Detroit's Henry Ford Museum: a national historical treasure

For such a young country, America's national historical landmarks are plentiful. From Washington to San Francisco, the nation's history is stretched from coast to coast, mapping out the history of the United States and its developments. One of the most legendary of American historical entrepreneurs was, of course, Henry Ford, and Detroit's Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village acts as a constant reminder of the role he played in revolutionising the country's automobile industry, as well as acting as home to some of America's most important exhibits.

The Henry Ford museum originally opened in October 1929 under the name "The Edison Institute," and was christened by President Herbert Hoover on the 50th anniversary of the invention of the incandescent light bulb. Henry Ford said of his museum: "I am collecting the history of our people as written into things their hands made and used... When we are through, we shall have reproduced American life as lived, and that, I think, is the best way of preserving at least a part of our history and tradition."

Now known as "the nation's largest indoor-outdoor history museum" complex, the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield village is more than just a museum - it provides entertainment as well. Visitors can ride in a classic Model T, take a ride in the train, visit the IMAX theatre and even see a live show. The mission of the museum is much in the tradition of its founder; it acts as a preserver of items that are of historical significance - particularly for the Industrial Revolution - and it houses a range of famous homes, machinery and Americana.

Among the Henry Ford Museum's most notable exhibits are the limousine in which John F. Kennedy was assassinated, as well the chair in which Abraham Lincoln was sitting when he was killed in Ford's Theater. Other notable exhibits in the museum include George Washington's camp bed, and the bus on which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, leading to the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955-56. The outdoor exhibits of Greenfield Village include the Wright brothers' bicycle shop from Dayton, Ohio, Thomas Edison's laboratory from New Jersey, and the garage in which Henry Ford himself built the quadricycle.

The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village clearly house some of America's greatest historical artefacts, and should be an essential attraction to visit in any tour of the country's historical landmarks. Many hotels, like Hilton's Embassy Suites, offer special American History packages to the Henry Ford museum; so, when these opportunities arise, it is best to take advantage of them so you can save money whilst visiting a premier American cultural destination.