I have yet to visit Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn, but hope to when I can. Sounds like the place has seen a complete makeover. Some years ago, the bean counters at Ford dumped the museum off the company coffers, to fend on its own, after which Henry's frail body probably rolled over in his mausoleum . Did the car company kick in some for all these recent renovations? Seems a lot to get from just ticket revenue.

http://www.tmnews.com/articles/2004/07/19/sections/lifestyles/lifestyles13.txt
ryarger@rypn.org

Your message sounds a bit cynical. The Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village is a thriving, healthy non-profit with a large endowment. I believe they have an active development office and a sizable staff. They are in better fiscal shape than you might think.

> I have yet to visit Henry Ford's museum in
> Dearborn, but hope to when I can. Sounds
> like the place has seen a complete makeover.
> Some years ago, the bean counters at Ford
> dumped the museum off the company coffers,
> to fend on its own, after which Henry's
> frail body probably rolled over in his
> mausoleum . Did the car company kick in some
> for all these recent renovations? Seems a
> lot to get from just ticket revenue.

This article gives a very good overview of their endowment size, relationship with FoMoCo and the Ford family, and the proportion of their revenue the derive from the gate.

The Henry Ford aims high
eledbetter@rypn.org

The Ford Motor Company has never contributed any financial aid to the museum. The do recieve large amounts of money from people that happen to have Ford in their last name. The museum is more active than ever with an operating railroad(two steamers), an operating flat bottom coal fired river boat, antique cars for rides and work, a turn of the century line shaft driven machine shop, several working farms, etc.. And that is just the village. The Edison Institute is forever changing with new exhibits both semi-permanent and traveling.
This IS the most spectacular museum in the country wether you are a railfan or not. I don't just say that because they sign my checks. The operation is the most profesional I have ever seen....this is the only museum I have ever come across that requires everything be done 100% right from the get-go, regardless of anyone's personal wants or opinions. Anyhthing less than perfection is not tolerated.
I encourage all to come by for a visit. Feel free to contact me off line if you are coming by.

jasonsobczynski@yahoo.com

> This IS the most spectacular museum in the
> country wether you are a railfan or not. I
> don't just say that because they sign my
> checks. The operation is the most
> profesional I have ever seen....this is the
> only museum I have ever come across that
> requires everything be done 100% right from
> the get-go, regardless of anyone's personal
> wants or opinions. Anyhthing less than
> perfection is not tolerated.

Have been fortunate enough to visit the museum and adjacent grounds several times over the last few years I must say I am hard pressed to think of a place that is equal to the Ford museum. Maybe the Smithsonean? Everything they have is in absolutely top notch condition. Surely they must have junk, or exhibits not yet restored, hideen away somewhere, but there's no trace of it in the main museum or village. It's defintiely worth the trip.

New Interchange
hkading@rypn.org

> This IS the most spectacular museum in the
> country wether you are a railfan or not. I
> don't just say that because they sign my
> checks. The operation is the most
> profesional I have ever seen....this is the
> only museum I have ever come across that
> requires everything be done 100% right from
> the get-go, regardless of anyone's personal
> wants or opinions. Anyhthing less than
> perfection is not tolerated.

Well, I can't say that I've been to every museum, so I can't say for sure if yours is the best, but I certainly enjoyed my visit there. It is nice having the world's most powerful and heaviest steam locomotive indoors like that. Still looks like you could light a fire in it and off it would go (when I was there 15 years ago it still had aluminum pie plates under it to catch the oil drips) Hopefully since then it has had a good washing and polishing, it looked a little dusty, but impressive nonetheless.

> This IS the most spectacular museum in the
> country wether you are a railfan or not. I
> don't just say that because they sign my
> checks. The operation is the most
> profesional I have ever seen.

They have been a good neighbor to us at the Huckleberry, as well as other museums in the area. Whenever we've needed to borrow a tool, or just wanted to ask some questions, they have been most co-operative. Of course, we have tried to return the favors as well.

Martyhuck@aol.com

i have never been there so I hope you will put up with a simple question. Did the roundhouse project, replicating/rebuilding a roundhouse ever get finished?

Their steam engine must be one of the oldest in operation. love to ride behind her some day.

Ted Miles

ted_miles@nps.gov

The roundouse was finished in 2000, complete with an operational wheel lathe, axle lathe, wheel press, drop pit, mccabe flanger along with all of the other necessary ingredients.

jasonsobczynski@yahoo.com

> i have never been there so I hope you will
> put up with a simple question. Did the
> roundhouse project, replicating/rebuilding a
> roundhouse ever get finished?

Check out the link below for some info on the roundhouse from their website.

Greenfield Village Roundhouse

Where else can you see a huge, gleaming Atlantic (the underside of it too) and watch a Mason-bogie run?
And there is that other surviving B&LE steam locotive there.


chriss@mopedarmy.com