After visiting the first three stations of the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, we were all looking forward to seeing firsthand the reason for the Rouge to begin with – the building of automobiles.
The girls are interested in the interactive kiosk.
Station Four gives visitors an elevated view of the some of the floor of Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn Truck Plant. The plant, which is home to the F-150 pickup truck, opened in 2004. The bright facility was designed by sustainability architect William McDough who gave careful consideration to the environment inside and outside the plant. The observation deck at Station Three is a great way to learn more about the building and grounds, and get a good look at some of that forward-thinking design.
It was hard to pull the boys away from watching the conveyors, automated assembly and workers.
The walk is about a 1/3 of a mile and lets you see the trim line for final assembly which includes: five trim lines; one box build line; one door build line and the final inspection area.
Checking out the floor where finished truck are quality tested.
We actually saw the F-150 come into the plant as an empty shell and leave the line as a completed and shiny truck. All the docents along the tour were so well informed. For example, the gentleman (far right) in the above photo was a retired worker from the plant (and its predecessor) who came back to work on the tour. His knowledge was awesome and really made our experience that much-more interesting.
The Smart Tools kiosk gave the kids a feel for the real tools used and high skill of the workers on the line.
There are some interactive kiosks along the way, which are always a hit with the younger set. We all enjoyed the challenge of testing our skill at the Smart Tools kiosk.
Getting a closer look at the assembly line on the tour.
The kids agreed that this was their favorite station on the tour, as much as they thoroughly enjoyed the others. I can confirm that it certainly has been the one that’s prompted the most conversation and post-visit investigation. We’ve googled all kinds of related information on manufacturing processes. Our 10-year-old son has a healthy obsession with how things are made (and I used to homeschool the kids) so that’s what we do for fun in our house.
For a a great inside look at some of the stations on the floor of the plant, be sure to check out this recent story at PickupTrucks.com. And, of course, come see for yourself by taking the Ford Rouge Factory Tour at The Henry Ford.
Ford Rouge Factory Tour is a self-guided five-part experience that includes: Legacy Theater, Art of Manufacturing Theater, Observation Deck, Dearborn Truck Plant and the Legacy Gallery. Theater seating is limited to 79 guests per show; shows run continuously until 4 p.m. and are seated on a first come first serve basis. The tour hours are Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., the last tour leaves at 3 p.m.
Kristine Hass is a writer and a long-time member of The Henry Ford. She frequently blogs about her family’s visits to America’s Greatest History Attraction.
The other posts in this series are
Sharing the legacy – the Ford Rouge Factory Tour Station-one
Artistry and manufacturing – the Ford Rouge Factory Tour Station Two
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