Spend a Day Learning at Museums in Wayne County

The Henry Ford/Greenfield Village

The Henry Ford is one of the biggest and most well-known museums in Michigan. It showcases American history dating back to the Revolutionary War and has some incredible artifacts for you to see up close.

There are more than a dozen different exhibits. Large ones focus on American freedom, things made in America, American innovation with the airspace, a focus on racing history and more.

Some of the major artifacts you can see include presidential limousines like John F. Kennedy’s limo, the bus Rosa Parks was riding in, the chair Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot, and one of the largest steam locomotives in the world.

While you’re there, you can also explore Greenfield Village in the spring through the fall, a massive historical village with seven districts and showing off over 300 years of American life.

Arab American History Museum

A few miles from The Henry Ford, the Arab American National Museum is the only museum in the U.S. devoted to the history of Arab Americans and their experiences. It opened in 2005 with a goal to “document, preserve and present the history, culture and contributions of Arab Americans.”

The museum offers guided tours of the exhibits and a variety of programming like presentations and workshops to learn more about the history of Arab Americans.

There are several galleries that focus on art, history, culture and more, with others focus on Arab Americans’ impact in the U.S. and how their ancestors came to the U.S. and experienced living in America.

Yankee Air Museum

West of Detroit and Detroit Metro Airport, The Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport now includes a portion of the Willow Run Bomber Plant that produced planes in World War II.

The museum features more than a dozen historic aircraft for you to see, along with the history of the aircraft and what they were used for.

You can also book an air adventure where you can fly in one of five historic aircraft – the B-17 Yankee Lady, B-25 Rosie’s Reply, C-47 Hairless Joe, UH-1 Huey Greyhound or the Ford Trimotor.

Fair Lane

Ford Founder Henry Ford and his wife, Clara, lived at Fair Lane in Dearborn along the Rouge River. They lived in the home from 1915 until their deaths in 1947 and 1950, respectively.

While the house is closed for restoration, you can still visit the grounds of the estate seven days a week.

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House

On the other side of Wayne County in Grosse Pointe Shores, Henry Ford’s son Edsel and his wife, Eleanor. The home was designed by legendary architect Albert Kahn, and the family moved into the home in 1928.

You can tour the house and learn about its history and the history of the Ford family, have dinner at a restaurant with beautiful views of Lake St. Clair, and explore the beautiful grounds and garden.

Taylor Veterans Museum

If you want to see some historical artifacts from veterans in metro Detroit, the Taylor Veterans Museum has a great exhibit.

The museum opened in 2009 and houses personal collections from 11 veterans, featuring medals, uniforms, other artifacts and more.

It also has a display case housing memorabilia honor the late U.S. Rep. John Dingell, who was the longest-serving member of Congress in American history and served in the U.S. Army.

Ukrainian American Archives and Museum

In Hamtramck, you can learn all about the history of Ukrainian-Americans at the Ukrainian American Archives and Museum. The mission is to “preserve Ukrainian cultural and historical artifacts and educate the general public about Ukrainian immigrant contributions to America.”

It was founded in 1958 and now features different collections with a variety of artifacts, and other exhibits are scheduled to show off art and much more.

Mill Race Historical Village

In Northville, Mill Race Village aims to preserve the history of the city within he village. It’s a living museum, according to the Mill Race website, and features a historic church, gazebo, school, wooden bridge, blacksmith shop and more.

The village is open year-round for exploration and there’s a self-guided walking tour.

It also features events throughout the year including music, garage sales, baseball and more.

Greenmead Historical Village

Greenmead Historical Village is a nearly 200-year-old historical park that spans 95 acres. It was originally an 1820s homestead and includes the original farm complex, historical village, picnic facilities and more.

The buildings aim to tell the story of farm life in Michigan, and the buildings include an office, a historic church, school, parsonage, railway waiting station and more.

Flat Rock Train Depot and Museum

Those who love model trains will also love the Flat Rock Train Depot and Museum. It talks about the history of the railroad in the town, when Henry Ford brought it to Flat Rock in the 1920s to help build parts for the Model T.

Also, you can see the layout of the model trains inside the museum that features an American Flyer and Lionel Train that go on tracks winding through a town, carnival, circus, zoo and more.