The River Rouge Plant (commonly known as the The Rouge) is a factory complex located at the confluence of the Rouge and Detroit rivers in Dearborn. Construction began in 1917, and when it was completed in 1928, it had become the largest integrated factory in the world. It produced Model A's, V8's, 1949's, Thunderbirds, and Mustangs during its history. The part we toured currently makes F150 trucks in a modern new factory. We were taken over in a large bus to the factory and watched two excellent movies, then were allowed to walk above the plant floor on a catwalk and observe the actual assembly line in operation. A truly amazing integrated process of man and machines.
The "Henry Ford" was founded in 1929 by, who else, Henry Ford, "to show how far and fast we have come" in technological achievement". The building, referred to by some as "Henry's attic", covers more than ten acres and is bursting at the seams with ample proof of human resourcefulness and ingenuity. It really is an amazing collection of Americana. It will not bore you, that is for sure. There's a bicycle built for ten, full-size neon signs, six presidential limos, including the one in which Kennedy was assassinated, the actual chair Lincoln was sitting in when he was killed, hundreds of planes, trains, and automobiles, and the bus, #2837, used by Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama. Thousands and thousands of interesting items.
By the early spring of 1913, Henry and Clara Ford were planning a move from their Detroit residence to a new home in Dearborn, Michigan. The Fords had considered and rejected a move to the fashionable suburb of Grosse Pointe. They chose instead to settle in the area where they had both grown up. By 1914, construction had started on a large limestone house on a two-thousand-acre tract of land that Ford had been accumulating over several years on the banks of the River Rouge. The residence was finally completed in 1916. We pulled in just after the last tour of the day had started and were disappointed to find we would not be able to see the house. Fortunately, we managed to get the OK to join them as they entered the main house through a tunnel from the garage and we tagged along for the rest of the tour. My favorite part of the house: the beautiful rock that was used throughout...tons and tons of it. KR's favorite part: the rose garden and the summer solstice meadow, that was designed to mirror the path of the sun as it sets on June 21.
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