|
Automotive Heritage
Day Tour 2:
Other Dearborn Attractions
Tour Overview
 So the plethora of exciting and engaging exhibits at
the Henry Ford Museum and Rotunda Drive Village (highlighted in Day
Tour 1) just isn't enough automotive history for you? An action-packed tour of the Ford Rouge
Factory and a visit to Henry Ford's Estate is bound to change that!
If time permits, we
recommend also visiting the Benson Ford Research Center and IMAX theater,
both located on the campus of The Henry Ford.
Skip To…
Tour Map
More Information
Dearborn
In case you haven't heard,
the City of Dearborn is Ford country.
Not only does Ford maintain its corporate headquarters here, the
company's Land Development Division owns and manages over 5 million square
feet of commercial real estate and development properties in the City. Nearly every corner of Dearborn it seems has ties to Henry Ford or the Ford Motor
Company.
 Your immersion into Ford country begins even before
you reach the gates of The Henry Ford.
As you exit the freeway onto Greenfield on your way into town, you may
get a glimpse of the infamous Rouge Factory complex you will be touring. Further west on Rotunda is the Jack
Nicklaus-designed Tournament Players Club of Michigan. Past the Southfield Freeway and making the
turn north onto Oakwood Boulevard, you will see on your right a red brick
wall, the inside of which used to contain Henry Ford's private airport. On the opposite side of the road is the Dearborn
Inn (pictured to the left), a 23-acre Albert Kahn-designed
colonial retreat built by Henry Ford in 1931 to house overnight guests. The airport is now used as a Ford Motor
Company test track, and the Dearborn Inn is now a Marriott Hotel offering a
setting reminiscent of a bed and breakfast.
Arriving at Village Road, you will note to the left the entrance to
Ford's Research and Engineering campus where the bulk of the company's design
and development activities take place.
On your way out of town along Michigan Avenue, you will pass the Henry
Ford Library, Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, and Ford Motor
Company World Headquarters, also known as the "Glass House."
Ford Rouge Factory Tour
20900
Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
Website
 By 1927, Ford Motor Company had
built the Rouge Factory into the largest manufacturing facility in the world
and a symbol of America's industrial strength and ingenuity. Ford gave new life to the aging complex
with a top-to-bottom overhaul initiated in 2000. Ford spent three years and $2 billion
turning the Rouge into a world-class and environmentally responsible
manufacturing gem. The improvements
include state-of-the-art manufacturing flexibility and the world's largest
ecologically inspired living roof. You
will tour Dearborn Truck, the plant in
the Rouge complex that that produces the industry's best-selling vehicle, the
Ford F-150 pickup truck. Make sure to
buy your tickets early, as the tours tend to sell out well in advance due to
their popularity.
Henry
Ford Estate -- Fair Lane
4901 Evergreen
Rd., Dearborn
Website
 This Great Estate
and National Historic Landmark was the home of Clara and Henry Ford for over
thirty years. Construction began in
1914 with between 500 and 800 masons, wood carvers, and artisans working under the
direction of architect William Van Tine to complete the estate. Tour
the 31,000 square foot, 56-room residence, where the Fords entertained some
of the world’s most influential people, including President Herbert Hoover,
the Prince of Wales, aviator Charles Lindbergh, and lifelong friend Thomas
Edison. Explore the spacious rooms with
original furnishings and eight intricately designed fireplaces. View the six-level working powerhouse,
research laboratory, and 12-car garage with some of Ford's personal
vehicles. And follow Ford’s favorite
walk down to the pond hidden in the woods.
The meadow and cascade were designed by renowned landscape designer
Jans Jensen and are acknowledged to be two of the greatest examples of
landscape in America. Last but not
least, do not forget a bite to eat in the mansion's unique swimming pool
room. An unforgettable experience all
around!
Tour Map
Number of Destinations: 2
Overall Tour Time: 1 day
More Information
Click on the links below for
more information on other attractions in or around The Henry Ford and the
Henry Ford Estate as well as links to the other Experience Detroit Automotive
Heritage tours:
Automotive Hall of Fame
Benson Ford Library
Day Tour 1:
"Must-See" Dearborn Attractions
Day Tour 3:
Detroit Automotive Attractions
Dearborn
Inn
Fairlane Town Center
Ford Community & Performing
Arts Center
Ford Motor Company
Historic
Hines Drive
IMAX
Theatre
TPC Michigan
Back
to Top
|
