the ford piquette avenue plant

This is the start of the history of assembly line car building. Did you know Model A cars were built out of wood? That the first assembly line was NOT cars, but the parts being hauled past assembly bays? Have you ever seen a car on tank tracks? Have you ever wondered why early cars looked like sleighs? For interesting answers and inside information, this is the place to go.The tour is well worth the time and cost, which isn't very much. Unlike some museums, you can even sit in some of the cars for pictures.Parking is free once you find the parking lot. I had to go around the block twice before I realized it was in a lot through a portal in the side of the building that was marked for another company that rents out most of the space in the buildings. Once you find the parking lot, next is the entrance ( a little sign), then don't go straight in, that's the wrong place. Go upstairs and go back into history.

Such a pleasant time! There was a very kind old man that toured us round the building. If you know about Ford's history you'll be amazed by the great things that came up at that very place! Lots of inventors were there. There are fascinating stories about how Herry created that brand using local technology and a lot of practicity! Highly recommended, it's a must!

We got into this museum in the winter just by chance, but it's very well done and informative about the early days of Detroit auto manufacturing, especially Ford. It was easy to find, perfectly safe for parking, and the staff was excellent and very helpful.

This is Henry Ford's first plant and where he developed the Model T Universal Car and the moving assembly line procedure. Outgrowing it, he then built the Highland Park Plant in 1910. Closed in the winter, but the young lady working there welcomed me, and let me tour. The collection of cars is great, as are the interpretive panels. It is so amazing that this important spot has been appropriately preserved. Please visit.

Friends came to visit us in Michigan at our home-away-from-home In Milford. We had long planned a trip with them to the Henry Ford but first wanted to show them Downtown Detroit and Belle Island. After leaving Belle Island I remembered seeing something about an early Ford plant in the area so we pulled over and searched the internet. Sure enough, it wasn't far away so we went. Once arrived we just saw an old three story brick building and thought that was it. No cars no conspicuous signs, or else. So Jon and I posed beside the Historic Marker for a photo. Upon leaving we noticed a sheet of paper inside the front door window that said enter the museum from the side entrance. So we did, but found nothing but old factory stars leading to the second floor. There we saw a reception desk of sorts and two ladies who greeted us and explained that the old Ford plant Museum was owned and operated by the National Model T Club of America and tours are self-Guided. As we began our tour it was apparent the original factory was full of very early Ford cars from fully restored to "Barn Finds". There were no ropes just signs explaining each vehicle. about 45 minutes in to our visit, a Gentleman came to us and said he was a Museum volunteer and asked if we would like him to give us a personal tour which we gladly accepted. He was very knowledgeable and he explained each car in detail on both the 2nd and 3rd floors. Upstairs in an area with only stud walls the he explained is where Henry and a few chosen Engineers designed the Model T. Henry's Grand-Mothers rocking chair was there that he used to rock and contemplate the design. Ideas were sketched on a blackboard hanging from above and a draftsman we produce a drawing at a nearby drafting table. We so enjoyed this tour, the building and it contents that we stayed too long and missed seeing our original destination, The Henry Ford. No regrets though, the old Piquette Ford plant was amazing.

If you love cars and history you will love this place. The people working really know their stuff. It is worth the trip.

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is an important part of automotive history. This historic building was the place where Henry Ford conducted business, held meetings with his associates, and helped build his fledgling company into the automotive powerhouse it is today. I’m not a huge automotive buff like some people I know, but I do like historic monuments, buildings, and the like and I usually visit them when I get the chance. I got such an opportunity on a visit to Detroit for a Ford- sponsored event and I was impressed with what I saw and learned. The historic vehicles contained within this building, the actual offices where Henry Ford helped design and plan his company’s vehicles, and the overall history of vehicle production in its early days are all things worth seeing and knowing. What happened in this building helped shape the auto industry and there is quite a story to share. Those who visit the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant will likely take a tour of the building and learn directly from a tour guide. Guests will likely become fixated on the actual vehicles contained on the second floor of the building. My group spent a good deal of time walking up to each of the vehicles on display, reading about its history, and then taking pictures. The cars were a big hit with everyone and they, alone, make a visit worthwhile,Besides the cars, the history within the walls of this building is unmistakable and with each exhibit and each room, you feel like you are reliving important segments of America’s industrial past. You get to know what the early auto industry was like for these pioneers and how their actions helped pave the way for the automotive innovation we enjoy today. You feel like you are living out a piece of the industrial past and discovering more about the future.Automobiles may not appeal to everyone, but the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is a place that most everyone will enjoy. Vehicles affect each and every one of us on a daily basis and learning more about the American industry that got us here is something to which everyone can relate. It makes a visit to the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant a great way to spend an afternoon.

We visited the #1 building of Ford Motor. It was a very informative tour (1.5 hours) and movie presentation. They started from Henry Fords office as they walk you through history of how cars were made in a 10 hour period to the place where Henry Ford stood and came up with ideas with his engineers. The very first engine that Henry made is also on display with an incredible displays of vintage cars. If you go during the winter, dress warm because there is no heat.

I went over the boarder just to go here, but at the same time got to see a much of exciting things and this was one of the best tours that I've ever done because as I've said about many car museums, the automobile is the story of America!This old Ford Piquette Plant looks so insignificant from the out side and yet you'd never know how incredible it's impact on the modern world just from looking at it. Ford and his team really supercharged the modern industrial age and it all started here at 461 Piquette Avenue.I really do hope you'll visit this terrific little museum even if you're not a car person and you get to sit inside an old 1915 Ford, which is not a replica, so you feel what it was like to drive those old things... It's an experience not to be missed, but in a part of Detroit so easy to write off if you don't know what you're looking for.

I recently attended a wedding at the Ford Piquette Plant. The selection of old cars was impressive and the atmosphere was fantastic. I cant wait to go back and spend more time there.

I visited with my family on Sunday, August 10, 2014 with my wife and three children. We traveled from Long Island, New York to visit The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village. in Dearborn. I own a 1925 Model T Touring and a 1925 Model T Huckster Wagon (been in the family since the 1930's), so I wanted to make a trip to the Detroit area to check out the "car stuff". My wife thought visiting The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant would be a quick visit to make me happy and the real family stuff to see would be in Dearborn, well she was wrong. We all found our visit to be very interesting and it held the attention of twin 9 year old boys and my 11 year old daughter, so much so that the boys wrote about the birthplace of the Model T Ford as school writing assignments. It was worth the trip for a family to see and learn about our early motoring history.

The selection of old cars is fantastic. I never knew the museum existed until a few months ago. You can also rent the site for weddings and anniversary parties.

Wonderfully worthwhile experience. To get to stand in Henry Ford's secret room, to see the accurate recreation of Henry Ford's early office, to learn the story of his very talented but very independent spirited employee "Spyder"...you can feel the history. Our guide (a retired Ford engineer) was so knowledgeable and friendly. Allow 4 - 5 hours if you really want to learn about the early years of manufacturing the red and green Model T's. The building is quite original in many aspects. You can still see the individual bays where workers moved from bay to bay to assemble the Model T's. Also see a bicycle just like the one Henry Ford rode to work each day. Very worthwhile museum!!!

My son and I (both mechanical engineers) enjoyed this tour as much or more than the much larger Ford Museum. Allow 2-4 hours, depending on your level of interest, which fits perfectly into the half-day schedule when flying into or out of the area. Having read several biographies of Henry Ford before our trip to Dearborn, we knew that Piquette was where the Model T was conceived and built before the days of the assembly line and since the facility is nearly all original, we could actually sense the reality of the work that was done here. The staff is extremely knowledgeable about the history of this plant and unlike most museums, actually allows visitors to walk around and crawl under the vehicles on display!

It's a little hard to find near downtown Detroit and the rail yards. Some streets are one way and it doesn't have signage you can see easily. In fact, the parking lot is owned by another company and the actual museum is through a single nondescript door. But it's well worth the visit. Don't be too afraid to roll the window down a little and ask directions.It's a personalized tour of the earliest factory production of Fords. They have an extensive collection of almost every model from the original wooden Model A that you thought was actually metal to later models to the snow cat tracked models used in snow bound areas. The whole thing is on the 2nd and 3rd floors. this was where the first "assembly line" process was tried BEFORE they created the big factory everyone is used to. Instead of a moving line carrying the car along, the car was stationary and dollys were used to bring parts to the line of stationary cars.