Greenfield Village

Binky
Binky
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
5
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5
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Editor Pick

The Most Amazing Place

  • November 20, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by zabelle from Portland, Connecticut
The Most Amazing Place

When I tell you that we were blown away by Greenfield Village I am not exaggerating. I was absolutely in awe of the buildings that Henry Ford managed to acquire. Before I tell you all about the wonderful things we saw I will give you a few general tips.

First if you are going to go to the Henry Ford Museum, buy a combination ticket. It will save you from paying the $5 parking fee twice. Even if you come on two separate days, which by the way I highly recommend you will only pay one parking fee. Second but the transportation bracelet, it is so worth it. For $10 additional you get to ride on the train, the Model T Fords, The Omnibus, the Old Fashioned bus and the merry-go-round as many times as you would like.

As soon as we came through the gates we bought our bracelet and hopped on the train, somehow it seemed like the perfect thing to do. There is a conductor/guide on board who will give you a tour of sorts. Our was a female whose name I have forgotten but she told us to sit in the first seat because it was quite brisk out and there is a shield that will protect you from the worst of the wind if you are in the first seat, the cars are open to the air.

You get a good overview of the village on the train and it takes I guess about 45 minutes to make the round. There are several other stops along the way so you can choose to get off.

What you will learn is that Greenfield Village was designed to be a live classroom for the school that is still on the property. If these students couldn’t go where the history was, history was brought to them. Pretty amazing really, it is like an outdoor Smithsonian.
Okay why should you come all the way to Dearborn Michigan to see Greenfield Village? Where else can you walk into a courthouse where Abraham Lincoln actually argued cases and see a cabinet that he and his father made? Where else can you tour Robert Frost’s House, Noah Webster’s House and the Wright Brother’s Shop and Home? These are just the tip of the iceberg. The original ford family home is here as is the firestone farm, slaves cabins from a southern plantation, a very early Cape Code windmill and a 17th century Connecticut farmhouse. These and much, much more will give you a day or more of entertainment, it certainly did for us.

We had lunch at the Eagle Tavern which I wrote about in another review, it is a 19th century stage coaching house and offers a very authentic menu and atmosphere.

We loved riding in the Model T around the village and yes we did take a carousel ride too. We rode everything our ticket covered at least once.

There is a large and very well stocked gift shop as well so if you are looking for a souvenir of your visit, there are plenty to be had.
We loved Greenfield Village and for the life of us we can’t imagine why we have never heard about it. It has to be the best kept secret in the country.

From journal Adventures in Michigan

Greenfield Village

  • January 17, 2007
  • Rated 4 of 5 by catronma from Nixa, Missouri
Please take my advice and do this in the warmer months! While this is a very nice place in around Christmas time it is COLD! And given that many of the buildings are still in their original state there is no heat or they are very drafty. This is a great place for history buffs and also popular for school field trips. There are many activities for kids, that vary throughout the year from hammering copper to making old fashioned baked goods. This can also be a nice place to relax in the summer with benches all over and some great cover from the many trees.

From journal Hometown Tourist

Editor Pick

Greenfield Village

  • September 7, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by MJB1103 from Madison Heights, Michigan
Greenfield Village

Greenfield Village is a step back in time to the days of Henry Ford, George Washington Carver, the Wright Brothers, and the like. There are old houses, log cabins, laboratories, stores, and farms. The buildings all have items from the era on display. There are plaques with dates and times as well as workers dressed in period clothing to answer questions, take you on tours, and fill in any information.

During the old car fest in September, when people come from all over to show their vintage cars (like 1912 or earlier), there is usually a police man dressed from that era directing traffic through the village. There is a chapel you can get married in and a hall for your reception. You will find all modes of transport to get you in the mood of the late 1800s, early 1900s. There is horse-and-buggy, 1931 Ford Model AA Bus, 1913 Herschell-Spillman Carousel, Suwanee Steamboat, vintage Model Ts, and, of course, the steam train goes 3 miles around the whole village. The village is split into seven historic districts, and there are walking maps to show the village depending on what you want to see.

Check out the website, www.hfmgv.org, for more information.

There is so much to see and not enough space to write it all.

From journal Around Detroit: Eating, Drinking, and Things To Do

Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum

Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum look at industrial history. Greenfield Village includes loads of interesting buildings (although I haven't been in about 20 years). The Henry Ford Museum obviously has tons of history about cars, but also industrial history, such as power turbines, and domestic history, such as pre-fab houses. Novelty items include the limo in which JFK was shot and the chair in which Lincoln was shot.

From journal Stuff to do in Detroit City

Editor Pick

Greenfield Village

  • May 9, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Binky from Troy, Michigan
Greenfield Village is, in my opinion, the best tourist attraction in Metro Detroit. It was founded by Henry Ford (who was probably a little crazy) way back in 1929. It is a collection of historic American buildings which have all been moved here. My favorites are the several Thomas Edison buildings, including the lab where the light bulb was perfected. I also like how much the employees get into historic "character". It really transports you back to a different time. The whole place is really impressive, and not to be missed while in Detroit.

Henry Ford Museum is right next door and can be visited for a seperate admission. I haven't been there in a long time so I won't comment further.

Their website: http://www.hfmgv.org

From journal Say Nice Things About Detroit

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