Henry Ford Museum - Dearborn, MI - museum honoring Ford and the car industry

Founded in 1929, the Henry Ford Museum is part of a larger complex, which includes the Benson Ford Research Center, the Henry Ford IMAX Theatre, and Greenfield Village. This destination helps visitors celebrate the Ford Company and the car industry. This is more than just a museum about vehicles, though, as it includes historical artifacts that celebrate America throughout the years.

There are fifteen exhibits in this museum, with temporary and new exhibits being planned continuously. The exhibits fall into the following categories: Agriculture, Automobile in American Life, Clockwork, Dymaxion House, Fully Furnished, Goldenrod, Heroes of the Sky, Home Arts, Jewelry, Made in America, Presidential Limousines, Silver & Pewter, Transportation & Mobility, With Liberty & Justice for All, and Your Place in Time. Many of these exhibits are available online, so those interested in the museum without travel plans to the area can still enjoy some of the collections

Some of the permanent pieces in the Henry Ford Museum collection include the first Fordson tractor from 1918, the Goldenrod racecar from 1965, planes from the 1930s, a Gothic Steam Engine from 1855, silver and pewter from as early as the 1700s, and a Concord stagecoach. They also have a number of limousines used by presidents including the one in which John F. Kennedy was riding when he was assassinated and the Reagan Presidential Limousine he was using when John Hinkley took fire. This is the last presidential limousine that will be preserved, as they are now destroyed as a security precaution.

One of the most popular exhibits at the Henry Ford Museum is With Liberty and Justice for All. This exhibit showcases major fights for freedom in the United States, like the country's struggle for independence from the British, women's suffrage, and the civil rights movement. Some of the artifacts you'll find here include one of the 30 surviving prints of the Declaration of Independence, a Michigan Civil War draft order signed by Abraham Lincoln, and women's liberation posters from the turn of the century. One of the shining exhibit pieces is the actual bus that Rosa Parks was riding when she refused to give up her seat.

Another of the more popular exhibit is Your Place in Time, which chronicles the history of the generations that grew up in the 20th century, including the War Generation, Baby Boomers, and Generation X. Some of the artifacts guests can see here include a replica 1930s living room, an authentic jukebox from the 1950s, and televisions from every era.

The Henry Ford Museum is open every day from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Henry Ford members can visit the museum any time for free, and prices for the general public range from $11 to $15, depending on age. There are a number of on-site dining areas, as well as events and parties. Guests can even rent some of the facilities to hold their own events. They do an annual lighting ceremony to kick off the holiday season, and regularly have interactive events for children. For more information, tourists can contact the call center at 313-982-6001.