This year at The Henry Ford, Girl Scouts will have a chance to make history while learning about history!

Last fall, in anticipation of its 100th anniversary, Girl Scouts of the USA unveiled their new scouting framework, which includes new badges for all levels of scouts – and as a result, all of the old badges are being realigned and many will no longer be available after this year.

We want to give Girl Scouts one last chance to earn many of these badges before they no longer exist. In 2012, on most Saturdays in February through May, Girl Scouts can come to The Henry Ford and earn eight of these historic badges:

• Listening to the Past (for Brownies)
• Earth Connections (for Juniors)
• United We Stand (for Juniors)
• Architecture (for Juniors)
• Local Lore (for Juniors)
• Careers (for Juniors)
• Heritage Hunt (for Cadettes/Seniors)
• Invention and Inquiry (for Cadettes/Seniors)

For the past two years, we have offered unique experiences for scouts who come to Greenfield Village, Henry Ford Museum and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. With eight different full-badge programs – plus the opportunity for scouts to take their badge home with them the same day they earn them – The Henry Ford has become one of the most popular destinations for girls to earn their badges. Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors can complete every badge requirement in one day and leave with their new badge (no need for troop leaders to call around, looking for them!), all while experiencing America’s Greatest History Attraction.

Whether they’re exploring careers for women at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, discovering landmark inventions at Henry Ford Museum, or learning about stories from Henry Ford’s past in Greenfield Village, Girl Scouts will love these one-of-a-kind experiences. For the complete schedule of badge programs and registration information, visit our Girl Scout Badge Program page.

Don’t miss this opportunity to earn these badges before it’s too late!

Christopher Hemler is the Curator of Education for Youth, Adult and Digital Programs at The Henry Ford. He also heads up the Scouting at The Henry Ford group page on Facebook – stop by the page to ask him your questions, or tell us about your troop’s visit to The Henry Ford!

As a parent who’s been a long-time Discovery Camp mom, I would like to say right from the start …

What are you waiting for?

The program has proven to be fruitful and multiply as I’ve witnessed my children become discoverers, explorers, inventors, historians, teachers, merchants, marketers, industrialists, farmers, builders, engineers, tinkers, tailors and (of course) candlestick makers – all in the context of Discovery Camp at The Henry Ford. I’ve also watched them enjoy making friends with children from around Metro Detroit.

If you want to learn more about how the program might inspire the young innovators you know – here’s your chance.

There will be a Discovery Camp Open House, from 4-6 p.m., Feb. 22, in the Pretcher Promenade in front of Anderson Theater in Henry Ford Museum.

Displays and a slideshow presentation will showcase each camp level, and folks in-the-know can answer questions about daily activities, food, aftercare, the overnights for the older campers, etc. There will also be two call center representatives to answer payment and reservation questions.

The weeklong day-camp program is for students entering second through ninth grades in the fall. (There are six sessions from which to choose for students up to grade eight, and two available sessions for those entering grade nine.)

And, again, membership has its benefits. In addition to a reduced rate for the camp program, members will be able to register for their preferred sessions as early as February 22. Non-member registration begins March 23.

Kristine Hass is writer and a long-time member of The Henry Ford. She frequently blogs about her family’s visits to America’s Greatest History Attraction.

It’s February! The groundhog has seen his shadow, so it looks like we’re in for six more weeks of winter…which makes it the perfect time to explore Henry Ford Museum and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour.

Here’s what’s going on this month at The Henry Ford:

Driving America – now open at Henry Ford Museum! The wait is over – and now you can explore the world’s premier automotive exhibition for yourself! Take a trip through 80,000 square feet of automotive history, and a look at where we’re headed next. And don’t forget to tell us the story of your first car!

• Celebrate Black History!: Throughout the month of February, we have a wide range of performances and activities available at Henry Ford Museum to explore Black History in America.
• The last day to see Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol on Michigan’s largest screen – including that incredible Burj Khalifa climbing scene! – is Thursday, February 9.
• The Henry Ford Learning Series: American Democracy and Civil Rights, February 10: Our monthly Learning Series lectures continue, this time focusing on leadership in American democracy. Guests are invited to attend the morning lecture featuring Donna Braden, our own curator of public life and lead experience developer, along with Kidada Williams, assistant professor of African American History at Wayne State University. This morning session is free and open to the public.
• Macy’s 2nd Mondays, February 13: Join us from 10 a.m.-noon for this fun morning out with your little ones! This month’s theme is “Driving America,” and as usual, there will be lots of hands-on activities and fun for them. Don’t forget – admission to Henry Ford Museum is always FREE for children under five!
• Target Family Days, February 20 (Presidents Day!): Thanks to our friends at Target, you can enjoy free admission to Henry Ford Museum on this day – along with make-and-take activities, live musical performances and even a presidential-themed scavenger hunt through the museum. It’s also another great opportunity to experience our Celebrate Black History! activities.
• Open house for our Summer Discovery Camps, February 22: Did you know that we offer a summer day camp program for kids? It’s true! If you have a youngster in grades 2-9, you’ll want to stop by to learn more about this history-based, week-long program. Past campers have created old-fashioned toys, hiked through the restored Rouge River Oxbow area of Greenfield Village, built robots – and even served as an apprentice in a historic craft!

For more information and additional activities, keep an eye on our online calendar, or import these activities directly to your own online calendar program from the blog.

Hope you can join us for a fantastic February!

The Henry Ford’s new exhibit, Driving America, offers visitors a new way of looking at the history and impact of the automobile on American life. It also offers visitors a new way of seeing our car collection. Last winter, photographer Mark Harmer of Midcoast Studio in Troy, Michigan, spent two months photographing 120 (!) of our vehicles.

Nearly all of the photography work was done on the floor of Henry Ford Museum.  Midcoast set up a temporary photo studio using a portable light box, shown here.

Midcoast photographer Mark Harmer sits at the computer while his two assistants set up the lighting and position the backdrop panels and camera for a profile shot of the Old 16, a 1906 race car.

One of our conservators adjusts the tire pressure on Old 16 in preparation for the photo session.

In addition to cars, several carriages, trucks and even a streetcar were photographed. Here, the crew gets ready to shoot the Concord Coach.

The Concord Coach

Six detail shots were taken of each car, in addition to full body shots.  This is a detail shot of Old 16’s engine.

Beautiful!

Cars that were all ready for their photo session were lined up in the back of the museum, waiting to be rolled under the lights.

"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. Harmer!"

Thirty-four of the vehicles also had a Spheron photo session. The photographer  placed a camera on a slowly rotating stand inside the vehicle, which enables viewers to explore the car from the inside. The Spheron views, as well as the other shots, are available in the Vehicle Viewer interactive in Driving America and will also soon be available on our online collections website.

A car is readied for its Spheron shoot. The vehicle was shrouded to block the view outside of the windows.

But it wasn’t this easy for every vehicle; several large trucks, the presidential vehicles, and the Goldenrod race car were too large to move under the light box and had to be shot in place.  These photo sessions occurred over the course of five nights and lasted until early morning.

Moving the light box for an evening photo session

The light box and backdrop panels positioned around the Reagan presidential limousine. The railings and signs all had to be removed, then put back by the next morning.

On the last night of the project, the crew posed in front of the Dodge Airflow Tank Truck under the light box.

Great work, Midcoast!

Be sure to check out all of Mark Harmer’s photographs on our online collections website - there’s a good chance one of your favorite vehicles has gotten the “Midcoast treatment” and can be explored inside and out for the first time.  Enjoy!

In her twenty-five years at The Henry Ford, Judy Endelman, director of the Benson Ford Research Center, has learned to love cars.

What does lounging by the pool on a hot day have to do with automotive restoration?

In the case of one of our antique vehicles, more than you think!

Early tires for automotive vehicles were made of natural rubber and were made in one piece – somewhat like a heavily reinforced inner tube. These tires are often referred to as “tube tires,” and some of the more common sizes are still produced by specialty suppliers.

But not all sizes are still made, or even available – and this was the case recently with our department’s restoration of the 1899 Duryea Trap for the new Driving America exhibition.

The 1899 Duryea Trap

This vehicle came to our labs as an older restoration that dated from the 1930s. It arrived in fairly poor condition, with seized corroded metal components, flaking paint, moth-eaten upholstery and the clincher: heavily degraded tires.

The original tires were in no shape for display.

The artifact could not be put on display without tires, as a guest would likely focus on their absence and therefore miss the aesthetic beauty of this early horseless carriage

So what to do?

Believe it or not, it became a constant source of unending debate as to how to proceed, what materials to use…until – eureka!!

Summer was in full swing and with it came lounging by the pool. Our head of preservation, Mary Fahey, came to me with the observation that a common foam pool noodle had the right diameter for the tires we needed. So we thought, why not? We could make that work…after all, the vehicle would never need to run, as it was far too precious an object to risk the damage that a restoration of that extent – and its subsequent running – would cause. It didn’t even really need to roll, as we usually do not let vehicles with original tires touch the ground anyway! It was doable.

Coating the pool noodles - er, tires

So we gathered up a few dollar store pool noodles as the base for our new tires and put them through a fairly extensive process, which involved strengthening them through multiple coatings of various flexible putties and a central reinforcing. This process produced the results that you now see.

Voila!

We only hope that now that you know the full story – and what’s behind what appears to be a natural rubber tube tire – that you won’t focus too much on them and still consider the overall beauty of this precious artifact.

Robert Coyle is a transportation conservation specialist for The Henry Ford.

This weekend marks the opening of Henry Ford Museum’s much-anticipated Driving America  – the world’s premier automotive exhibition.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that in private events planning we’ve been busy dreaming up ways to incorporate elements of the amazing 80,000-square-foot exhibition in creating special private events at the museum. So here’s a look at our top three fun spots for wedding parties using elements of Driving America …

We’re as eager to offer desserts in Lamy’s Diner as most visitors to the museum are to (at long last!) dine there. The diner is situated right off the Museum Plaza. This 1946 roadside eatery will be a great place to serve up some good old nostalgia with its Faygo float station and our celebrated Downtown Desserts (like Sanders Hot Fudge cream puffs).

Your guests can help themselves to this delicious candy display! (Photo by Angela Rampin)

The Car Court – right in the heart of the exhibit – will offer a quiet retreat for party guests. Comfortable couches and side tables create an intimate lounge setting that just happens to be surrounded by some of the world’s most significant automobiles and artifacts.

Many couples often prepare a video slideshow sharing their life and love story with guests. Now, with the oh-so-cool Drive-in Theater, there’s a perfect spot for wedding goers to take a seat and enjoy a trip down memory lane.

The state-of-the-art theater seats almost one hundred folks.

We’re just gearing up for all the exciting ways to celebrate love and weddings, Driving America-style. We can’t wait to work with future brides and grooms in creating more of the awesome memories that can only be made at The Henry Ford.

Christina Dodge is The Henry Ford’s social events manager and a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants.  She helps plan and bring to life the stunning weddings held at The Henry Ford.

Driving America will offer a brand-new opportunity for kids to pretend they’re auto mechanics. And what better place for this to occur than inside the service bay of the Texaco station—a space that’s been closed to the public since this historic building was brought to Henry Ford Museum in 1987?

The Texaco Station, in its previous iteration.

Inside this newly-opened space, kids will be able to change tires and mufflers, check fluids and filters, and use a creeper to glide under a ¾-scale, 1960s-era car. Our Education team has made sure that these activities are safe, easy to understand, and age-appropriate.

Hands-on activity, geared for ages 4-8

But the curators got a different assignment:  create the atmosphere of an auto garage from the 1960s era using real artifacts. We are, after all, a history museum. We pride ourselves on authenticity. And we wanted to include real objects that adults could relate to and talk about with kids who had never heard of things like rust-proofing.

But how to go about creating that atmosphere?

We looked at old pictures of service bay interiors (there weren’t many). We shared our memories (or those of our husbands or fathers) of old auto garage interiors. We considered what was available from our own collection and what could be acquired through outside sources. (The designation “NOS” on eBay turned out to be a goldmine to the world of “new old stock” auto accessories.)

Just furnishing the space as a look-in would have been easy, but the ultimate challenge was that people would be entering this space, potentially touching and interacting with these items. So we determined that some things would be placed low and would invite touching (like the hubcaps), while rarer items, like the license plates, would be placed higher up.

It’s sometimes hard for us literal-minded curators to think about how to furnish a space that’s “just pretend”…but that’s what we tried to do here.

Do you have any memories of old full-service stations like our Texaco one, or remember hearing details of them from your parents or grandparents? Share them in the comments section below – and be sure to check out the Texaco Service Bay when “Driving America” opens this Sunday, January 29!

Donna Braden, Curator of Public Life, is always looking forward to her next unusual assignment.

When does an object become an icon? 

Our curators explored this question and came up with three criteria: national significance, uniqueness to our institution and resonance to museum visitors. 

Each month this year, we will be exploring a different museum icon in our Pic of the Month web feature – starting with the Rosa Parks bus. 

An Ordinary Bus Becomes Extraordinary

One would not ordinarily consider a city bus to be iconic. But an extraordinary event occurred on this Montgomery, Alabama, bus on December 1, 1955, when a soft-spoken African-American seamstress named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man, as dictated by existing segregation laws.

Mrs. Parks quietly started a revolution.

This simple, courageous act of protest led to an immediate city-wide bus boycott by the African-American community and the meteoric rise of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., as the widely-recognized leader of the Civil Rights movement.

Over time, Rosa Parks came to be known internationally as a symbol for human rights.

(For more on the bus itself, check out the links here and here.)

A Symbol of “Social Innovation”

By our particular rationale in collecting and interpreting the Rosa Parks bus, we have imbued it with a unique prominence, aesthetic and interpretation.

Our re-envisioned mission statement in the 1990s called out innovation, resourcefulness and ingenuity as specific lenses through which to focus our collections and interpretation. The Rosa Parks bus, acquired in October 2001, seemed to perfectly embody the elusive notion of social – as opposed to technological – innovation.

You can sit in the actual seat where Rosa Parks refused to move. (Photo by Michelle Andonian, Michelle Andonian Photography)

The bus was ultimately placed in our “With Liberty and Justice for All” exhibition, where the topic of social innovation finally found a home in Henry Ford Museum alongside technological innovation. Here, visitors can sit on the bus and hear Rosa Parks herself recount what it was like on that day in 1955.

Personal Encounters with the Bus

A visitor evaluation in “With Liberty and Justice for All” revealed that the Rosa Parks bus was the most memorable object to the largest number of people.

Why is this?

Personal responses varied from ”it’s an inspiring, powerful story” to “it triggers powerful personal memories about the Civil Rights movement” to “it’s the ‘real deal.’”  One 10^th-grader remarked, “I really felt as though I was back in history, invisibly standing in the aisle watching Rosa Parks refuse to give up her seat on that very bus.”

National significance. Institutional uniqueness. Personal resonance. These, to us, transform simple objects into icons.

What do you think?

Donna Braden is curator of public life at The Henry Ford; she enjoys reflecting on the intersections between objects, museum experiences and visitors.

The coming of a New Year is a great time to set resolutions, and for 2012, The Henry Ford has picked at least one doozy that we are very excited to share!

Over the course of the year, we will be digitizing our most “significant” icons in each of the core categories in our collections — and making those available on our collections website to anyone who is interested.

So what does that mean, and why are we so delighted about it?

Digitization is the process of making photos and information about the collections of The Henry Ford available online. In a way, this is a process that dates back to the founding of the institution, as artifacts have been catalogued and photographed over the years for internal purposes.

However, the information and images we’ve gathered and the ways in which we’ve stored those for our own usage don’t necessarily equate to the robust web presentation that we want to share with the world— so we have been spending a lot of time updating and standardizing catalog records, taking great new photographs of the collection, and writing brief narratives on the purpose and meaning of each object.

This is all part of a big project we’ve been calling CAN-DO: Collections Access Network for Digital Objects.

We really got going in earnest with this effort in 2011, with the bulk of the objects digitized either in or related to the new Driving America exhibit, which opens at the end of January. The Henry Ford obviously has very strong transportation collections, and this means that right now our digitized collections contain everything from the very rare and beautiful Bugatti…

1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Convertible, from the collections of The Henry Ford. Only six Royales were ever made.

…to an iconic Charles Sheeler photograph of the Ford Rouge plant in the late 1920s…

Open Hearth Building at Ford Rouge Plant, photographed by Charles Sheeler, 1927, from the collections of The Henry Ford.

…and everything in between.

"How to CB" Phonograph Record, 1976, from the collections of The Henry Ford. “Slanguage” — get it?

As 2011 began winding down, we started to think about what we would digitize in 2012. The Henry Ford has an embarrassment of riches in its collections, including hundreds of thousands of 3D objects and about 25 million 2D artifacts housed in the Benson Ford Research Center. Digitizing it all will be a multi-year, if not multi-decade, effort. What, we asked ourselves, should be our focus in 2012?

The answer was obvious: We need to make sure the public has digital access to the most “significant” artifacts at The Henry Ford. I put the term “significant” in quotation marks purposely, as significance has multiple meanings. Few could argue that an artifact like the city bus on which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat is not a significant historical object. It is also institutionally unique. Many museums have civil rights artifacts, but there is only one Rosa Parks bus, and the only place to find it is at The Henry Ford.

The Rosa Parks Bus, an American icon from the collections of The Henry Ford. Photograph by Michelle Andonian.

The other dimension of “significance” is personal resonance. Certainly the Rosa Parks bus has personal significance for many people. But there’s also a pretty hefty degree to which personal significance diverges. For example, I wouldn’t necessarily expect this Buck Rogers poster to have personal significance for a large percentage of the public.

Buck Rogers Comic Strip Characters and Space Vehicles, Cocomalt Premium, circa 1934, from the collections of The Henry Ford. Featuring a space pterodactyl!

For me, though, this happens to be one of my very favorite collections objects that we’ve digitized thus far. It features a space pterodactyl, a disintegrator ray, rocketships, and many spacemen in dapper outfits, all illustrated with bright colors and fantastic graphic detail. These all happen to be things that I enjoy (space pterodactyls being a new but noteworthy addition to the list), so to me, this is particularly interesting.

We’ve been having a lot of interesting conversations about all the aspects of “significance” and how they relate to the collections of The Henry Ford, and have started throwing out ideas and making lists. Over the course of 2012, you will see these objects begin to show up on our collections website, but you’ll also hear about them in other ways — via blog posts from staff members, in the curators’ Pics of the Month and any other ways we can think of to share the stories that these objects tell.

We could not be more excited to start this project, and hope you are excited about it as well. Check our collections website frequently to visit your old favorites from the collections and discover new ones!

Ellice Engdahl is The Henry Ford’s new Digital Collections Initiative Manager, which she thinks is quite possibly the coolest job ever — even if it’s a hazard of the job that her favorite collections object changes about ten times a day.

photo credit: Roger4336

Driving America is the story of us and our relationships with cars – whether it’s as a driver, consumer or just plain lover of cars. And to celebrate that story, we want YOUR story.

Will you share the details of your first car with us?

Click on this link to submit your story. Tell us all about it: How did you get it? What unique quirks did it have? What made it special to you?

It could be the first car you owned, the first car you rode in…and if you have any photos or video, you can share that too!

“My First Car” stories will be featured on our new Driving America website, so keep them coming…whether it was a gem or a clunker, we can’t wait to hear about it!