A Day in Dearborn

We had been looking forward to seeing the Henry Ford Musum with great anticipation. Warren took us there in airconditioned luxury. With a temperature of near 100 F forecast, it was not a day to be riding a motorcycle or walking around in motorcycle clothing.

First stop was Greenfields Village. This is a sprawling park created by Henry Ford and covered with historic buildings brought from all over the US (and even some from England). These have been re-erected to create a town remeniscent of late 1800/early 1900's America. It was just like a kid's train set, except the trains were real.

Amongst the buildings is the house Henry Ford grew up in and the Wright brother's bicycle shop, complete with the machinery they used to build their flyer.

Next door is the Wright's house. Thomas Edison's laboratories are there, too, complete with machinery and scientific equipment just as they would have been when he was working in them.

A live steam train takes people on rides, as do horse drawn buggies and replica model T fords.

Actors in period dress stroll around the streets and work in houses.

Various buildings house many of the traditional trades, including blacksmithing, tin wares, pottery, spinning, weaving, watchmaking and candle making.

There is a working farm on the site, and the railway roundhouse is a hive of activity as an old steam train undergoes restoration.

There are machine shops, complete with huge drills, lathes and other power tools all driven by wide flat leather belts from an overhead shaft that runs the length of the workshop.

After strolling around in the heat for a few hours we were pleased to go into the Henry Ford Museum which was airconditioned. The museum houses an eclectic collection of cars, trains, aeroplanes, machinery and other curiosities and collectibles, including Henry Ford's first car.

By the time we returned to Warren's we were tired and ready for a beer. Warren cooked pork chops for dinner and we ate out in the garden, surrounded by Warren's art, including several of his birdbaths and the blue heron.

After dinner we watched a few episodes of a reality TV show America's Next Artist, in which a number of artists compete with each other through sixteen challenges. Each week one or more is eliminated, and the winner gets all the prize money and a solo exhibition at a famous gallery.

We are supposed to be leaving in the morning, but once again we have been talked into staying an extra day, so Warren can show us more of Detroit.