The Henry Ford
A Dearborn museum holding the bus Rosa Parks sat in, the chair Lincoln was shot in, and Edison's laboratory moved whole from New Jersey.
Updated 20 October 2026
Henry Ford collected objects on a scale that was eccentric even for his fortune, and the result is a museum of American innovation with items that are individually startling: the Rosa Parks bus, restored and boardable; the rocking chair Lincoln was sitting in at Ford's Theatre; and the 1961 presidential limousine of John F. Kennedy. Greenfield Village next door holds nearly a hundred buildings moved to the site, including Edison's Menlo Park laboratory complex, the Wright brothers' cycle shop and Ford's own birthplace. The Rouge Factory Tour runs at the working truck plant with an observation deck over the assembly line and a living roof above it.
What's there
- The Rosa Parks bus - restored and boardable.
- Lincoln's chair and the Kennedy limousine - both in the museum.
- Edison's Menlo Park lab - moved whole to Greenfield Village.
- A working truck plant - on the Rouge factory tour.
When to go
April to October for the village; the museum is open year round. A full day or two.
Practical notes
Three separate tickets - museum, village, factory tour - and each is a half day. Greenfield Village closes for winter. The factory tour does not run when the line is down. Crowds in school holidays are heavy.
Nearby
Detroit is east; the Arab American National Museum is in Dearborn.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q3521242, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for The Henry Ford
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.