Motor City- a Phoenix rising from the ashes

 The skyline of Detroit was visible as we woke up this morning. I have never been in the city but of course was aware of the decay and downwards spiral associated with the automobile industry decline. 

Our ship docked smack in the middle of town . Our tour today is an overview of the city with a stop at the Henry Ford museum. 

Downtown 

Some of the many pieces of art found downtown 

The renaissance building- 80%unoccupied currently and new owners are quiet on what will become of it- a total tear down or remodel? It’s an iconic part of the waterfront so speculation runs high. 

Motor city proud

The Fox where many acts played. Has been renovated to its former self

More artwork 

Detroit is lots of Art Deco !

Also it is the home to not only MoTown but Wayne State University. 

Can’t remember why I took this picture! But it was a cool house, wasn’t it!

Getting into areas of the Ford production buildings I think…I have to admit my concentration was poor !

A mural on the side of a liquor store. Im ashamed that I couldn’t correctly identify but two of the faces….All are prominent African Americans who should be known…

Another of the Ford buildings. After touring the city, we took the highway to nearby suburb, Dearborn where the Henry Ford Museum is housed. This was more than a museum of Ford’s accomplishments, rather a collection of innovations and inventors/innovators he admired and considered special to American life.

The first item to look at was the Model A FORD. Henry Ford observed how the meat houses of Chicago could break down the carcass of a steer is minutes and tried to figure a way he could produce a car using similar technology. 

Here is an example of his car in component form. Each part was put on by one worker and only one part. He would need lots of manpower, but the efficiency was dramatic and let to the development of the assembly line.

Concept race cars

Front runner to the mustang

Farm equipment. A Fordson tractor. Made so every farmer could afford one and work on it himself.

Inside this museum is the one and only Dymaxion House. It was developed after WW2 hoping to maximize housing for families and those returning from the war. 

It was circular in shape, 1,100 sq ft of living space and developed by Buckminster Fuller. It was hoped that it would revolutionize the housing problem by being mass produced and easily transportable. And environmentally efficient. The house was made from left over Aluminum from plane production. The design made it heated and cooled by natural means,was earthquake resistant and flexible in plan. There were only two built and only this one remains. 

Small bathroom

Built in kitchen. It was interesting to see, but I can understand how it never took off….

Ford Airplane. Ford invested frequently in many inovative projects. Air traffic was one.

There is a collection of residential cars here. This is the car JFK was in when he was assassinated.

Okay, this had to be my favorite exhibit! The Original Weinermobile!

When I was a kid, we never got to see the wiener mobile because I lived in a small town. But when I saw it as a college student It was so fun! I finally got to see it and this time really up close! Worth the trip for sure!!!