Sunday 6th April 2008

We breakfasted in the hotel and left Findlay at around 9.30am. We stopped at the tourist centre when we entered Michigan and looked at the information about the state, then continued on our way to Detroit. We arrived at the Henry Ford museum at around midday.

It is another place where you could spend days looking around. Greenfield Village is still closed for the winter but the museum kept us busy until closing time. We looked at the various types of transport on display there - planes, cars, bicycles, trains .... , and various other exhibitions. Some of the presidential vehicles are there - The car Reagan was in when there was an attempt made on his life (which is the same vehicle that Gerald Ford was in when someone tried to assassinate him!), the car Kennedy was in when he was killed and other vehicles used by presidents.

There are some bicycles which include what we call Penny Farthings in England. It was mentioned that they were made in Britain but no mention of their name! I don't suppose US folk would understand why they are called that - These bicycles are the ones with a very big front wheel and a tiny back wheel. And in Old English currency, the farthing was a very tiny coin whereas the penny was a large coin.


Another part of the museum is dedicated to Liberty and Justice for all and includes information about Independence, Freedom and Union, Votes for Women and the Civil Rights Movement. The exhibits include the chair that Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot and the bus that Rosa Parks was riding in in 1955.




The part of the museum dedicated to America in the 20th Century includes the Dymaxion House We were given a guided tour of this circular house and shown just how forward thinking they were back in 1946. The house had a built in kitchen with a fridge built into the cupboard drawers , a freezer, dishwasher and laundry area and the bathroom was self cleaning.


After checking in to our hotel we went for dinner at a little Greek restaurant called 'Little Daddy's Parthenon'. It was a very pleasant meal with American sized portions of course!

We called Frank's aunt and uncle but had to leave a message on their answer phone as there was no-one home. We will try again in the morning and if they are still not home, then we will head back towards Purdue!