FORD ADVISE

[broker-len]

I am on the east cost of US      wife and I are driving to Niagara Falls then to Dearborn to see the ford exhibits       looking for suggestions as what to see where to stay and how to get the best deal for the buck,,,understand Dearborn is some what depressed     will we be affected by this situation?  Any advise will be helpful------------------thank you in advance -------BR

[John_S_in_Penna]

Len, if you tell us WHERE you are on the east coast,

we might give more helpful suggestions for sight-seeing.

Are you in Maine?  Delaware?  Georgia?

[broker-len]

of all the ford attractions in Dearborn     what is the best and the least if we run out of time         in NJ

[ply33]

I could probably have been wonderfully lost for days in the Henry Ford Museum had I not been with others who eventually tire of looking at old items of engineering. Just the old railway steam engines kept me fascinated much less the cars. Greenfield Village was pretty neat too but in a different way.

[1937hd45]

Without knowing what others enjoy it is difficult to give advice, I'd have to have three full days to spend at the Henry Ford and Greenfield Village, and the next time will be my third trip there. Bob 

Edited July 8, 2019 by 1937hd45 (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

The Boyertown Museum of antique cars in Boyertown, Penna.

(eastern Penna.) may be very close to your route.  It has many

early cars and is worth a visit if your family shares your interests.

One of their themes is, cars made in Pennsylvania.

[bryankazmer]

Dearborn is not a terrible area, although the part west of Southfield, which includes the little downtown, is better.  There is a large Middle Eastern community , so if you enjoy that cuisine I would plan on eating there.

 

From Niagara Falls, check whether it looks better to go via Cleveland or via London.  if the latter, check the bridge vs tunnel into Detroit for the quicker crossing as you get near.  

[Harold]

I attended SUNY Geneseo and the University of Buffalo, and my kids attended Geneseo and Rochester Institute of Technology,  so I've made many trips to Western New York.  If you're heading up Route 81 into New York, Bingham's Restaurant at Exit 211 has nice moderately-priced meals. 

 

You might also consider stopping at Letchworth State Park(the Grand Canyon of the East), off I-390 near Mt.Morris, NY.  It was very obscure until a few years ago when it was voted the best State park in the USA.  Very pretty area.

 

Buffalo has the Pierce Arrow Museum.

 

You'll find the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village unforgettable. 

 

Hope this is useful.

 

Harold

[31plymouth]

Try ,try ,try to get to the Gilmore Museum if you are going that far.   I went to the Dearborn area last September and the Gilmore was well worth the 2 hr drive from 

Dearborn

[Jim Skelly]

Dearborn depressed? Not really.  There are lots of restaurants, bars, and places to shop,  The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village opened 90 years ago this year and have never looked better in my 60-plus years.  The local U of M campus, which I graduated from decades ago, is on land donated by Ford, and the Henry Ford mansion is part of the campus, but is currently closed for a complete restoration.  Next door is Henry Ford (Community) College. 

 

There are very nice and average neighborhoods, lots of parks, and a few pools and golf courses.  You will see some nice architecture at both ends of town.  In fact, in West Dearborn is the Ford Homes historic district, built in 1919 and 1920 for Ford salaried workers.

 http://fordhomes.org/

In East Dearborn is Springwells Park, with what some consider to be the first strip mall in the country, started in 1939 by Edsel Ford.  

http://www.springwellspark.org/

You also might want to check out Aviation Subdivision in East Dearborn, built on what had been a local airport.  This was the first luxury subdivision built on that side of town.  These are custom-built homes from the 1920s and 1930s, with some more modern ones as well.  Nearby is Fordson High School, the second-most expensive high school built in the U.S. when it opened in the late 1920s.

 https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2018/06/27/fordson-high-school-dearborn-architecture/726798002/

 

I haven't mentioned the Rouge plant, which has a factory tour in conjunction with the Henry Ford Museum.

 

There are three public libraries.  The Henry Ford Centennial Library, built on land donated by - you guessed it - Ford Motor Company, opened 50 years ago.  It is spectacular, but is closed right now for some restoration work.  

https://dearbornlibrary.org/wordpress/about-us/locations/henry-ford-centennial-library/

The old main library, opened in 1924, is still in use.  Clara Ford, Henry's wife, was on the original library board.

https://dearbornlibrary.org/wordpress/about-us/locations/bryant-branch-library/

 

A few local buildings of architectural interest are the Parklane Towers, Village Plaza, Ford World Headquarters, and the former Hyatt Regency Hotel just west of there.  There are many beautiful churches and schools, too.

 

Also check out the Schaefer Building, opened in 1930.

http://www.daads.org/modern/1902/dearborn.htm

Diagonally across the street from the Schaefer Building is the former Springwells/Fordson/Dearborn City Hall, built in 1922.  It is now an artists gallery and residence.

http://www.cityofdearborn.org/government/programs-projects/artspace-city-hall-lofts

[mercer09]

if you get anywhere near western PA- Frank Loyd Wrights Falling Water is very very worthwhile to see.......  Bear PA

[broker-len]

thanks for the posts