Escapees July-August 2024

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muscle. The Detroit Toledo & Milwaukee Roundhouse is a highlight here. This roundhouse, built in 1884 in Marshall, Michigan, services the locomotives and equipment of Green fi eld Village’s Weiser Railroad. Steam locomotives required constant maintenance from an army of skilled and unskilled workers, and the roundhouse is where that work took place. At Porches & Parlors, I toured Noah Webster and other famous American homes as well as the homes of ordinary citizens who changed our country, like the 1760s Daggett Farmhouse, 1800 McGuffey Birthplace, 1860s Susquehanna Plantation and 1930s Mattox House. On Main Street are J.R. Jones General Store, Cohen Millinery, and Logan County Courthouse, where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. The Wright Cycle Shop, Wright House, Martha-Mary Chapel, Heinz House and many other businesses are also here. “Edison at Work” features a replica of Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory complex from New Jersey. Its reconstruction started in 1928. Edison Homestead, the birthplace of Thomas Edison’s father, was built in 1816 in Vienna, Ontario, and moved to Green fi eld Village in the 1930s. Henry Ford’s Model T traces the life of Henry Ford. Here is the home where he was born, his Bagley Avenue workshop and Miller School. Walking along the well-manicured streets lined with these historic houses and businesses that offer a look back in time is fantastic. Working Farms is the fi nal area for me to explore. Benjamin and Catherine Firestone raised their three children in the farmhouse, including tire maker Harvey Firestone. Farm outbuildings and pasture animals surround the house. Detroit has so much to offer its visitors; make sure you add The Henry Ford Museum and Green fi eld Village to your must-see list; you’ll be glad you did. If yougo: A general rule is one day at each museum, but more is better than less. And, you don’t have to be a history lover to enjoy the museum and village. There’s enough wow-power here to fascinate everyone, including children. The Village is beautifully landscaped and offers a peaceful and laid-back atmosphere. Every employee I encountered was friendly and helpful. For more information about the Museum and Village: www.thehenryford.org, 313-982-6001, 20900 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, MI 48124 5029. For more information about Detroit: visitdetroit.com, 800-DETROIT, 211 W. Fort Street, Suite 1000, Detroit, MI 48226. Marilyn Jones, Guest Contributor

Driving America Driving America is the world’s premier auto exhibit and showcases an unparalleled collection of historically signi fi cant vehicles. From the 1865 Roper, the oldest surviving American car, and Henry Ford’s fi rst gas-powered vehicle, to the hybrid 2002 Prius, the exhibit tells how automotive innovations have changed our lives and in fl uenced American culture. In addition to telling the history of the automobile, this Museum area showcases the birth of the road trip, gas stations and motor inns. The Presidential Vehicles Exhibit includes the horse drawn carriage used by Theodore Roosevelt and presi dential parade cars that transported Franklin D. Roos evelt, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. The most prominent vehicle is the 1961 Lincoln Conti nental Presidential Limousine that John F. Kennedy rode in when he was assassinated on November 22, 1963. The limousine was rebuilt and used regularly by Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon. Although I planned a day there, I needed a lot more time to take it all in. Other exhibit areas include Agri culture, Mathematica, Fully Furnished, Railroads and Clockworks. Green fi eld Village I arrived when the gates opened and stayed all day. The open-air museum features seven historic districts allowing guests to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and sensations of 300 years of American life. Green fi eld Village has 240 acres of land, of which 90 acres are in use for the attractions; the rest is forest, a river, and extra pasture for the sheep and horses. The museum illustrates how Americans have lived and worked since the country’s founding. Nearly one hundred historical buildings were moved to the property from their original locations and arranged in a village setting. The Village includes buildings from the 17th century to the present, many staffed by costumed interpreters who conduct period tasks like farming, sewing and cooking. I started with a train excursion to get my bearings as to the size and scope of The Village. The steam engine chugged along the outer boundary as a guide gave information about The Village and what passengers were seeing along the way. I next headed for Liberty Craftworks, a collection of craft buildings such as pottery, glass-blowing and tin shops, providing demonstrations while producing materials used in The Village and were also for sale. Railroad Junction is a treasure for train buffs. There is an impressive display of America’s early industrial

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ESCAPEES Magazine July/August 2024