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Ford Rouge Factory Tour

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Ford Rouge Factory Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Can I get a tour of the Ford Rouge Plant?

The Ford Rouge Factory in Dearborn, Michigan is the only Ford plant that provides an ongoing public tour.

At the Rouge Factory, walk through a real-life truck plant, view one of the world’s largest "living roofs," and see a gallery of iconic Ford vehicles produced at the Rouge. You can also enjoy two exciting theater experiences: a multisensory film about the making of the Ford F-150 truck, filled with jaw-dropping special effects, and a short documentary about the factory’s past, which features rare archival footage. For ticket information, please access the  Rouge Plant Tour website  or call 313-982-6001 .

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Ford Rouge Factory Tour

Experience the awe-inspiring scale of a real factory floor as you rev up your inner engineer. Get an inside look at the most iconic moments of American manufacturing history, and immerse yourself in automaking’s most progressive concepts.

Where Manufacturing Comes Alive

Go Behind the Scenes at One of the World’s Largest Automotive Complexes

Bring your class to the place where the sophisticated assembly of cars and trucks by robots and highly skilled tradespeople actually happens. Let them experience rare historic footage of Ford Motor Company and the Rouge Plant. Join them on a visit to the plant’s 10-acre living roof — a milestone in environmental design.

Request Your Reservation

Learn about our venues, check out on-site activities, get curriculum resources, outdoor living lab walking tour.

Open seasonally and weather permitting, this self-guided walking tour offers a chance to see sustainable design in action at the historic Ford Rouge Complex. Follow a wood-chipped path along stormwater treatment ponds, through a crabapple and hawthorn orchard and around to a viewing point that overlooks beehives and the rest of the Rouge Complex. Return alongside a solar array to the Visitor Center.

Before You Arrive

Make the Most of Your Visit

Field trips to Ford Rouge Factory Tour achieve high ratings and rave reviews from educators and students alike. To make your visit as smooth and enjoyable as possible, check out these handy tips, suggestions, and guidelines.

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Theater screenings, lunch areas, special expectations for students, expectations for chaperones, scholarships, timing your arrival.

For the best guest experience, we recommend taking your buses directly to the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. Please inquire about available timeslots upon booking. For groups that are unable to take their own transportation, Ford Rouge Factory Tour shuttle buses depart from Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation every 20 minutes. If your field trip group exceeds the capacity of one shuttle bus, some chaperones and their students will need to wait for the next shuttle. Please inquire about available timeslots upon booking.

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Ford Rouge Factory Tour

Saturday april 15th 2023.

You are invited to a guided five-part tour of this amazing historic and innovative complex. Located at the intersection of the Detroit and Rouge rivers, the Ford Rouge Complex was a mile-and-a-half wide and more than a mile long. The Rouge was comprised of 93 buildings and over 15 million square feet, making it the world’s largest industrial complex. In the 1930s, the Rouge housed over 100,000 employees of Ford Motor Company.

The Five Parts:

1. The Legacy Theater, where a short film about the history of the Rouge will be shown 2. The Manufacturing Innovation Theater, which provides a fascinating experience about the making of Ford’s F-150 truck 3. The Observation Deck Tour, where visitors will have a chance to see the world’s largest “living roof” 4. The Assembly Walking Plant Tour, for a guided tour along an elevated walkway and see the final assembly of the Ford F-150 5. The Legacy Gallery, which showcases some of the most famous cars manufactured at the Rouge

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 [email protected], highlights from the 2020 tour.

The tour group entrance to the Ford Rouge Factory.

The group gathers on the Observation Deck to see a view of the green roof, the solar panels, employee parking, and the rest of the Rouge.

A view of the Rouge and employee parking from the Observation Deck.

The plants found on the world’s third largest living roof at the Ford Rouge Factory.

The  Ford Rouge Factory Tour , sponsored by the University of Michigan Center for Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, was held for the first time on March 12, 2016. The bus left Ann Arbor at 9 a.m. and returned around 1 pm. On the way, COHSE’s own Dr. Stuart Batterman provided commentary about Detroit. Once at the Rouge Factory, two docents led the way. The free tour, which is normally self-guided, included a walk through a working truck plant, a view one of the world’s largest “living roofs,” a gallery of iconic Ford vehicles produced at the Rouge, and two theatre experiences – one had archival footage of the factory’s history and the other was a multi-sensory film experience about the production of the award-winning Ford F-150. University of Michigan students, faculty and other interested community members were welcome to attend.

The Ford Rouge Complex is located at the intersection of the Detroit and Rouge Rivers. In the 1930s, this factory employed over 100,000 workers. The Rouge was the world’s largest industrial complex, comprised of 93 buildings that cover over 15 million square feet. The complex was a mile and a half wide and over a mile long.

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Wednesday to sunday, 10 am – 4 pm.

Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (except by appointment for group tours) Closed January 1, Easter, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, December 24, 25, & 31

PUBLIC TOURS Optional guided tours are offered at 10 am, 12 pm and 2 pm Private and group tours are available  by reservation on any day of the week Call (313) 872-8759

Adults: $18 Seniors (65+): $15 Veterans: $15 Students (with ID): $10 Youth (5-17): $10 Children (4 & Under): Free Group Tours (15 minimum): $15 each

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The museum is located on the northwest corner of Piquette and Beaubien , three blocks east of Woodward Avenue; two blocks north of I-94 (exit 215c); two blocks south of West Grand Boulevard; and three blocks west of I-75 (exit 54).

The visitor entrance is located in the courtyard parking lot on the west side of the building. Take the stairs to the ticket office on the second floor. If you require the elevator, please call (313) 872-8759. The freight elevator opens into the tunnel next to the entrance.

Q-Line Coming via the Q-Line? No problem. Just get off at the Amsterdam station and walk two blocks down Piquette Avenue.

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Wednesday – Sunday Free parking is available in the paved  courtyard lot next to the building, and in the gravel lot directly across from the museum on Piquette Avenue.

Bus Parking Buses should stop in front of the museum on Piquette Avenue, at the entrance to the tunnel, to offload passengers. 

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The birthplace of the moving assembly line, the Ford Highland Park Plant opened its doors on January 1, 1910 on Woodward Avenue and Manchester Street, former site of the Highland Park Hotel and a racetrack. The factory was designed by  Albert Kahn , kickstarting a long relationship with  Henry Ford . The facility eventually included offices, factories, a power plant, and foundry and became a model after which many factories and production plants were built. The principle component of the plant was a four-story factory running 865 feet parallel to Woodward. Kahn used some of the elements incorporated in his 1903 Packard factory, such as widely spaced concrete columns, adding a glass roof and walls of windows that prompted the nickname the Crystal Palace. The extra light and ventilation provided a more pleasant work environment and allowed for more machines and workers in the space.

The Highland Park Plant was the second manufacturing facility for the  Model T, which began production in 1908 at the  Piquette Avenue Plant . Two significant historical events occurred in the Highland Park Plant: in 1913 Ford began using a moving assembly line to first assemble automobiles, and in 1914, Ford began paying a five dollar a day wage for an eight-hour work day.

In the 1920s, automobile production was moved to the new  River Rouge Plant , though the Model T was assembled in Highland Park until 1927, when the 15 millionth car rolled off the assembly line. After that, the Model A began production at the Rouge Plant, and the Highland Park Plant began to focus on automotive trim manufacturing, and truck and tractor production, building tanks and aircraft engine parts during World War II.

While tractor production continued over the next few decades, some buildings were leased out, others were demolished. In 1960 the power house, with its iconic smokestacks that at one time held letters spelling “Ford” between them, was torn down, along with the Crystal Palace. In 1974 all production at what remained of the facility ceased.

More recently,  Ford Motor Company  used some of the buildings for record storage until 2012. In 2013 the Woodward Avenue Action Association purchased two of the buildings with the goal of renovating them and creating an informational and historical Welcome Center by 2018. 

The Highland Park Ford Plant was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and named a National Historic Landmark in 1978. A plaque from the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites is located by the former Administration Building on Woodward.

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Henry Ford Factory Tour: Be the First to See New Ford F-150 Trucks Being Built on the Assembly Line

By Sherry Trautman

Rouge Ford Factory Tour | By Sherry Trautman | Traveling Michigan

Visit the Ford Rouge Factory Tour for an insider view on how America’s most iconic truck, the Ford F-150 is produced.

If you love factory tours, the Rouge Ford Factory Tour will amaze and delight you! 

Planning: I would plan at least three hours for this tour so be sure to eat beforehand and plan accordingly.  You will be riding a bus both ways (with wait times), watching a movie and touring the facility.

Snacks: There are vending machines in the Legacy Gallery for drinks and snacks.

Embark on a Fun Learning Discovery at the Ford Factory Tour

T he Ford Factory Tour is a self-guided (yey!! you can take your time!), five-part tour which includes:

The Legacy Theater- watch a short film about the history of the Rouge.

The Manufacturing Innovation Theater-  This is a multi-sensory film experience (vibrating seats, gusts of wind, 3D projection mapping, and winking robots) showing the making of the Ford F-150 truck.

The Observation Deck Tour-  (I love this!) Ride the elevator up to the glass Observation Deck to watch as Ford F-150's are assembled on the plant floor below. 

The Assembly Walking Plant Tour-  Stroll along an elevated walkway to see the final assembly of the Ford F-150

“Living Roof ” - an eco-industrial wonder and largest living roof in the world. 

During the  Ford Factory Tour y ou’ll also get a view the  “Living Roof, ” an eco-industrial wonder and largest living roof in the world. 

• What is it?   The living roof is made up of tens of thousands of tiny sedum plants, a perennial ground cover also known as stonecrop. The function of the tiny plants is to collect and filter rainfall as part of a natural storm water management system.
• How big is it?  It blankets the top of the final assembly building and spans 10.4 acres which is about the size of a nine-hole golf course!  
• Why have it?  The living roof is capable of cleaning up to four million gallons of water every year!! It also decreases the building’s energy consumption by seven percent and improves air quality by as much as 40 percent.

The Legacy Gallery-  which showcases some of the most famous cars manufactured at the Rouge, including the Model A and Ford Mustang.

Photography and video recording are strictly prohibited in both theaters and the Dearborn Truck Plant. However, you can take photos in the Legacy Gallery and Observation Deck.

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Also Visit: Be Wowed at the Henry Ford Museum!

Location: 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI 48124

Tip, Photos and Must-See's at the Henry Ford Museum .

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Consider package pricing if you are interested in visiting more than one location.  It's definitely a better value.

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For more information on visiting, the attractions and to purchase tickets on The Henry Ford website, click here:  Henry Ford Tickets

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OMG!  We had an  amazing day exploring a small slice of the city when we were there for the International Auto Show.

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Ford Rouge Factory Tour

Description

Venue Fee* $$

Max Capacity 140 plated; 300 strolling

* Prices vary based on guest count and additional details.

Distinctive Features: Indoor, Outdoor, Industrial, Historical

Few venues can inspire innovation like the reimagined Ford Rouge Factory Tour. With its sweeping transformation complete, this facility is a model of 21 st -century sustainable design that showcases how community, business and the environment can thrive together in a single environment. During your three-hour event, guests will get a look inside America’s most iconic truck, the Ford F-150, and become immersed in modern manufacturing’s most progressive concepts. They’ll also experience the awe-inspiring scale of a real factory floor, and get a bird’s eye glimpse of one of the world’s largest living roofs.

Customize your event so your guests can participate in experiences like:

• The Legacy Theater, a short film that recounts the fascinating history of the Rouge through rare, never-before-seen historic footage.
• The Manufacturing Innovation Theater, providing a multi-sensory exploration of making the Ford F-150 truck.
• The Legacy Gallery, the perfect spot to explore the stories and engineering behind some of Ford’s most iconic vehicles.
• The Observation Deck, highlighting the ground-breaking environmental innovations throughout the Rouge complex.
• The Assembly Walking Plant Tour along a 1/3-mile elevated walkway above the final assembly area for the Ford F-150.

Plan your team-building event to begin no earlier than 6pm; your rental fees include the space and a fully guided interactive tour. Allow your guests enough time to visit the Factory Store to complete the experience.

Ford Rouge Factory Tour - 20900 Oakwood, Dearborn, MI 48124

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Ford Media Center

Sophie Boudreau

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From potato chips to car parts, the Detroit area is responsible for some of the world’s most wonderful products. Few things are more fascinating than getting a behind-the-scenes look at how such products are created, and there are plenty of opportunities to do just that here in Motor City and its surrounding areas. Check out these eight awesome factory tours when you’re looking for a fun excursion.

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Did we leave any of your favorite Detroit-area factory tours off our list? We would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below. Happy exploring!

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Ford announces mass layoffs at flagship Rouge complex west of Detroit

Tim rivers 29 march 2024.

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Ford Motor Company officially announced Wednesday that 1,400 workers at its flagship Rouge manufacturing complex in Dearborn, Michigan, 40 miles west of Detroit, would be cut effective immediately. The press release stated that half of the workers would eventually be reassigned to the Michigan Avenue Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. Another 700 will be pushed into early retirement. There is speculation that those 700 employees will be on layoff for at least two months before starting in the Wayne plant.

A supporter of the Ford Rouge Rank-and-File Committee reported to the World Socialist Web Site that many workers at the MAP facility were complaining of short work weeks and even doubted the shop could absorb another 700 workers.

Both the company and the union have been talking about the coming layoffs since the bogus stand-up strike last fall. But until Wednesday, everyone’s job was supposed to have been secure. The 700 forced early retirements represents a sharp acceleration of job destruction at the company.

Those affected will receive a one-time payment of $50,000. After taxes and union dues are taken out, they will be left with only enough to support themselves for a matter of weeks while they search for another job.

This is the latest salvo in the onslaught of massive job cutting that is already underway as every auto manufacturer has been studying how to exploit electric vehicle technology that requires 40 percent fewer man-hours to produce.

The threat of layoffs at Ford Rouge have been in the air since the bogus “stand-up strike” organized by the UAW President Shawn Fain last fall. In response to the sudden shutdown of the Kentucky Truck plant in Louisville, as the UAW was preparing to wind up the strike, William Clay Ford Jr., the great-grandson of the company’s founder and the current executive chairman, convened an angry press conference to threaten the entire work force.

Such an intervention in the middle of a contract negotiation was unprecedented. The executive chairman was angry and let it be known. In his opinion, every worker at the company should consider himself lucky to have a job. After years and decades of givebacks and concessions that produced record profits for the stockholders, Ford was furious that workers had the temerity to shut down a profitable factory. Layoffs at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center began immediately after he spoke. Two-week furloughs affecting first the B Crew and then the C Crew began right away.

Many workers at the complex are angry and disgusted with the response of the United Auto Workers. A supporter of the Ford Rouge Rank-and-File Committee told the World Socialist Web Site, “[UAW President Shawn] Fain promised us job security. It was supposed to be the best contract ever. But we don’t know whether we are going to have a job, or not.”

He went on to describe the role of the Local 600 President and Shop Chairman Nick Kottalis, who came to the Rouge after entering a shop committee at the Wixom Plant before it was shut down and demolished. “Any time he gets asked a question, Nick says he doesn’t know,” the supporter said. “We don’t know if he’s withholding information, or what. Nobody trusts the union anymore.”

Another supporter of the committee added, “The union employs a lot of trickery. They work with the company. The plant manager came in the shop and said everybody will have a job. But I don’t believe that’s true. They were planning these layoffs well before the strike.”

Before Christmas, the company had threatened to lay off a shift from the Electric Vehicle building. But on January 18, Kottalis issued a memo to all REVC and DTP employees that doubled that number. He wrote, “Two shifts will be reduced (instead of just 1) in the REVC building.” In an attempt to tamp down opposition, he claimed, “According to my calculations no one will be without a job.”

Four weeks later in mid-February, Ford Chief Executive Officer James Farley spoke at the Wolf Research Global Auto Conference in New York. “As the company looks at the transition from internal combustion to electric vehicles,” he said. “We have to think carefully about our manufacturing footprint.”

He then repeated the executive chairman’s threat to slash thousands of jobs. “Our reliance on the UAW turned out,” he said, “to be we were the first truck plant to be shut down.” In other words, everything was going fine as long as the workers were taking pay cuts and giving up vacation time and medical leave—the UAW had not struck the company since the 1970s.

The Rouge RFC member said, “The union is confusing people so that they are totally caught off guard. They thought they were all going to MAP after the layoff. Now they are saying they have to fill out a preference form for a job here at DTP. And they don’t know what’s going to happen. They are putting you through these changes deliberately to frustrate people and make you feel powerless.

“This is so totally contrary to what they said when we first started orientation, and they said how much they cared about the people. This is the Ford family. It is so totally different. These are mean people. I did not think it was going to be like that because I thought paying union dues meant they would help me.”

Constant threats, manipulation and lack of information have taken their toll on the workers at Rouge. Most, but not all, of that burden has been silent and unseen. In the last few weeks, three active workers have died.

A photo of one appeared in the union Facebook page with the caption: “In Loving Memory / Paul Andrew Rochon / December 1, 1966–March 9, 2024 / From your Dearborn Truck Family.”

Paul transferred to DTP from a plant in Virginia and worked on the line. At Rouge he fell in a pit in the chassis department and was seriously injured. When he returned to work after a long recovery, he was placed in the labor relations office. He could no longer work down on the plant floor. He was always very helpful, very friendly. On a freeway up north he lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree.

The RFC supporter commented, “It’s been a wild week and a half. Three co-workers passed away. Yesterday the cops were here at medical. It’s been a lot to swallow. We have ambulances every day. The other day we had three in one day. We never had that before.”

Rose Ford died in a head-on collision after work. A lady by the name of Lee Lee, who worked in the body shop, died of an asthma attack following a family reunion. She couldn’t breathe.

A worker who knew her commented, “The body shop is filthy. I don’t understand why they would have her in that spot knowing that she does have that condition. You have thousands of workers who are suffering from these conditions. They don’t want to spend money to clean up the plant.

“I get sick every other week in there. I actually throw up and vomit all over the place. It’s filthy. Absolutely! I told them there is something over here that is making me sick. I never throw up at home and feel like this. My heart starts to race and the next thing you know I have to throw up.”

• “Our rank-and-file committees need to spread to fight this”: Opposition grows to job cuts at Ford Rouge complex 22 January 2024
• Ford reports $10.4 billion in 2023 profits, outlines plan to cut jobs 7 February 2024
• UAW reaches deal with Ford, calls off bogus strike threat at Ford Kentucky Truck Plant 21 February 2024

Homeless man hit by vehicle on VanBorn Road, pronounced dead at hospital

A pr. 8—The Romulus Police Department received an emergency call at about 10 p.m. on April 4 after a pedestrian was struck by a car on VanBorn Road, just east of Cogswell near the south entrance to the Ford Michigan Assembly plant.

According to police, a 63-year-old man was located in the eastbound lanes suffering from critical injuries.

The man was transported by Wayne Fire Department of Corewell Hospital-Wayne, where he was pronounced dead.

Accident investigators responded to the location with other Romulus police units and conducted the investigation.

Police were able to interview several people, but could not find any actual witnesses to the accident.

Ford employees did report seeing the man standing in the roadway at about the time he was struck.

The investigation revealed that the man had been living in a homeless shelter in Detroit.

Police are continuing their investigation.

(c)2024 The News Herald, Southgate, Mich. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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