Made in America: The Henry Ford
With the success of the Model T and the assembly line, Henry Ford was in the business of making history and mobilizing the 20th century. By the time he opened his museum in 1929, Ford had amassed tens of thousands of seemingly ordinary objects to document the genius of ordinary people. Rows of cast iron stoves, an endless parade of planes, trains, automobiles, tractors, cotton pickers. George Washington’s cot, Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park “invention factory,” an entire Americana “village” – all designed to represent innovation, imagination, ingenuity made in America. General Topics: American History, Industry, and Culture.
HENRY FORD BIRTH HOME
Pablo Picasso, 1932; Oil On Canvas
In this house built by his father, Henry Ford was born in 1863. Ford restored this home in memory of his mother and moved it to Greenfield Village, the “living history town” that is part of the Ford Museum complex.
ORDINARY PEOPLE, EXTRAORDINARY THINGS
When the Museum was first conceived by Henry Ford he named it The Edison Institute, after his mentor, Thomas Alva Edison. One of the main attractions was Thomas Edison’s “invention factory.” It’s a faithful reconstruction of Edison’s research and development lab – originally located in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
FORM FOLLOWING FUNCTION
The Old 16 was the Formula One racecar of its day. Stripped down and basic, it was the first American racecar to win an international race.
CONVENIENCE AND EFFICIENCY
Showcased at the Form Museum is a “modern” kitchen. The 1930s saw more and more homes with linoleum and tile, hot and cold running water, electricity, a refrigerator and even a toaster. The new-found freedom from domestic work gave women the chance to do other things with their time. Ford might suggest learning to drive a car.
MADE IN AMERICA
The Ford Museum celebrates things that are uniquely American. Like the first Weinermobile!