Sunday June, 21
Our day started around 8:00 this morning. We got up, got ready, and ate breakfast at the hotel before heading to Greenfield Village.
When we got there at 9:30, things were already starting to get crowded, so we knew what we had to do first.
One of the coolest activities that Greenfield Village offers is a Ford Model T ride. So, we got our passes and jumped in line for a joyride in America’s first mass-produced car. As we waited, we watched the different models come through the loading dock. Anna and I were lucky enough to get the convertible.
For a car built in 1919, it was pretty comfortable, quiet, and drove well. It’s shocking how something built over a hundred years ago runs so great! That was definitely a theme that proved to be frequent throughout the day.
The ride took us through the heart of the village. It was a great way to get an overview of some of the homes, cars, and places we wanted to see later in the day.
We also got to drive through the only drivable tunnel in the park, which was really neat. Our driver said this was one of the only days of the year that it was open.
Once we finished our ride, we headed to the replica Ford Motor Co. building next door. We learned about Henry Ford and some of the ways he changed the American workforce for the better. Not only did he reduce the 9-hour workday to 8 hours, but he also decreased the 6-day workweek to 5 days. As we walked through the building, we got an idea of what it would have been like to work in the factory.
At the end sat the last Ford Model T ever produced. Henry Ford himself drove this car straight off the assembly line. It turns out that this car will soon be headed to Washington, D.C., for display at a Smithsonian museum.
Following that, we continued through the village stopping at various homes and shops.
One of the notable stops we made was at the Wright brothers’ cycle shop, the Wright Cycle Company, and their childhood home. The cycle shop was where they made innovative changes and improvements to bicycles, but more importantly, it was where they began constructing the first airplane, known as the Wright Flyer.
While we were in their home, we learned about their father, Milton Wright. He was a clergyman and bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, a conservative religious movement in the late 1800s. He was known for instilling strong morals and values in his family. When his sons began to argue, he would make them switch sides and continue the discussion from the opposing point of view. He did this to help them understand that every perspective has some value; otherwise, a person would not hold that belief. By encouraging his sons to consider opposing viewpoints, he taught them to engage in thoughtful discussion rather than argue aimlessly. It is remarkable how far respect and a willingness to listen can go. Perhaps our world today could learn a lesson from Milton Wright.
By this time, we were starting to get ready for lunch. As we made our way back through the park, you know we had to stop and ride the 1913 Herschell-Spillman Company carousel… and that was entertaining! I think a picture of my dad riding a chicken needs to be put in the Louvre.
For lunch, my dad requested that we eat at Eagle Tavern, an old tavern that was built in the village of Clinton, Michigan, in 1830. It was run by Calvin Wood and his wife, Harriet, who helped serve visitors from near and far. Much of the food would have been fresh produce from their garden or preserved meats. Today, we had fish, beef pie, fresh bread, squash, zucchini, and potatoes.
Once we were filled up and ready to get moving, we continued sightseeing around the village. It turns out we really hadn’t seen that much before lunch, so we had to pick up the pace. My mom and I went one way while my dad and Anna went the other.
I stopped at… you guessed it! Some more homes and historic structures. Some of these included the J.R. Jones General Store (open between 1879 and 1927), the Heinz House (where Henry John Heinz grew up and started Heinz Ketchup), and the Ford Home (where Henry Ford and his family lived).
One of the most interesting parts of Greenfield Village is the functioning machinery, transportation, and workshops. The Armington & Sims Machine Shop and Foundry gave us a firsthand look at these tools in use.
The sheer quality of every machine and tool was so impressive. It’s amazing how something so simple can be so advanced at the same time. Compared to today’s technology, these machines appear simple and way behind the curve, but maybe simple is the way to go. I’d argue that it definitely leads to better quality.
Some other prime examples of just how innovative and groundbreaking these machines were are Thomas Edison’s company, factory, and laboratory.
Talk about an enterprise—this man had it figured out. You really have no idea how much it took to produce a single light bulb. Being able to see the amount of experimentation and testing required behind his invention makes me appreciate it a lot more!
As we started to wind down our time at the village, we visited a few more houses cars before our next activity.
Another cool activity the village offers is old-fashioned baseball. They play a game every day at 1:30 in the afternoon on a big field in an area called Walnut Grove. Anna and I stopped for a few minutes to watch the game, and it was pretty fascinating.
After that, we stopped for some classic frozen custard before heading to ride our next old-fashioned mode of transportation. It was well worth the 20-minute wait!!
It was finally time to ride the 1897 Baldwin Locomotive steam train. Anna and I jumped on for a cruise around the outskirts of the park. As the steam puffed from the locomotive, we passed by horse pastures, the Ford home, and the old train depot.
We also saw Henry Ford Academy, located toward the back of the park. If you’re lucky enough to have your name drawn in a lottery, you can go to high school there for free. However, I’m sure you’d make up for it with the workload. All of the student dorms are housed in old train cars. I didn’t manage to get a picture, but I thought they looked super cool.
Once our loop was complete, we ran over to the Working Farm and Liberty Craft Works area. Here, you could see the mills, along with the weaving, pottery, glass, and print shops.
The mills weren’t running, but the craft shops offered demonstrations throughout the day. Anna and I got to see both a weaving and print demonstration. The print shop was operating a press made in 1846, while the shop itself was built in 1933. You could get an actual graphic printed right in front of you. So cool! I actually ended up buying some thank-you notes that had been handmade in the print shop.
Before leaving the park, we made a quick stop at the gift shop to pick up a souvenir and then headed toward the car. We were all pretty hungry, so we decided to go back to the hotel and freshen up before finding dinner in Detroit.
While the Henry Ford campus has been AMAZING, Dearborn isn’t what I’d call a destination town. There has been a large increase in the muslim population, which gives the area a unique cultural character and influences many of the local businesses and restaurants… are you picking up what I’m putting down?
Just outside downtown Detroit (which also wasn’t much of a destination for us), I found a DELICIOUS Italian restaurant in the suburbs called Ottava Via. The atmosphere had an elevated, cozy, and historic vibe, with posters and memorabilia hanging on the walls. The pasta, bread, and appetizers were so good and full of good spices. It was just what we needed after a long day at the park.
On the way back to the hotel, my dad filled up the car with gas, and then it was time to get some much-needed rest. While everyone was getting ready for bed, I stayed up working on the blog but couldn’t quite get it finished because I needed to rest up for our next adventure.
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