Yes, I am going to show you why the “Motor City” should rightfully be on your group’s list of cities to see. First are several “can’t miss,” world class attractions all closely connected to the automobile industry that made the teeming metropolis what it was in the first place. Also, the recent reversal of fortunes and profitability of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler augurs well for the area’s future.
You’ll likely want to begin at The Henry Ford, which features the fascinating Henry Ford Museum, filled with an incredible collection of American memorabilia, transportation vehicles of all types, mechanical and decorative arts, as well as the adjacent Greenfield Village. Here you’ll stroll through the pages of our nation’s history as you visit the original homes, stores, and facilities of H.J. Heinz, the Wright Brothers, Thomas Edison, and many more famed Americans. These sites connected with famous U.S. citizens, including the court house where Abraham Lincoln practiced law, were all moved to the museum and preserved for posterity by Henry Ford.
You’ll also be fascinated by the sprawling Ford Rouge Plant, now completely re-engineered with state-of the-art vehicle production technology and a showcase for environmentally-sensitive “green” practices and facilities. Next to it are the palatial mansion of the “auto barons.” These mansions include Fairlane, the home of Henry Ford, the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House, and my favorite, Meadow Brook Hall, the Tudor-style estate of Alfred and Matilda Dodge Wilson, on the campus of Oakland University in the city’s northern suburbs. Nearby, you’ll also find the excellent Walter P. Chrysler Museum.
Presidential Limousine in the Henry Ford Museum, Detroit (Dearborn)
