Well, I'm finally going to get to see the Henry Ford. Every five years in September, my wife and I fly to Marquette University for her reunion. This year will be her 30th, and we're going to make it a road trip from Connecticut . We will be in Dearborn for two days to see as much as we can. For convenience and to hopefully enhance the experience, we will be staying at the Dearborn Inn.
I guess you could say this has been on my "bucket list" along with the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, that I was fortunate enough to attend a few years ago (Absolutely Awesome, by the way). Any suggestions as to make the most of our limited time at the museum and Greenfield Village would be greatly appreciated.
Limited time? I would say do the museum first, the minute it opens. There will be less crowding and the car owners at the village will probably get off to a slow start that early anyway. Congrats. you are in for the ultimate old car good time.
One more thing, the ticket stubs you get will likely have coupons for nearby Buddy's Pizza printed on them. Do not pass up the chance to try their pizza. It is without equal.
Best advice I can give you--make it 3 days.
At the Henry Ford try to catch the Model T Assembly Area, every hour or so they let the kids build a T. In that same area is a Model T suspended above you part by part, all the parts painted on glass. Like Jack said, 3 days would sure be great..If it's the weekend of the Old Car Festival better stay the whole week! Have a great time.
A Ford guy can't do it in two days. Plan a longer visit.
I have just been there for the third time 4 days for museum village and Rouge tour plus a MUST is Piquette, the Edsel & Eleanor home drive past Highland Park find the Edison ave house with the Edsel extention and don't miss the Ford Cemetery. At least view the Fair Lane gardens.The Dearborn Inn is absolutely the only place to stay the lobby is beautiful and ride the Lincoln to all the Ford sites. The Inn's character, gardens and service are first class. The Automotive Hall of Fame is also worth the effort.
A visit to the Henry Ford (museum, as it used to be called)is on my bucket list also. I was lucky enough to visit it in 1964 when I was 14. I still have a Model T hubcap that my parents bought me at the souvinear(sp) counter. I also have several pictures that we took then. It was a once in a lifetime trip then, but I hope to someday repeat it. Dave
I second the recommendation of Buddy's Pizza!
By all means, take the short drive into Detroit to visit the Piquette Plant. It's the birthplace of the Model T, after all. It's easy to spend a full day at the HF. If at all possible, I'd try to add another day or two to your stay.
I will probably never get to go, but a relative, now deceased, said to take at least a week. He didn't say a 5 day or a 7 day week, but I would think 5 days for almost any Museum would suffice. I always wanted to go to the Air Force Museum, won't make that one either, go while you still can.
I'm not sure if this link will work for everybody, but here's a gallery of photos that my wife & I shot at Greenfield Village a few years ago:
https://www.facebook.com/bill.harris.39566/media_set?set=a.1270834171021.2038580 .1234863160&type=3
"... I would think 5 days for almost any Museum would suffice."
I think you're right about that, Grady. But the thing is, there's the HF museum, and all of Greenfield Village next door, and of course there's the Benson Archives right between the two. It's an amazing complex full of wonderful stuff to see. Five days would just about do it, but two is not nearly enough.
I went several years ago and spent the day from opening to closing and could have used a lot more time. My best advice is this: go by yourself- that way you can spend as much time at any one exhibit without having someone else tugging at your shirttails!
Bob
Thanks to all of you for your suggestions and advice. Unfortunately, maybe 2 1/2 days are all I can manage on this trip. I would like to try to get to the Piquette Plant and stand in the 3rd floor room that Henry Ford, Joseph Galamb, C. Harold Wills and others "Brainstormed" the Model T, in. (Isn't American history great!).
And Bob, great advice, but my wife says she has a few choice words for you. (Just kidding).
Yup Bill, the room is there complete with rocking chair and a Model T crankshaft in the corner. I have a picture of me sitting in the chair holding the the engine crank. It's pretty thought provoking as you sit in such a historic spot. The best thing about Piquette is how totally original it is unlike so many over restored sites. Everything is exactly as it was right down to the original paint, no air conditioning, it's hot as hell in there. You really get a feel of what it was actually like back in the day.
Bill,Not at the roundhouse but the building where some of the tracks end is the garrage! It might be a good place to see how they keep those model T's in everyday use! PS,Our oldest graduated from Nothern Mi in Marquette in 1990 or about then.Bud.
Thanks for initiating this thread Bill. I've read it with great interest because I'm also going on a 'bucket list' trip to the Henry Ford and Greenfield Village later this month. And I'm staying 3 days at the Dearborn Inn, too. Bill Harris: thanks for sharing the photos. And I hope to have my photo taken in the same rocking chair contemplating the same crank shaft as you did, Dave Wells. Looking forward to getting out of this triple digit south Texas heat. Anyone else going there on 23-26 August?
George, it sounds like you will have to miss our favorite picnic. Do not worry, I will continue the T show that some people expect every year.
(More parking space for me)
Heat. What heat? It got up to 75 today I think and in the 50's at night. One of the coldest summers ever up here in Wisconsin.
I think we have had one day in the 90's, maybe two. Great Model T driving weather.
No problem Bill, I took the wife (then my girlfriend) to Harrah's over 30 years ago, and that's where we "agreed to disagree". It seems that a day of studying cars was not her thing, so when something like this comes up, she says "have fun, I'll go spend your money".
Bob
George,
You should wait to go till the weekend of the Old Car Festival on Sept. 7&8 (the weekend after Labor Day). That is definitely something not to be missed. You will be glad you went.
Cheers,
Willis
Willie: get someone to read my post above to you again. . .. "going there on 23-26 August?" And the Praha pout is 15 August so I'll be there in the '26 tudor. Bob Brewer; my wife must have a twin mindset with yours. Stephanie said the same thing to me !
Doug you just described the Henry Ford 150th. birthday tour a bunch of us went on two sundays ago, sponsored by the Piquette T's....what a great tour, very well organized. Had a fantastic time and saw lots of fantastic stuff, of course with a tour of the Piquette plant too. Like you said, Piquette is a must. Could've spent an entire day there myself. Next year maybe I'll get a car in the OCF.
Buddy's Pizza is an institution in the area. I lived in Dearborn for about 5 years, and we frequented it. I know their pizza is locally famous, but, as a displaced Chicago boy, it never was my cup of tea, so to speak. I usually wound up ordering something else off their menu. I do remember being there the same night that the Detroit Lions hired Steve Mariucci and into the restaurant walked Matt Millen, some other guy, and Steve Mariucci. It was funny to watch some long-suffering fans creep up on their table to say hello. At that point, Matt Millen could still walk about openly without fear of being ridden out on a rail.......
But, for my money, if you want to go to a Dearborn institution for food, go a little bit further west on Michigan Ave. (US Route 12) to Miller's Bar and have a cheeseburger and a cold one.
The hard thing about the OCF is trying to find Jim Cook when everyone is having fun! Bud.
Hey Bud - Jim is usually there sitting behind his '16 cutoff made into a pickup over in the truck section. You know he'll be there at lunch time when what's his name puts on that great lunch....
See you at the OCF for sure!
Keith
Keith,We need a visitor parking where we can stop and talk! Hope to see you! Bud.
Bud - We'll be there on Friday night and will be looking for you.
Keith