We came to the East side of Michigan mainly to experience the Detroit Makers Faire - but there’s more to our stay here. The Makers Faire is hosted by the Henry Ford museum, which we’re in disagreement over whether we’ve ever visited as a family so wanted to also visit. Along with “The Henry Ford” (evidently it’s such a cool place that they are able to drop the word “Museum” from their marketing) and the Titanic artifact exhibition, there is also Greenfield Village next to the museum and it’s large enough to deserve its own day of visiting.
So much to see, and with big attractions like this its always a puzzle of ticketing. Do you try to save money by buying a day pass and then feel rushed to see it all in one long day? Or spend more money but be able to stretch things out and linger around things that are of more interest?
MsBoyink found that purchasing a membership to the Museum would also get us a discount on Makers Faire tickets so that sealed the deal. We purchased a membership and are enjoying the flexibility that gives us in visiting.
We started on Friday with a morning of school work, client work, and house work. After a lunch we packed up and drove the 25 minutes to the Henry Ford, purchased our membership, and toured the museum. We didn’t hit it all (because now we didn’t have to!), but we:
- Enjoyed the automotive displays
- Had a snack at the working Diner Car
- Toured the Buckminster Fuller Dymaxion House
- Sat in the bus where Rosa Parks started a revolution
- Winced at the 80’s exhibits (toys from your childhood behind glass!)
- Listened to a automated music machine built in 1927 (video below)
- Looked at the furniture exhibits that featured many items from our home town (and previous employer). I’m not sure the kids ever realized that the Eames Lounge chair we had was such a classic/iconic piece. We enjoyed using it for years and then appreciated its lasting value as the sale of it funded quite a bit of our expenses in getting ourselves back on the road full time.
A long afternoon proved enough (especially for the girls) so we scoped out the location & parking situation for the Makers Faire the next day and returned home. We’re staying in a fairgrounds, only the second time we’ve done that but enjoy the different sights and sounds that it provides that typical campgrounds don’t. Our last visit let us experience Arizona Biker Week, and this time it’s a Gay Rodeo that’s going on while we’re here.
Always an adventure!
My goodness, was this place huge. It wasn’t just cars, though. I could live at this place. I loved just seeing the classic cars and trailers. And eating in the diner was a blast, too.
I liked listening to the music and eating cake in the diner car.