Michigan Part 2: Detroit Museums - Motor City and Motown

As mentioned in my previous post, Detroit's nickname is "Motor City." It earned this epithet because of its historic role as the world's automotive capital. In 1903, Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan. Subsequently, General Motors and Chrysler opened headquarters in Detroit as well, and the city became synonymous with automobile manufacturing.

Ford Museum

Henry Ford Museum

Though the automotive industry is no longer Detroit-centric, you can still see a glimpse of what it was in its heyday at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.

As the name implies, the museum isn't just limited to automotive innovation, though you will see plenty of that.

Not only is the space itself beautiful, inside you will see the genius behind some of America's greatest innovations.

Eisenhower Car

One of my favorite exhibits in the museum featured 20th century presidential vehicles and their evolution. This Lincoln was first ridden in by President Truman in 1950.

It is referred to as the Eisenhower car however, because Dwight D Eisenhower later had the car fitted with a removable plexiglass top referred to as the "bubbletop." Thereafter, the car was renamed the Bubbletop.

Roosevelt Car

This 1939 Lincoln, called the Sunshine Special, was made for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Special features of the car included doors that made it easier for the president, who was paralyzed due to polio, to enter and exit. The car also had added security features to protect him, as World War II was underway and safety was of paramount concern, particularly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Kennedy Car

Of the cars on display, the Kennedy car, is probably the most famous.

The car, named after John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, followed in the tradition of other convertible, presidential vehicles, that allowed the president to be seen and interact with the public.

In November of 1963, tragedy struck however when President Kennedy was shot and killed while riding in this car through the streets of Dallas.

Reagan Car

After Kennedy's assassination, future presidential vehicles were made with armed, closed doors, closed roofs and bullet proof glass.

That said, some, like the Reagan car, were manufactured with a sunroof, that would accommodate two people standing upright, to continue the spirit of public interaction.

Volkswagon Transporter

Other vehicles displayed in the museum included icons such as the Volkswagon Transporter, which by 1956, was available in the United States with camping options designed by Westfalia.

Chevy Bel Air

Also very popular in 1956 was the Chevrolet Bel Air convertible. Though less than 3% of Chevrolet owners bought convertibles, the ragtops drove Americans from all over the country to the showrooms, making this car a symbol of the era and of sunny Southern California.

Ford GT Cutaway

There were also modern classics like the 2016 Ford GT, which brought elements of a bona fide race car to the common roadway.

Wright Flyer

The other mode of transportation featured prominently in the museum was airplanes, featuring the first aircraft, the 1903 Wright Flyer. The replica, shown above, was unveiled on December 17, 2003 to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the Wright brother's first flight in North Carolina.

That first flight lasted only 12 seconds and covered about 120 feet due to bad weather. On the fourth flight, the brothers traveled a total of 852 feet in close to a minute. I love stories like this and others that reiterate the importance of perseverance.

Ford 4-AT-B

Subsequent planes like the 1928 Ford 4-AT-B, built on the lessons and genius of the Wright brothers. The plane, pictured above, was flown by Admiral Byrd and was the first to fly over the South Pole.

Ford DC-3

Ford continued innovating and in 1939, built the DC-3. This plane was used by Eastern Airlines and North Central Airlines.

During its 36-year career, it flew a total of 12 million miles and logged 84,875 flying hours, which was a record for commercial aircrafts at that time.

Eames Lounge Chair

There were other innovations that I enjoyed seeing at the museum as well, like the renowned, Eames chair. I would love to one day have this luxurious, comfortable and modern lounge chair in my home. The deconstructed chair in the museum only convinced me further of its quality, because the superior, hand craftsmanship of the individual components was so obvious.

Motown Museum

Motown Museum

In addition to automobiles, Detroit is also known for music, thanks to the birth of the Motown sound in the city. Today you can visit the Motown Museum to learn all about its birth and evolution.

The company was founded by Barry Gordy Jr. and originally called Tamla Records. After the national release of "Money (That's What I Want)", the company's owner coined the word "Motown" to reflect and celebrate the Motor City in which the company was founded. Thereafter, the company was incorporated as the Motown Record Company.

The first group they signed was called the Matadors, who changed their name to the Miracles and were led by Smokey Robinson. Haven't heard of them? Well, I'm sure you have heard of the groups that followed, including: The Jackson Five, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross and The Supremes, to name a handful or so. For ten years, beginning in 1961, the Motown label had 110 Billboard Top Ten hits.

Motown is credited not only with transforming the music scene, but also with shaping culture in America in the midst of the civil rights movement. The way that the Motown sound blended gospel and secular music, snappy melodies and refined arrangements and added improvisational jazz elements to the mix, seemed to appeal to everyone. As such, it was instrumental (pun intended) in unifying a divided country then, and its message and legacy remain relevant and strong today.

Next, join me as I eat my way through Detroit, devouring classic Detroit staples, and delicious foods from more newly established restaurants.