the final assembly process from an elevated walkway.
The Observation Deck is 80 feet high and gives a view of the world’s largest living roof at 10.4 acres. The living roof garnered the Ford Motor Company Rouge Complex a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Award in 2003 from the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The living roof creates cleaner storm water, cooler surroundings, and gives a longer roof life.
The Ford Rouge Factory tour is open Monday – Saturday from 9:30am – 5:00pm. Visitors are bused from the Henry Ford at 20 minute intervals from 9:20am with the last tour leaving at 3:00pm. Children two and under are free and the prices are as follows -
Adult Member: $12.75
Adult Nonmember: $15.00
Youth Member: $9.25
Youth Nonmember: $11.00
Senior Member: $12.00
Senior Nonmember: $14.00
The Henry Ford Inspires
As people learn about and see what Henry Ford and his contemporaries have done they will be inspired. Henry Ford grew up on a farm but he didn’t let his humble beginnings constrain him. Others will see the ingenuity of Ford and do something even greater.
The attractions at The Henry Ford have already inspired generations in the past and present and will inspire generations of the future. Through the Benson Ford Research Center, knowledge is an ever running well. At the Ford Rouge Factory tour people will see how far we’ve come. Together they can change our world for the better.
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