Ford Rouge Factory tour, Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village

On Tuesday June 12, 12 we drove to Dearborn Michigan which is about 75 miles from where we are staying, it was mostly freeway so it was ok (for me, Ron did the driving). It was a day full of many different experiences for both of us and I got a few  things crossed off on my bucket list.

We enjoyed our tour of the Ford Rouge factory-it was amazing, the automation and the assembly line-at this plant they make the Ford F 150-In the beginning of the tour there was 2 short films-one of the history and one of the current factory-only state of the art presentations -Once inside the building-pictures were only limited to some of the antique cars-none in the factory or viewing areas.

 

We rode on this old steam engine around the perimeter of the Greenville village to get the lay of the land. The only problem was that it was constantly spitting out ash and gravel from the engine-We were both covered with black specks when we disembarked-but we were smart and did not rub them duringthe trip, we just shook our clothes off and most of it came off.

The Eagle Tavern was built on the main road between Detroit and Chicago in 1831 as an inn and tavern were used by the stagecoach passengers and horseback riders. Like other aspects of the 19th century meals were considered a communal activity. When we were seated by people that dressed in period clothing we sat with a couple from California. We had such fun visiting and the food was excellent. The recipes used in the Eagle tavern food were all taken from cookbooks dated 1830-1850.

Starting a 1230 going clockwise; fresh butter, corn and blueberry muffin, salt in a tiny bowl, mint ice tea in a cup, fresh strawberry preserves and in the middle hard boiled eggs, white mild cheese , cold sausage and stone ground mustard-YUM-it was all so good

At 8 o'clock is pickled cauliflower (Ron loved it), black eyed peas with onions (not my favorite), fresh trout, cooked red potatoes and asparagus-the trout was to die for!!



Our next ride was a horse drawn carriage around the interior of the village.

Part of the horse experience was to go in/over a covered wooden bridge. It sounded like Ichabod Crane on his midnight drive.- so fun!

Another experience was riding on the Carousel that was an original in the early 1900's.

This was Edison's lab, it was very interesting and with each place we visited there was a person there to answer questions about what we were looking at-such a great place-we could have spent the whole day in the village visiting different time periods of history

Our last ride was in a Model T (original) this is now off my bucket list-it was so cool-they had many antique Ford cars-all original-our driver told us they had oil leaks just like they did when they were first built. It was kinda noisy and bumpy but what a thrill for me...

Our last adventure for the day was going through the exhibition. So much to see-so little time and energy left.

President Kennedy's car-it brought back all the memories as to where we were at time and the country's out pouring of sorrow.

This is an unusual stage coach-I didn't realize that people would use them as a canvas for art.

Original signs-I remember this sign in the tide flats in Tacoma.

This old ford had all its bolts removed and each section was seperated and suspended with cable.

This exhibition had all sorts of BIG machinery that was displayed

This is the Rosa Parks bus and the seat that she occupied when she was told to get off the bus.

Who can forget the Oscar Mayer wiener mobile?