Henry Ford Museum

Henry Ford Museum, July 2008
Rachelle and Emily pose in front of Henry Ford Museum.

Henry Ford Museum began as Henry Ford's personal collection of historic objects. Based on his desire to preserve items of historical significance and portray the Industrial Revolution, the museum is a collection of antique machinery, pop culture items, automobiles, locomotives, aircraft.

Some of the items housed in the museum: last horse-drawn vehicle used by an American president (Theodore Roosevelt--who disliked the automobile), a collection of Presidential limousines (including the one in which President John F. Kennedy was assassinated and the vehicle used by President Ronald Reagan when he was shot by John Hinckley, Jr.), the rocking chair from Ford's Theater in which President Abraham Lincoln was sitting when he was shot, and the bus on which civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat.

"I am collecting the history of our people as written into things their hands made and used.... When we are through, we shall have reproduced American life as lived, and that, I think, is the best way of preserving at least a part of our history and tradition..." ~Henry Ford