The Ford Rouge Factory tour is an excellent experience and one worth taking if you are a car enthusiast or simply a history buff. If for nothing more, you can appreciate this tour for its showcase of manufacturing history. After all, the Ford vehicle is the father of automotive history. On the tour you'll learn about much of the owner's early labor standards and America's rich automotive industry history including defining moments like the establishment of labor unions, integrating technology on the assembly line, and community engagement. What makes this tour special is the building is not just a museum, but a real working truck factory located at the Ford Motor Company's Dearborn Truck Plant. On the tour you'll be able to view the vehicle assembly area. I recommend purchasing tour tickets online to see if discounts are available. Overall, a very good tour worth taking. read more

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An interesting, EPCOT-like factory tour. Bought a combination for the Ford Rouge Factory Tour and the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. My favorite part of the tour was talking to the security guard who gave more insight into the assembly line. Took a 15 minute bus ride from the museum to the factory. Check the schedule as the buses do run on time. The factory tour has five stations. A movie, a laser Ford truck assembly show, the observation deck, the factory, a smallish room filled with a collection of Ford cars over the past century. The movie glossed over the beginnings of Henry Ford's inventions with an emphasis on the creation of an assembly line to cut down the time to build a car from 12 hours to 93 minutes. The moving part assembly line in Highland Park was super efficient. By breaking down the process to 84 steps and having stationary workers build each car, it really streamlined the process. This dropped the price of the Model T from $850 in 1908 to $260 in 1925 making the luxury vehicle affordable for an average family in America. Workers were paid $2.50 a day, but as the company became more profitable (and many workers were quitting due to boredom with monotonous tasks) the wages were increased to $5 a day. Ford had many conflicts with the Automobile Unions (UAW). Fights were physical and bloody. Graphic images released in the news in the 1930s turned public opinion against Ford. In the 1940s, he held out signing a Union contract until his wife Clara Ford threatened to leave him unless he signed a contract to stop the bloodshed. The 1941 UAW gave the workers the best benefits and wages at the time. The "assembly" laser 360 movie show was very EPCOT-like. Interesting, but not informative. The guide at the observation deck was very good. This is one of two places where photos were allowed. The elevated walk over the assembly line was self guided. Since they are very behind on construction, shift work is done on the weekends. Interesting to see the F-150s being assembled station by station. Spoke to a security guard who gave us insight into the safety gear needed, the energy efficient design of the building and how strikes and the union still advocate for workers salaries, working conditions and benefits. Otherwise, it would have been more like walking through another area with labels but limited explanation. No photos allowed here. The building is very interesting. No air conditioning, but the high ceilings allow heat to rise and the green roof with living plants make the building more climate controlled and energy efficient. Teams work in groups of 8 at each station. Lunch breaks are taken at the same. Key to know if you want to see the assembly line in action. The latest strike brought back more benefits. Workers wear eye protection and hearing protection. So interesting to learn more after asking questions. The last part of the self guided part of the tour brings you back to the main building for a view of cars like the Model A, the Thunderbird and the Mustang. Make sure to check the schedule to get a bus to go back to the Museum after the Ford Rouge Factory Tour is completed. An interesting tour, but not the best factory experience that I have taken. read more

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What a great tour. I went in a Friday in late November. Assembly operations were running and it was very cool to see. You start the tour at the Henry Ford, here a 20 min bus ride will take you to the factory. There are 5 stops. A short history movie. A multimedia assembly demonstration, the observation deck, the factory observation platform (about a 1/3 mile walk), and the heritage cars. The return bus leaves every 10-15 minutes. You don't have to stay with your group. There are guides to answer questions. No photos in the assembly plant. Start to finish for me, solo, was about 2 1/2 hours. There is road construction, so our bus trip took us through security, passed the steel mill, engine plant, and under the stamping plant, then out security on the other side. when the construction is finished, I'm sure the bus ride will be 5 to 8 minutes shorter. read more

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What an interesting tour! Pictures are not allowed when walking on the elevated walkway that goes completely around the assembly lines, but it is what it is. The elevated walkway was quite long, and enabled us to watch multiple stations that were involved in the assembly lines of the F-150. I would do this over if given the chance, because we were on a bus tour that had limited time. read more

This is a highly recommended tour and worth visiting. If you are in the area visiting Detroit, carve out a day to cover Ford Museum, Village, and the factory tour. If you or kids are interested in engineering, then this is a must visit, too. We did afternoon tour based on our timing, and we didn't get to see a actual working factory, but the guide inside was able to give a great run down all the units that are ready to be functional. We were able to co-relate how a working factor would be. The shuttle picks us between the museum and the Ford village; it's probably a 15-minute shuttle ride while you listen to Ford history. Then, once you reach the Factory tour, there are cool displays of cars in the lower level and a great place to take some pictures. The guide before entering the factory gave a great overview of the factory and answered all questions with patience. Kids were engaged in the conversations and totally worth it. The line will be for the F150, and it was so cool to see all aspects of the truck. Be it curiosity, history, engineering, or crazy about cars, this is a place for everyone. read more

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An amazing glimpse into an actual, working car factory. It was amazing to see the efficiency of this factory. And how quickly things progressed per each work station. I liked that the tour was self- paced. You could go as fast or as quickly as you wanted. Plenty of staff was around for any questions. read more

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Great tour! We took our kids on the factory tour. You start at the Henry ford museum and then they take you on a short bus ride to the Rouge Plant. We went on a Monday so we were able to see the assembly line in action. You walk on an elevated platform around the facility to see the vehicles in different stages on assembly. There is an observation area that takes you above the factory to see a Birds Eye view of the buildings. There is staff that explains parts of the massive facility. After that they have two videos that discuss the history of ford and how the ford truck was designed. Both of the videos are short and full of education. They also have several cars in the main hall to view from classic to modern. The tour took about 2 hours. Photography is limited on the tour. read more

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This is not just visiting a factory it's visiting a city. The facility is incredible, if you like true modern technology go check it out. The welcome center itself has a museum and shows. Worth seeing if you are in area. read more

The stream line of transportation is smooth and on time. It takes 20 min. When entering you will be greeted by a person who explains there are 5 levels basically. 1,2,3,4&5 - we first entered a film about Henry Ford and how he started , which then lead us into yet another room, where there was surround sound, and a lot of vibration. This was extremely loud - like unnecessarily loud. If you have small children you'll want earplugs. I mentioned to the woman that the sound was loud and she tried telling me it was no louder than a movie theater, except that this room was 1/8 of the size. I would not waste my money or my time ever again. Watch a YouTube video it's cheaper and you can adjust the volume. On another note the factory line wasn't nearly as loud as the show, but you will see those folks with headphones on. read more

Ford Rouge Factory Tour - Parking lot - Museums Near Me - Dearborn, Michigan

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Being a big car buff, I had to tour at least one assembly plant during my visit to motor city! As I was researching prior to visiting, I am so happy tours were made available so easily (for a 25.00 fee) rather than having to call various plants hoping that they were offering tours. The rather strange thing is you also had to pay 9.00 for parking, so I was thinking that it was a parking structure but it is just a regular, open parking lot with no attendants. We just followed the instructions on our tickets and arrived at the Henry Ford Museum half an hour prior to departing on the shuttle bus (to the plant). We asked an employee where to catch the bus and she was very informative and helpful. We saw a bus arrive earlier than the anticipated time slot; however, the shuttle bus driver was able to get us into the earlier tour that was about to depart. The bus drive is approximately 15-20 min to get to the plant and drops you off right in front of the tour building. Once you've arrived, you are greeted by a couple of tour employees and they explain the rules and procedures, followed by a couple of informative and interesting shows in regards to the history of the plant as well as the future. Once done, you proceed to the observation deck where you can take as many pics that you'd like (cameras are not allowed anywhere else, aside from the inside entrance in addition to the deck). Basically, you are just able to view some parts of the plant, such as some holding lots, test track, and their "green roof". Once you are done, you are free to roam the observation deck above the assembly plant floor. This is such a smart idea as it is very noisy on the production floor and you are still able to see production taking place (production is not guaranteed though). We were also able to see the line stop for break time. Plan to spend about 2 hours or even more if you can't get enough of watching the F150 being assembled! After you're done, you simply catch the next available bus back to the museum. read more

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Amazing tour, never seen anything like this in a real life! Station 2 video was incredible.... read more

Ford Rouge Factory Tour - Museums Near Me - Dearborn, Michigan

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You know me, I love to learn about factories, and how it's made. This was a nice tour of the Ford Rouge factory. You'll watch a couple of videos at the start of the tour. The first video is the history of Ford, and the plant. The second is about the F150. With the tour you'll be walking on a catwalk above the workers a they assemble the F150s. It was interesting to see the robot put glue on the windshield and the alignment it. I do wish they had little video screens of information along the way. One person said they only build the 4 door top of the line F150 models there. It was a really good tour for me. 2024-14 #544 read more

I used to work at Ford's (that's how employees call it). I even had to frequently go to the old Dearborn Assy plant when Mustang builds were done there. But the new (sustainable plant) was in the making and I never got to see it. Took my two younger kids so they could see the automotive process. Ordered tix (and the odd mandatory $9 parking pass) and then arrived early per the instructions. The parking location was also a bit strange since it seemed too far from the actual check in location in the Henry Ford museum. That said we road the bus to the plant and given a quick orientation to the 5 stations we would be visiting. Because we were about to bump into UAW lunch we were encouraged to go directly to the plant tour. They did, indeed, go to lunch during our walk around. Oh well. Let's face it the plant tour itself is hugely disappointing. You're on a overhead walkway trying to watch the action below. Railings, which you're not supposed to lean on further impede the view along with the many trusses, struts and mechanicals between you and the assembly line. I can't help but compare it to the Corvette Tour in Bowling Green KY - which, as of early Feb 2024, no longer exists. At Bowling Green you walked the floor and saw soooo much more. The Ford plant was a letdown in comparison. Stations 1 and 2 were movies with #2 the big standout. The Art of Manufacturing is something worthy of Epcot at Disney World. It mixes video with live animations robots, lasers, smells and wind effects. It was great, but at 9 minutes long it went by too fast. The #1 video was a 12 minute Ford and Rouge plant history. Station 3 is the upper deck where you can see the green "living roof" over the final assembly plant. Station 5 is a handful of historic Fords, a new Raptor and a new F-150 Lightning (electric) pickup. The entire event took us about 2 hours but I was explaining a lot to the kids. I'd allow 1.5 hrs for most people. Be aware that photos aren't allowed in most of the stations (really, no where but 3 and 5). As I said, #2 was great but the rest was lackluster. I will say the volunteers were great and welcoming but I can't really recommend the tour. $24 for adults, $18 for kids and $9 parking fee. read more

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Its some amazing to learn about the Rouge plant Henry Ford and the impactche had on our generation and out country. So glad we went its been one of the high lights of coming to Detroit would recommend to anyone. Our Uncle and Aunt who traveled with us also really enjoyed seeing the production line of F150 being built and learning about how the plant and Henry Ford impacted our Nation. Don't miss out on this Tour. read more

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I was very interested in what seemed like a primo tour opportunity, but I left underwhelmed. The museum center has a bus ride to the factory (it seems you have to do it that way), and the dated bus and terrible roads can't help but make one think about urban decay. The tour itself opens with two movies, the first of which is a historical perspective with some interesting images but a shallow, hagiographic perspective, and the second an overly loud and snazzy series of pickup truck video that has no coherent message. Taking an elevator up to the top led to an observatory that was bizarre poorly positioned to get a view of the cityscape. By the time I finally made it to the factory floor overlook, I was surprised. Contradictions flowed vigorously; the initial movie emphasized the importance of the factory in creating an American middle class, but now we're told that most of the manufacturing isn't actually done here, just the final assembly. A quote in the observatory emphasized that Ford himself wanted his factory to be a model for others worldwide, so their insistence on not letting people take pictures was odd, though perhaps the Japanese auto industry visitors that joined us were business competitors. The factory floor was notable particularly for the locals working there, but it was hard to put together any clear picture of the manufacturing process, the supply chain, the occupational health factors. People were available to answer questions, but it didn't seem like a deep discussion. There are so many interesting issues here; when the museum talks about the transformational effect of the mass produced automobile, I certainly ponder the lifestyle that led me to come to a place like this. When I visited an abandoned mine in West Virginia whose signage spoke of its coal and coke being sent to the River Rouge plant, I felt the history. Here, I didn't get the feeling. Given the price of a tour, I think I could have expected to see a bit more. read more

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My group of five purchased a package with the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. Whether you're a fan of cars or not, it's still pretty cool to learn about the history of Ford vehicles and watch employees assemble a Ford truck. The tour began with two short films in two different auditoriums. It was neat to hear and see how the vehicles have evolved. Immediately after the films, we were brought to the factory where hundreds, maybe more, employees were busy assembling a Ford truck. There was an assembly line and each employee was tasked with one job, whether that was installing a light, a door, etc. After the factory, we headed up to the observation deck where you can see stunning views of the complex as well as of Detroit. The final stop was the exhibit featuring vintage Ford cars. There were tour guides at every stop, ready and willing to answer questions and share their knowledge. The tour was informational. The only thing I would have liked is an interactive section, where we can pretend to assemble a car, for example. Nonetheless, our group which included two teenagers enjoyed the experience! read more

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We are big nerds so seeing a manufacturing operation is right up our alley. This tour isn't cheap but it is worth it. You get on a bus for a 15 minute ride from the Henry Ford museum. The tour starts with a movie on the history of Ford and the Rouge Factory. The second was a high tech light and laser show explaining how the new F150 is assembled. Both were very good marketing pieces... After the movies you go up to the observation deck where a tour guide gives you an overview of the exterior of the plant below and the surrounding area (sure glad it was clear and sunny). The gent did a very nice job explaining the lay of the land and answering our questions. Finally you get to tour the final assembly of the pick-up from a catwalk above the manufacturing floor. It started a bit slow since they were on break but soon enough the assembly line was moving. Along the way there were guides who were more than willing to explain what we were seeing and to answer questions. You could stay as long as you like. We were glad to have gone on the first bus at 9:20am since it took about two hours and it left plenty of time to then tour the Henry Ford museum all afternoon. read more

This was definitely the highlight of my visit to the greater Detroit area. We booked the factory tour online 2 weeks ahead of time and parking was included as an additional cost. When we arrived, we found a spot pretty close to the Welcome Center and made our way to the bus pickup location. If you arrive ahead of your time, they will try to get you included on an earlier tour. The ride to the factory seemed long but it was worth it. No pictures were allowed but the tour was amazing and well thought out. The video at the beginning was informative and kept everyone's attention. Production was halted for the day but we were still allowed to walk and see the production lines. It was really cool, so I can only imagine how much more we wouldn't have enjoyed it if we had seen some real action. I'd love to go again and highly recommend! read more

Ford Rouge Factory Tour - Tour bus - Museums Near Me - Dearborn, Michigan

Drove down for the day to observe what all the hype was about. We purchased our tickets in the summer while touring the muppet exhibit. The beginning of the tour had a few hiccups. The outdoor bus stop area where they have signs posted that say tour starts here was inaccurate. We sat out in the cold for 20 minutes. As we sat, and waited we watched the bus drive right past us. The employees at the front informed us that they moved the bus pick up to inside the museum and on the side of the building. They moved our tour times from 12:20 to 1:00. After finally getting to the factory we discovered that 1 of the 2 films wasn't t operational. The tour otherwise was phenomenal. All the employees were overly happy and polite. The assembly line was a marvel to see. We love the museum so much that we decided that the 2 hour drive was worth seeing the factory. This tour was worth it. If you have the opportunity then you should definitely visit. This tour was very informational and historical. So much rich history that lays out the foundation of the American way. Recommend that if you buy your tickets in advance that you go to the ticket counter to confirm where pick up is since they clearly move it from time to time. The tour was a 5 star otherwise. read more

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This was so fun. You got to see all the workers make the trucks and learn how these stuff were made. They put on a great show at the beginning, and shocked me. The tour is worth the money! read more

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We absolutely loved the Ford factory tour. The two videos were incredible. The first one gives a great overview of the history of Ford and the second goes into great detail about how cars are built. It was so cool to tour the actual factory and see a production line. This is a must see if you're visiting Detroit! read more

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The rouge tour is a must see when in Dearborn, lots of history and knowledgeable guides. Plan on spending 3-4 hours

All I can say is it is really cool to see. Once inside of Rogue you get to watch a few documentaries to make you aware of the history of the plant. Once that is finished you are taken to an area that basically robots and a laser light show happen in front of you, it is indescribable to say what I saw. Needless to say, it was fascinating. After that is completed you are allowed to watch the complete assembly of an F150. To me, I had zero idea of how they were actually assembled, what went into it, and the people that are able to do that job. I give it to the actual factory workers and doing a job that I would never be able to do. Plenty of factory workers that I believe are retired that you can ask them about each station you see from the sky platform/catwalk. You even get to see the final inspection when they come off the assembly line. Eventually, you go to an up into a sky view of the plant. They have a Ford representative there that explains to you about the overview of the plant, the line in the parking lot. This was well worth the time to watch and see what they have to offer. read more

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Very impressed by their manufacturing video/experience. A bit loud so if you have sensitive ears you may want to put tissues in them. It's an all senses experience with an impressive model with CGI effects! The factory portion was also impressive, being able to see almost everything that goes into building and producing Ford trucks. If you want to see one of the biggest "green" roofs, this is the greatest. It's covered in something called sedum which collects water, has a place for migrating birds to live and nest and it also acts like insulation for the factory! This is a must-do if you are either going to the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield village or just coming to Dearborn! read more

Great experience! I only got to visit the factory, the mini movie before the actual line tour was amazing! It kept you engage while teaching you the history of the brand and facility. They truly show you how they have become a lead in their field even during difficult times. Highly recommend! I wasn't able to make it to the museum or else I would've given it a five. I also got yelled at before the tour for taking pictures. So don't take pictures.. lol read more

Ford Rouge Factory Tour - Lobby after the tour of the cars throughout the years! - Museums Near Me - Dearborn, Michigan

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Theater 1 gives a good overview of Ford, theater 2 is an over abundance of sights and sounds to cause sensory overload. I found it difficult to keep track of what screens ro watch when. The F-150 was a bit loud for me and almost on the edge of sensory overload for me. The walkway over the factory is the best part of the tour. We could have easily sat and watched the line and the workers assembling the parts. What a fun day to spend with the family and watch a factory in full process. I am glad I finally went on this tour since they opened it so long ago. As an engineer I have been on many plant floors so it's nice to see the bird's eye view of an efficient plant. read more

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My sister and brother in law were visiting and insisted we do the Ford Rouge Factory tour. They say it's a must when visiting Detroit. I've lived here over 10 years and never been to the factory so it was a first for me also. The tour began with a film about Henry Ford and the history of the Factory. After the film, we toured the factory and watched the workers on the assembly line. The observation tower has great views of the factory complex and you can see downtown Detroit. I recommend this tour since it's a great, uniquely Detroit experience. read more

This is a really cool (and unexpected experience). Video on the history of the factory was actually worth the time. The factory itself is really cool to see, especially with kids. I would imagine if the factory was not actually operating it would not be nearly as cool. The price is a little high given the amount of free advertising that Ford gets and takes advantage of, but not outrageous. A tour worth checking out. read more

Such a fun and educational experience! Very much worth the money. We ended up going on a day that didn't have production and we're disappointed at first but the kids had a great time! Regardless if you go on a production day or a non production day...it's still very fun, interactive, and educational! read more

Amazing Tour. Very entertaining. Good for all Ages, the tour was more engaged than I thought. The pre-presentation was the best part. The bus ride to plant was little bumpy. Make sure the plant is making cars on the you go.. read more

This is the place where the Ford F-150 is made. We saw the assembly line and a lot of the stations and Ford employees working on all the different trucks. We also so the ROBOTS as they installed glass pieces and moved parts throughout the line. It truly is a precise dance that all of the workers and ROBOTS do t complete an entire trick. Then there are all the different colors and shades of colors for the body and the interiors. This truly is an amazing process and so glad we got to see it all happen! Please looke at the pics but more than that, please go if ya can! read more

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The first 2 parts of the 4 part tour are a movie and multimedia presentation, designed for school age kids, but they are brief, so even if you don't find them riveting, you'll be on to the good stuff shortly. Part 3 is an enclosed observation area on the roof, where you can see a metal fabrication plant in the distance, then a stamping and cutting plant, followed by a paint facility, and finally the assembly plant. The highlight is part 4 - a catwalk that extends around the perimeter of the actual plant, letting you watch fully customized builds take place as pickup truck cabs, doors, and beds all make their way through the process. The best part, in my opinion, was having friendly, knowledgeable Ford employees stationed along the catwalk, able to both describe what was happening at individual stations, and answer questions. The amount of organization for having the right parts flagged for the specific vehicle appearing at a station is staggering. The combination of descriptions of what was happening and getting questions answered as we watched the work being done made for an absolutely compelling tour. read more

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Just a magnificent experience! It's incredible how well organized this tour is, everything from the check in experience, to the bus ride, to the greeting once you arrive, to the movies, and the factory floor itself. The vantage points within the factory tour are generous, and very interesting. It's really something to see the vehicle come together over the course of a walk. You even get to see some of the quality control stations, where some very advanced technology is being used to ensure the vehicles quality. The movies are also a lot of fun, one of them is a expose of the history of the factory, and the other displays the various new technologies being applied to the vehicle manufacturing process. The public spaces are also very accommodating for handicapped persons. The value is very high when you visit this factory, I highly recommend this to anybody who comes to Detroit, it should not be missed! read more

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The Ford Rogue Factory Tour is a great way to spend a portion of your day in the Detroit area. Knowing you're visiting a live factory where Ford cars are produced is exciting...especially being from out of town. Tickets are reasonable roughly $15 a person. Tours begin with a 15 minute bus ride from the Henry Ford Museum to the Ford Factory Visitor Center. From here, you watch a short film on the history of Ford. Then you're taken into a second theater which details the construction of the Ford F-150. This film has an IMAX experience to it with surround sounds. You feel like you're right on the factory floor helping construct the F-150! From here you are taken to the actual plant where you're allowed to see live and in process Ford cars being made! You walk around here to different sections of the factory behind a line, but still able to get up close images of the production process. There's also an observation deck providing an expanded view of just how big the entire Ford plant is. Finally, you're taken to a floor where they have old fashioned Ford cars on display. It's really interesting to see how far the transformation of cars have come from back when until now. There's a also a gift shop to buy any souvenirs or keepsakes. I spent roughly 3 hours which was enough time to see everything. The Ford Factory is really a unique way of experiencing what's known as the "motor city". It's part of the history and culture of Detroit. It's certainly a worthwhile visit. Along with the Motown Museum and attending a Tigers baseball game, my weekend getaway to Detroit was a successful one! read more

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It doesnt get more quintesentially Detroit than a tour of the Ford Rouge factory! And what a tour it is! You'll have to go to the Henry Ford first and take the bus in. The Ford Rouge Tour focuses on the F-150 and the Raptor are both built at this plant. There are four major parts to this tour. The first part is a movie of Ford's history and the life of Henry Ford. It's a great historical and balanced take on his life and early Ford. The second is a very exciting 3d movie about the building of the F-150. It isnt a a typical movie though it's a little different. The third part is a an observation deck to get a birds eye view of the plant. I found this to be pretty interesting, if you know what to look for there are a lot of cool things to see like the nearby blast furnaces,the testing tracks, the extra far away non-Ford cars Parking lot etc. Theres a lot of cool details to see. The final part of the tour is basically manufacturing porn . If you're a car/truck fan it's great too. But the manufacturing part is just fascinating to watch and see the various aspects of manufacturing and how Ford automates and optimizes the production line. read more

Ford Rouge Factory Tour - Museums Near Me - Dearborn, Michigan

We visited Greenfield village and I talked my 12 year old daughter and her cousin into the Rogue factory tour. To my surprise they enjoyed it as much as I did!! They enjoyed the brief movie and video presentations on the history of the Rogue and Henry Ford, and we all really enjoyed the tour of the assembly line and watching them put together the F-150 trucks built here. It was cool to actually see a real live automated assembly line in action. We were told it takes 6 hours from start to finish to build a truck, and the line completes one truck every 53 seconds! The good is the tour is self guided so you can make it as short or long as the attention span of a 12 year old will allow! For us we finished in about an hour and a half which was perfect, then back on the bus to Greenfield village. So will say while I have always been a Toyota truck owner, I would now seriously consider a Ford F-150 for my next truck! read more

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On Memorial Day my wife and I did the Ford Rouge factory tour. It was a non-production days so we couldn't see the lines actually moving. But it was still extremely interesting. They're going to double their money on us because we've decided we want to go back when the line is running. The whole presentation is top-notch. You start with the movie talking about the history of the Ford empire. It's a great way to get a background before you actually go in and see how things are run. When something is connected to The Henry Ford, you know it has to be good. read more

First, a confession: I skipped right through the hullabaloo (the multimedia, multisensory film thing, etc.) and went upstairs to the 'green roof' and then to the actual factory tour. I was exhausted from the amazing time I had at the Henry Ford Museum so I needed to get to the best, the quickest. The buses that take you back and forth are clean, efficient, well-timed, and easily found. This, I like. No running around in confusion. Clear and easy. There is an informative video that plays during the drive but like most tour videos, it became background noise for me. The clips I did catch were surprisingly interesting though! The green roof is hilarious - especially in the winter when it is more of a dead brown roof. The view is fascinating though - the contrast of how they're trying to push the fact that they're on the cutting edge of green technology while you look out onto miles of concrete, smelts, and factory production. Sufficiently infused with propaganda, time to hit the actual factory. The entrance is amazing - about four screens that all have the same creepy big brother man telling you what you can and cannot do. For a surreal sci-fi experience, walk slowly. *NO PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE FACTORY* You think you're going to sneak a shot? Good luck. Surveillance cameras, guards, and signs abound. Those guards may be friendly-go-lucky older men who will tell you everything you want to know about the production floor - but believe me, you do not want to let their inner discipliner loose by pulling out your cell phone (even if you're just texting). The factory itself is AMAZING, at least for someone who has never been in one but who grew up watching crayons produced on Sesame Street (or some other children's pbs show). Well, for the first 15 minutes. After that you start to realize the monotony, lack of lighting, and the oppressive smell of mechanics. Nice to visit, wouldn't live there. Interesting the part of the plant they choose to show - most of it is just simple assembly - a visor here, a mirror there - probably the cleanest and 'easiest' part of the plant. You also can't tell what is imported and what isn't. Very eeenteresting.... /strokes chin Highlights: - learning about the 'smart tools' that hold up the production line if they read that you have only screwed in, for example, 3 screws instead of 4. The production platform also raises and adjusts for the workers after the smart tool senses you're done with a section - the plaques along the walk about production output - I don't remember the exact numbers but something like in two hours they make enough cars to stretch bumper to bumper from Detroit to NYC? Whatever the numbers are, it's CRAZY. So much for being green! Am really pleased I went - but probably wouldn't go again - if a visiting friend were to come I'd probably send them off on their own while milling about the Henry Ford Museum some more. read more

Ford Rouge Factory Tour - Museums Near Me - Dearborn, Michigan

Tour was really good... First lady at the beginning of tour was amazing... Then I got to the end enclosed portion where they inspect the cars at the and... Phone was in my hand, hidden (As I have no pockets) and an old lady SHRIEKED at me and others... "I DONT CARE IF IT'S NOT ON! THEY CAN STILL SEE IT!!!!" Other woman "She screamed at me too..." I get it... No phones but we were not taking pictures... Was going to bring a group of students but not after being screamed at... Apparently, this is a pattern with this woman who works there as others complained she did it to them too.. Ruined our tour read more

I've been wanting to do this tour for a while, but due to time and weather constraints, I didn't get a chance up until this weekend. I'm so glad that I got the chance to come here and visit! I drove right to the Henry Ford Museum, bought my ticket, and hopped on the bus. The Factory is a hop skip and a jump away, and when we got to the plant, we were greeted by our tour guide in the lobby area. She gave us a brief summary of the rules, such as no cell phones, along with the different stations of things we would be seeing and doing on this tour. First stop was a history of Henry Ford. Being that Ford is such a staple in this town, it's nice to get a little bit more history then what I already knew. I had no clue he had failed several times before finally getting it right in about 1903. A few years later, he was able to move his car production from his garage to a plant. After that movie was done, we went and watched about production life and the F150, one of their best selling trucks of all time. Okay, THE best selling truck on the market for 30 some odd years! They had machines come up out of the floor, along with an F150 truck as well, alongside the movie. Finally, we got to the "big" part of the tour that I had been looking forward too the entire time. The plant! Holy goodness was it awesome! We got to see the workers building the trucks on the factory line, doing stuff like putting on doors, handles, and the machines putting in windshields and attaching the cab to the box of the truck. I don't even know how long I stood and watched each station, but it was really exciting to see! I was there for about 2 hours during the entire time. This tour was really amazing, and very well organized. Plenty of staff members throughout to answer any questions, station descriptions with signs so you knew what you were looking at, and much more. I really enjoyed myself and wish I had come sooner. They also have a series of cars that have been built at this plant throughout the years as well. Kind of cool to see how things have changed, and what happens behind the scenes. They also have a gift shop, but there really wasn't anything worth buying in there, so I passed. Was hoping to get something, but I didn't find what I wanted, so I passed. I did have to wait a while for the bus back to the museum, but I had a great time here, so I was a okay. If you're in town, this is a must see event, including the museum itself. I will be back in the future, so watch out Henry Ford, I will return! read more