Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village

It’s easy for us to get into a routine on our annual summer visit back to Michigan. We do the same things we always do and rarely break out of those routines. I think it’s part of visiting where you grew up. I have certain places that I want to visit (ok, well, mainly eat at), family I want to see and we hit up some old favorites (like Frankenmuth). Thanks to the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, who gifted us some tickets, this time around we added somewhere different – The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

I think if you grew up in Michigan, you’ve spent at least one field trip at The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. It’s probably been 30 years since I’ve gone though. Being in Dearborn, wasn’t one of those places that we hit up on our trips back to the mitten. That all changed this time around.

Greenfield Village

We started the day outside at Greenfield Village before it got too hot for the kids. Greenfield Village is over 80 acres and has 7 different historic districts. You can explore working farms, Edison’s workshop, the Wright Brother’s home or ride on a 100 year old carousel.

There is so much to see and do that we could have spent a couple days here. Employees and volunteers are all dressed in period costumes and are SO full of great information about the time period and exhibits. It wasn’t uncommon to see people cruising by on turn of the century bicycles or taking a spin in a Model T.

Our favorite was hopping on the steam train and taking a trip around the park. Take peak at our very first Youtube video with more pictures and fun from Greenfield Village. Subscribe to our channel while you are there!

Henry Ford Museum

When you hear “Henry Ford Museum”, you’re going to assume that it’s all about cars but there is so much more to it that that. Yes, there an impressive collection of amazing cars on display, and not all Fords. You can see a handful of presidential limos and some race cars. Vintage cars and even trains. But it was their curated collections that really stood out.

The American Democracy and Civil Rights exhibit brought up a lot of questions from Big Nugget. She got to see first hand the work that went in to building and maintaining our democracy. She had so many insightful questions about women gaining the right to vote and our struggle for civil rights. I love how smart she is and what a big heart she has for people – all of our talk about diversity has paid off.

Personally, my favorite was The World of Charles and Ray Eames. The Eames Chair is world famous but The Henry Ford Museum does a fantastic job at bringing you inside of their design process, their mentality and creative process. From the Henry Ford Museum website: This exhibit provides a comprehensive timeline of postwar modernism through the lens of two of its most talented practitioners. Surround yourself with the tirelessly curious thinking that shaped the movement, and learn what’s possible when you break free from creative boundaries.

If you are planning a visit to Detroit, add The Henry Ford Museum to your list of must see places in Michigan. I can’t wait to go back and see more of this wonderful facility.