4 Activities
Ford Highlights in Detroit
Starts from
Detroit
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Activities
4
Duration
19 min
Length
4 mi
Route details
Starts from
Detroit
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Duration
19 min
Length
4 mi
- History and Culture
Alina Road.Travel
Travel Expert
- Learn about Detroit's automotive legacy and discover why it's known as the Motor City.
- Pass by the historic Ford Rotunda, symbolizing Ford's innovation and grandeur.
- Drive by the Ford Driving Dynamics Lab, blending modern technology with Ford's automotive legacy for enhanced vehicle performance and safety.
Welcome to your drive through Detroit, Michigan. Today, you'll have the chance to explore some of the key landmarks that have cemented Detroit's legacy as the Motor City, showcasing its rich automotive heritage and innovative spirit. Buckle up and get ready to experience firsthand the sights and sounds that define Detroit's legendary status!
Categories
- History and Culture
Welcome to your drive through Detroit, Michigan. Today, you'll have the chance to explore some of the key landmarks that have cemented Detroit's legacy as the Motor City, showcasing its rich automotive heritage and innovative spirit. Buckle up and get ready to experience firsthand the sights and sounds that define Detroit's legendary status!
Alina Road.Travel
Travel Expert
- Learn about Detroit's automotive legacy and discover why it's known as the Motor City.
- Pass by the historic Ford Rotunda, symbolizing Ford's innovation and grandeur.
- Drive by the Ford Driving Dynamics Lab, blending modern technology with Ford's automotive legacy for enhanced vehicle performance and safety.
Day Itinerary
4 Activities
Day 1
4 mi
Driving Around Ford’s Facilities
Today, you're about to discover Detroit's celebrated automotive heritage. Get ready to explore iconic landmarks like the historic Ford Rotunda site and the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, founded by Henry Ford himself. This drive offers a glimpse into Detroit's rich history, innovation, and lasting impact on the auto industry. Enjoy the ride as you uncover the stories behind Detroit's legacy as the "Motor City."
10:001 min
Rotunda Center – Ford Motor Company
Welcome to a short drive around Ford’s Facilities. You are now driving by the site of the historic Ford Rotunda. Get a glimpse into the brand's storied past. Built for the 1934–35 World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois, by architect Albert Kahn, it later became a popular visitor center and tour starting point for the nearby Rouge plant. Hosting celebrities and heads of state, the Rotunda drew millions of visitors annually until a fire tragically destroyed it in 1962.
Though no longer standing, the Rotunda remains an iconic symbol of Ford's innovation and automotive history. The site later became home to the Michigan Technical Education Center in 2000, but Rotunda Drive still bears the name of this once-remarkable structure.
Though no longer standing, the Rotunda remains an iconic symbol of Ford's innovation and automotive history. The site later became home to the Michigan Technical Education Center in 2000, but Rotunda Drive still bears the name of this once-remarkable structure.
1.7 mi
5 min
10:101 min
Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
Now you're approaching the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation on your right. Founded by Henry Ford himself, the museum showcases fantastic artifacts that tell the stories of America's greatest minds and their contributions to the world. These include the chair Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was assassinated, the presidential limousine that carried John F. Kennedy on the day of his tragic death, and the very bus where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, sparking the Montgomery bus boycott and the civil rights movement.
0.5 mi
5 min
10:201 min
Ford Driving Dynamics Laboratory
Now on your left, the trackside at Ford's Development Center, the DDL is known for its advanced testing capabilities, featuring state-of-the-art acoustic chambers, hybrid test environments, and autonomous technology labs. The DDL's strategic location fosters collaboration between product engineers and test technicians, who work together to enhance vehicle performance, durability, and safety.
Beyond its modern features, the DDL's design pays homage to Ford's history on the site, which was once home to Ford Airport in the early 20th century. Salvaged items from the airport, like a wind tunnel nose cone and wooden roof planks, are prominently displayed, linking the facility's past to its future as an automotive innovation hub.
Beyond its modern features, the DDL's design pays homage to Ford's history on the site, which was once home to Ford Airport in the early 20th century. Salvaged items from the airport, like a wind tunnel nose cone and wooden roof planks, are prominently displayed, linking the facility's past to its future as an automotive innovation hub.
1.7 mi
5 min
10:301 min
Detroit – Motor City
Detroit, Michigan, earned its nickname, the "Motor City," because of its early 20th-century dominance in the automotive industry. Visionaries like Henry Ford and Ransom Olds started their pioneering companies here, attracted by Detroit's strategic location and abundant natural resources. Positioned between the East Coast and Chicago, Detroit's strong manufacturing capabilities fueled the rapid growth of the auto industry, setting it apart from other cities aspiring to become "motor cities" and solidifying its reputation as the Motor City.
You have now reached this route’s destination. Have a pleasant stay and safe onward journey!
You have now reached this route’s destination. Have a pleasant stay and safe onward journey!