Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum — Attraction in Detroit

I had wanted to visit this museum for a long time and finally had the opportunity to do so recently. While I appreciate vintage vehicles, I am not a true car enthusiast. But I am a history enthusiast. And while I appreciated seeing the automobiles on display, it was principally in the context of their historical significance and the global importance of this facility in light of what happened here.

It was said that Henry Ford changed the world. And it can be argued that the principal part of that change had its roots in this historic facility. It was here that the Model T was conceived, developed and initially produced in 1907. After developing and producing several models from A to S that had varying degrees of success, Ford and his co-workers arrived at this everyman's car that allowed a much wider swath of consumers to own a vehicle.

Whatever you think of Ford's personal proclivities, there is no denying that he was a very good (self-taught) engineer and a brilliant industrialist who not only developed a life-changing product for the masses, but also figured out a way to make them available to those masses. And he possessed the most important quality for success in business. He recognized talent, knew how to develop it, how to harness it and how to retain it. And those who Ford employed and who contributed to the Ford Motor Company's success, especially at the time the Piquette plant was operative, are also highlighted in this museum.

The museum is located in the Milwaukee Jct. section of Detroit in full view of the iconic Fisher Building. Milwaukee Jct. is named after a railroad landmark that serviced the area and played a central role in the choice for the plant location. There were several auto manufacturers and related suppliers who located here during the first two decades of the 20th century. Ford operations moved to Highland Park in 1911 and the Piquette plant was sold to Studebaker. It was eventually owned by 3M by mid-century until the 1980s, when it was abandoned. The building was saved in the 90s by volunteers, and we're grateful they did. The area now looks like an abandoned industrial zone, which in a strange way adds to the current historical ambiance of the former plant.

The museum can be explored as a self-guided venture. However, it is well worth taking advantage of the guided tour. It's no extra cost to join. Our guide, Jerry, did a fabulous job. He covered the history of the plant. He also described the evolution of, ideology behind and features of the different models of cars on display. He further explained the evolution of the Model T from concept to reality. But my favorite aspect was how he related many of the idiosyncrasies of early automobiles that were origins of still well-known colloquialisms, such as back-seat driver and tire kicker, for example.

The cars on display were truly amazing. They were mostly early 20th-Century Fords but there were a few others such as Dodge Brothers, Studebaker and Cadillac. There were two full floors that used to be dedicated to assembly stations now showing off a variety of grand autos from a century ago.

The invention of the Model T truly changed the world and represents a turning point in history. It could be called one of the ten pivotal inventions of all time because of its impact on humanity and our way of life. The historical significance is enormous. Those seven people who sat locked away in the back room of the Piquette Plant were true Pioneers, though I'm sure they did not realize it at the time. You can visit this museum to see cool cars and that in itself is worth the effort. But more so, pay a visit to ponder the significance of an event that has shaped our lives so pervasively in ways that are hard to fully fathom. It's well worth the...

The tours are good. The building is great. However the staff is NOT great and that’s why stars are deducted. I had my wedding here. The communication is basically non existent. The new wedding coordinator Ginger is EXTREMELY rude, condescending, and unprofessional. The whole process was a nightmare. Even my wedding planner said she was not pleasant to work with. We were told we had the entire day Friday to set up by the previous coordinator (he retired May 1), however we were kicked out after 12-4pm by Ginger. The table floor plan was incorrect so that delayed our set up, there were new exhibits in places we were supposed to have the photo booth, and they do not help with rented chairs. I hired a wedding planner for the day of, thank god. I was also told I was able to pick up all of my decor on Sunday by the previous coordinator and Ginger proceeded to text my wedding planner at midnight after the wedding and say if I didn’t come back get my decor by 1am, it would be discarded. Thank god that didn’t happen. Again, communication was NON-EXISTENT from Ginger. I was going off of the previous coordinators information (who was the coordinator for several years) Ginger does not know what she is doing. Sunday upon picking up our items, the staff threw my expensive decor on a cart, breaking them. Our other items were scattered throughout the museum, broken or missing entirely. I would have broken down the decor myself if I knew the staff would break most of it or IF I WAS TOLD.. Make sure to take your expensive items before you leave the wedding for the night. Andiamo was great, Miss Mixology was great, all other vendors were great but this museum could definitely use more coordination, organization and friendly staff when they charge over $7k for ONLY the space. DO NOT RECOMMEND if you have expensive decor or lots of decor. Maybe would be better with a very simple wedding but either way Ginger should not be...

Absolutely loved our visit to Ford’s Piquette Avenue Plant — a powerful, immersive experience that any fan of cars or American history shouldn’t miss. While The Henry Ford Museum is bigger and more well-known, this place offers something truly special: the chance to stand in the original factory where the Model T was developed and built — the very place that changed the world.

Being surrounded by the early cars produced in that building adds a sense of authenticity and connection you just can’t get elsewhere. The history isn’t just told here — it’s felt.

We had the pleasure of touring with Tom, a retired Ford engineer whose deep knowledge, passion, and personal connection to the museum brought everything to life. He didn’t just know the facts — he lived them. Tom played a key role in shaping the museum into what it is today, and his love for the place shines through in every story he tells.

Highlights included the carefully recreated office of Henry Ford and the car Henry himself drove — both of which add an incredible depth of context and a sense of who the man was. The collection of early vehicles is impressive and beautifully displayed, each with its own fascinating story on its own, and collectively tells the story of Henry & Edsel’s success.

It’s one of the most memorable, informative, and inspiring museum...