The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Reviews

Today we stopped at the Ford plant for a quick tour before heading downtown. We were in Detroit for the weekend and wanted to see where it all started for the Ford motor company

We ended up taking a tour which started off with a 15 minute video and then culminated with a 45 minute tour of the plant / factory. There were all kinds of different vehicles to see as well as a step-by-step process of how the cars were built

My kids favorite part of the plant was the experimental room, which was a historic representation of where Henry Ford thought up some of this groundbreaking ideas for the different model vehicles

I was very impressed to see that the plant is also used for parties. There was a wedding reception planned on the second story of the building which would’ve been really fun time to have a party surrounded by all those old cars

We will be back next year

I like history and I like cars, so I enjoyed this old plant tour. Detroit's history is Ford and Motown music. This plant is such a part of Detroit's history. There are a lot of old cars in here. It was very interesting. You can spend as little or as much time here as you want. The tour guides are very knowledgeable about the vehicles and are very pleasant

Just visited the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit. We were so lucky to have Docent Tom G as our tour guide. His fact based story telling and wit engaged the entire group throughout the tour. The facility has been and continues to be restored to period with fine examples of early Ford and competitor vehicles that shaped the early days of the Ford Motor Company.

My boyfriend insisted we go here, and I wasn't quite convinced... 3 and a half hours later, I was walking out with a giddy smily on my face. As the original factory that Ford built, there is SO much history in this building. They have ~70 cars in their collection - I think most are on extended loan to the museum and there's not a better place to show them!

Be prepared for the 2 hour tour to take you back 115+ years to the thoughts and practices of how the Ford company came to be. Each tour guide has the pieces they like the best, so no tour is the same. Our guide was an electrical engineer/technical writer for Ford for 30 years and when he talks, you can just see the pride he has in everything Ford.

I found a groupon for this - so that nice to save a few bucks.

The area is going through some sort of gentrification. It clearly has been dilapidated, but there are brand new homes a block away.

And they have fort-like parking in the middle of the compound.

This museum is truly a gem. It isn't your typical museum but if you use your imagination you can feel the history that oozes from the old building. There are several cars ranging from those that were made at this plant to others made in Highland Park.

This museum is run by volunteers and Tom was great. If your passion is a Model T this is a great place to see where it all began.

We had the best guide - spent 2 hours with us & was VERY knowledgeable. Worth the visit! It was a hot day, but being an early tour it wasn’t too bad !

Wow. We just had a tour conducted by Jerry. This was absolutely the best car museum tour I’ve ever been on. And I’ve been on hundreds! Such great examples of cars! And jerry was rich with stories and history. I loved it. I can’t wait to bring friends to this place. Plus there is a cute little cafe around the corner with carry out cocktails. What’s not to love? Well worth the time and pennies! Thank you!

We did the guided tour with Tom. He was extremely knowledgeable and shared a wealth of history on Ford and the overall automobile industry. They have the only “full” collection of all the automobiles made at the Piquette factory, before the assembly line production started at the next plant.
Great opportunity to see very limited numbers remaining of early automobiles. Worth your time to check it out! This building was saved from demolition and many sacrificed to get it to what it is today.

Husband had the day off of training so we decided to come and check this out.
The woman working at ticket counter, and also who is the cashier at gift shop was so nice.

Lots of old Car’s with lots of neat history.
Tom our guide told us a lot that we would have missed without the tour.

We easily spent two hours here.
They have bathrooms but we did not use.
Free parking.
Just make sure your not parked in the restricted area.
(They have a sign and orange cones).
They were setting up for a wedding party for this evening.
Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Lots of stairs but they do have a elevator for persons who need it.
Must see for Car Lovers.

If you're a car buff or history buff, this is the place for you. They offer a nice video on the Detroit auto industry of years gone by and the tour guide was very informative and entertaining. I plan on going back again real soon.

Where first 10,000 Model T’s manufactured. Lots of Model T’s in exhibit. Knowledgeable docents. Inexpensive gift shop. Great place to take visitors to Detroit area.

We have been wanting to visit the Ford Piquette plant since we moved to Michigan. We were finally able to and had an amazing time. Such a great piece of automotive history. The only downside is most of the factory is not air-conditioned and it was an extremely hot day.

We mainly went to see what it was like and also there is not a whole lot more to do in Detroit during the winter. We were pleasantly surprised at this museum. Our tour guide was great and could have spent hours talking about the cars in history. It was fun to see all the original cars and to hear about the old times and how they were produced. The tour starts with a couple of movies which we normally don't care for however these were very interesting. Even my wife – who is not a car person at all – really enjoyed this tour. I would highly recommend this for anyone traveling to Detroit.

Very interesting trip, very well kept building, informative & helpful staff. This museum is defo for the car or Ford enthusiast.

Enjoyed visiting this historic (first!) Ford plant as part of a stop off on our roadtrip down South. As we were pressed for time we enjoyed being able to take a self guided tour of the building- which afforded us plenty of time to see all of the cars in the hour available to us. You could easily spend longer- or enjoy one of the guided tours which I'm sure would add even more to the visit. Loved being able to step into one of the vehicles for a closer look.

This is a small museum that is made by the quality of the tour guide. The museum is the original manufacture site for the Model T Ford and contains about 100 old Fords and a few other models. Our guide took us through the history of the Model T and the development of the motor vehicle. neither of us are that interested in cars but the guide made it really accessible for people like us.

The collection of vehicles is very nice. But what made the place come alive was our excellent tour guide. With the interior of the building kept mostly original, it makes it easier to imagine what the factory looked like when the Model T was being produced.

I visited in early June and found the plant to be very interesting and informational. We took a tour of the plant. The guide did a great job explaining the cars while giving great information about the building. The tour made the building come to life. Children who are younger in age may not find this very exciting. I would suggest going here and taking in the rich history of the building.

We did not know there were so many models of the early autos. They have a car of each series and the tour was most informative.

I did a site visit at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant and found it to be interesting. The building has lots of antique cars of the Ford brand and other brands. You felt like you were going back in time.

The Piquette Avenue Plant was Ford Motor Company's second production plant. The company had began automobile production operations at a small, rented wagon manufacturing building on Mack Avenue in 1903 where it began making its first production model, the Model A. However, within eighteen months, it had outgrown the facility, and the company had this larger factory built to meet its needs. Models B, C, F, K, N, R, and S were built here - each somewhat different, with improvements over previous models and often targeting different markets. It was here that Ford and a small team of trusted employees, including his teenage son Edsel, worked in secret to build on what they had learned about this new technology to produce an economical and eminently practical vehicle, the Model T.

Production of the Model Tl started at this plant in 1908. Within days of its introduction, Ford had received 15,000 orders for the new model. By the time Model T production ended in 1927, over 16 million copies had rolled of the line. However, production at this plant only lasted until 1910 by which time 14,000 had been made. The plant subsequently was sold to Studebaker who modified it significantly to meet their needs. However, the core building remained intact and was eventually sold to the Model T Heritage Complex in 2000 who turned into this museum.

We visited the museum recently to see their collection of early Ford automobiles and learn about Ford's time at this fairly quaint Victorian factory. After paying the $12 (adult) admission fee, we joined a tour (led by a retired Ford engineer) that was just starting. For the next hour or so, we were walked through two floors of the old factory, from the restored office of the company's founder Henry Ford to the secret workshop where the Model T was born. In between, there is an extensive collection of early automobiles by Ford and even some of its competitors. Every letter model from A to T back to A (Ford did an alphabetical restart after the Model T because a competitor was releasing a model U at about the same time) is represented - some exceptionally rare. There are also permutations, like the various types of trucks (delivery trucks, dump trucks, etc.) built on Model T chassis and creative creations like the Model T farm track and even Model T snowmobile. There are also examples of period vehicles from competitors like Studebaker and Maxwell.

We also learned that the production line didn't come to Ford until after operations moved on from this plant, but the team approach used here, based on oral histories from people who worked here, is described. Also included are descriptions and demonstrations (with working original hardware) of some of the "new" technologies introduced in the early Ford models, such as the magneto which eliminated the need for a battery to keep their cars running like other manufacturers. Visitors also get to see a Model T without its metal skin - surprisingly it is constructed on a wood frame, basically just like a horse drawn carriage.

Once the tour ends, visitors are free to walk around on their own to study the exhibits and vehicles at their leisure. We probably spent an hour-and-a-half here, but could easily have stretched this to two hours or more had we had more time. It is definitely worth the visit.

We had a nice tour guide who shared details on many of the cars and the process of building cars. I didn't know the moving assembly line was started this long ago

We stopped here on a trip to Michigan and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our guide (along with everyone we met that works here) has a love for this place and the history. It isn’t just a collection of antique cars, but an interactive history on how cars began. The history and architecture of the building itself is worth the admission price. My only wish is that the tour was longer (it was almost an hour) haha! Our guide was a wealth of information and I could have spent hours listening to the stories! Don’t miss this museum! We brought our one year old and he enjoyed looking at the cars, but it was hard to keep him from touching them. We had to put him in his stroller for the tour. Great visit!

This place has an amazing collection of cars from the first quarter of the 1900’s. I am no car buff and yet even I was impressed. I sure wish they had more money to fix the place up but it really is cool even as is.

This museum is well worth the cost. Tour guide was informative, funny and kept our group entertained as he described the autos, the working environment, history of the building and insight into Henry Ford, tidbits of origins of our modern vocabulary, and much more.

Jerry was a friendly, engaging, and enthusiastic tour guide. His love of these cars and their history is quite evident. The tour maintained a comfortable and leisurely pace. The interior of the building, with it's fire doors, original narrow staircase, wood floors and beams, was just as interesting as the history. Seeing Henry Ford's office was a treat. There were interactive moments when we were able to rotate the Coil Tester and watch it spark along with how the petals worked in terms of stopping the car. I was flabbergasted at the amount of antique vehicles in one building. This is a tour that is not to be missed! All of the employees in the building are very friendly and engaging. They even throw wedding receptions here. Cool place!

First there is plenty of free parking on the West side of the building. Tours are $12.00 for adults less than 65 and $10 for senior citizens. The tour starts with a very interesting 17 minute movie of old Detroit and the Piquette plant you are visiting. Next your guide explains Ford history as you move about the plant and see tons of old cars fro the early 1900's. Don, our tour guide was excellent and sure knows his Ford history. I guess 43 years working for Ford helps more than a little. Very interesting, but remember it is approximately a two hour tour, standing all the time.The second floor gets warm and the third is even hotter. If you have trouble standing you should think about doing a self walking tour so you can stop and rest for a while. They have signs on each car giving you the history, but not with as much detail that your guide provides.

This is one of Ford's first assembly plants. All of Henry Ford's "Models A - T" are on display. Our guide was so informative. He is a retired Ford engineer and has a passion for the Model T Ford. He loved answering questions and explained the background of each model. There are a couple of modified Model T that were used on the farm as tractors and another modified into a snow sled. There are some stairs to climb but it is doable.
The building is not heated, so dress accordingly.
You can even get your picture taken in a Model T.
There is a small gift shop.

We loved our visit to The Piquette Plant. Our docent was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The Model T's and other cars of that era were a real joy. It was a walk through history in the original plant where Henry Ford and other auto geniuses worked.
The walking tour through the old renovated plant was an hour and a half long, although the walking portion was not extensive. It included a short film. Bring you camera if you like Model T's!.

Great tour, Interesting and informative. Tom, our tour guide, was fantastic. He is clearly very passionate about the museum and his enthusiasm is infectious. They were setting up for a wedding as we were finishing, What a great space for an event!

The site of the original Ford assembly plant. It stands as it did over 100 years ago in original building . Tour guide has amazing knowledge of the plant’s history. Many original models including working originals of mole A, B, T. The first modelB ever made is there. Since building is in original condition, there is no air conditioning. The design room for the model T is there too.

I'm not the car person, my husband is. That being said, this was still a really cool place. I'd highly recommend the tour. Tom and Jerry are enthusiastic and have more knowledge than is sharable in a couple hours.

Just off the beaten path, the Piquette plant is a hidden treasure! Occupying the second and third floor of the old Ford Piquette factory, this gem was saved from destruction and saved for history lovers and antique car fans by a private group of people who had the foresight to preserve it. Arriving in time for the afternoon public tour, we phoned the office to arrange for the elevator up to the second floor to accommodate those in our group with mobility issues. There was a lot of standing and walking for the two hours we spent on the tour, so wear comfortable shoes. (There is a wheel chair available, as well as a few folding chairs scattered in the rooms if needed.) The public tour is included with the admission and be sure to save the full two hours, as our very knowledgeable guide used every bit of it to explain not only the cars we were seeing, but also the history of early car industry. It was a very hot August day, and only about half of the rooms there air-conditioned, but all those on our tour seemed to tolerate it well because it was all so interesting. The tour included a brief video that spotlighted travel conditions and road conditions in the early auto days, just to set your mind in the time frame presented here. The collection of old autos were amazing and even if you are not a classic car buff, you will still find the Piquette museum interesting and fun. It is a great attraction for the Motor City! (Housed in the same building is Antique Touring, where you can take a 2-hour tour through Detroit and Belle Isle in a Model A car. A great way to top off your auto-fun day!

Located n middle of run down Detroit neighborhood is this unknown jewel of a car museum. Free parking

This fascinating old factory is where most of the Ford magic happened. From the Model A to the Model T (The Car That Put The World On Wheels) all of the greats were built or designed here. It's 3 stories and has lots of restored and unrestored old gems that are fascinating. There is a beautiful Model T fir family photos, you can see Henry Ford's design office and just learn a ton about the birth of the automobile industry. The tour can be a little long for those not as fascinated as I was by this walk though American Care history, but the guide was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable and I loved it.

Got there an hour before closing so was not able to get a tour guide, but it was very cool to see the early years of Ford’s motor company and the cars that they produced. The few museum employees that I asked random questions to about exhibits, etc. were friendly and knowledgeable about the plant & Ford history in general.

If you are at all interested in auto history, you owe yourself to the Piquette Plant. Take the tour! The docents are very knowledgable about Ford's factory, where the Model T made its first appearance. Models B through T were built here, and they have each of these models on display. Ford, C.H. Wills, and James Couzens all had offices within and the "secret room" where the Model T was planned is on the third floor. Other models built in the Milwaukee Junction area of Detroit are depicted, including a Hupmobile, EMF, and Studebaker.

This is an excellent museum to visit . Make sure you book a tour with a guide as you will learn so much about the history , small stories and details and this makes the visit very interactive . So glad to see this place saved and turned into such a new museum. A must see in Detroit.
This place is now a national historic landmark.

The video they play and see of the talking could be cut down here, its hard to say that as its clear the guides love their job and want to show you everything, however 90 minutes is a bit long, we had to leave before the end to get to another tour. Worth a visit though even if you can't stay for the whole thing!

I’m not someone that is thrilled at the site of any car, but it made me an enthusiastic about the ford model T! It had so much history to see & learn and even if not a car buff, this is a place one can enjoy so many different things! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and it was great to get an overview from him! Highly recommend it!

I got the name of this place from a waitress in Michigan while chatting. She said it is a must see if you like Model A and Model T cars. My traveling companion owned a Model A so we had to go. 3 hours tops to see it all, and it is worth every second. Admission is cheap $12 for adults and less for Sr's and kids. Small groups of 10 or less on each tour. This is the original place where it all happened. While the neighborhood is run down, there is no charge parking in an enclosed area within the compound, so you don't have to park on the street. You won't be there all day so it is shorter than the Henry Ford Museum. Just go there you will love it. Many old cars, our tour guide (Gary) was awesome. Just go there you will love it. Did I say you will love it, just go there. So worthwhile.

Who knew? This tour of the birthplace of the Model T answered so many questions I've had about the beginning of the Ford empire. The building and cars were most interesting, although the docent placed a bit too much emphasis on trivia. All and all a great tour and a great way to spend a couple of hours. Try mashing this up with a tour of Belle Isle from the Antique Touring Company, located on the first floor of the Piquette Avenue Plant toward the rear of the building (outside).

If you are a lover of history, cars or the D, come find out how the Ford Piquette Plant plays a role in all three.

This was a very interesting tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and knew many factoids about rise of the car industry in Detroit. The tours are at the top of the hour and we arrived at 10 after. Had to wait 50 minutes which was a bore. Note to self...plan appropriately. Well worth the trip.

We just did the Tour with TOM - Great Guide!
Infotainment at its best - Amazing Talk with lots of
Insides. Thank you!!!

Dankeschön aus Deutschland - super Tour!
Danke Tom!

This tour was a real hidden gem for me, to be brought back in time to the birth of Ford Motor Co., the very cradle of the automotive industry, and to view very rare early Ford Model Cars, what a treat !! This area of Detroit is as it was in 1904, but surrounding blocks are rough and would not travel there alone.

I had never been to the Ford Piquette Plant in all the years I lived in Detroit and all the
times I have returned for sporting events downtown. Love history and old cars, so this
seemed like a natural place to tour On this trip to Detroit. It was a great decision, as the
tour was both interesting and very informative. And the plant has many old Fords from
the very early days of Henry Ford’s car manufacturing. Our tour guide, Jack, was
extremely knowledgeable and made the tour enjoyable for everyone. Parking is free right in front of the plant. The tour lasts about 2 hrs. Highly recommend it.

Very good tour for those needing an intro to Ford, to early automotive history, to social change.Thanks to a collector, museum has several rare early alphabet cars on 5 year loan. Tour itself is extensive, but there's so MUCH history here that it's tough to focus on just one aspect. Cars, production aspect, building itself, impact on time they were built. Docents are knowledgeable and very eager to impart same, but must be generalists to keep the tour moving. (You are free to spend extra time wandering around however, and the guides who are 'free' will engage) Might be a good idea to offer specialized tours with a specific focus beyond general curiosity. That said, because of the generality this is kid friendly for older children (and non-car devotees) - so they are striking a balance.

This is not an assembly line facility but the very early factor to make early Fords by hand. The building is shared by a linen company, so access to the first floor is not allowed. The tour guides are great and there is a lot to learn. Parking is in a grass lot across the street.

I had a quite nice experience visiting the birthplace of the Ford T. The portfolio is fantastic with several beautifully restored cars! A must for car lovers. You won't find any machinery there, only a small tools room.

We learned several new things about Henry Ford, and the history of this plant. Many early Ford Motor owners allow the museum to display their cars.

This is a great little museum providing big history for detroit. This is hidden gem if automotive fan, but can cater to non-engineer types as well. The tour was was great and lasted about 2 hours total. If going in winter, dress warm as part of the building does not have heat. The cars are in great shape and informative displays and exhibits. A must do/see in detroit.

Visited the Piquette Ave plant with visiting family. What a great surprise. Never knew this place existed. See the building that many letter cars were made in. Walk on the wood floors that Henry walked on. Many examples to see of all cars that were built there including competitors cars of that era. Tour guide was a retired Ford Engineer. Fabulous knowledge of the cars and building. The general area as blighted but we never felt that we couldn’t walk around safely. The parking lot is in an enclosed courtyard. Do yourself a favor and take your family.

Amazing! If you are ready to loose yourself in time with this authentic building, then make plans now. My son is amazed with "old timey" cars, and there were PLENTY for him to look at and get a true feeling of what it was like to manufacture these cars beck in the day.

Great museum,beautiful cars. 2 hours to explore on your own, much longer on the guided tour. Need to keep fans on during summer months.

This surprising museum is located over a commercial laundry in an old building in a rundown section of Detroit. However, you emerge from the elevator and step back in time onto the wooden floors where cars were made by hand and the Model T originated. Run by a nonprofit consisting mainly of enthusiastic and knowledgeable retired automotive engineers who serve as guides, your small group moves through a collection of beautifully restored cars learning the history of the cars and the social and working conditions of the time. This is not a "prettified" museum but instead shows how it was in the days Henry Ford worked in his office in the back developing his secret plans for the Model T. Be warned that Detroit weather can be brutal so the museum is cold in the winter and hot in the summer; dress accordingly. Even people with very little interest in cars will find this to be a fascinating place to spend a couple of hours.

This was a fabulous tour and guide. However, our visit was compromised by DIY wedding being set up in the space. A loud wedding party, dominoes pizza lunch, and "rustic" decor almost ruined the experience for us. I would suggest calling first to ensure that no facility rentals are being set up during your visit. Not only does it make it hard to hear the guide but tables, photos, and equipment filled the space, making it hard to take photos. I was also very nervous about the beautiful historic vehicles that could have been damaged by all of the pipes and diy decor in place! Yikes!

First time visiting. Came for an art fair inside the museum. Amazing venue. Got to see the cars and local artists. Had THE BEST tour by Tom. A quick overview of the cars on the 2nd floor. Would definitely comeback for the full tour. More cars on the 3rd floor. Local piece of history.

Tour guide was very knowledgeable. Lots of history and some nicely restored cars in the museum. A must visit if in the area and a car person.

I visited the Ford Piquette Plant with my family. It is a fascinating place. It is Henry Ford’s pre-assembly-line plant for building the early Ford models of cars. The best-known Ford model built at the plant was the Model-T. The plant was also used by the Studebaker Automobile company after Ford sold the plant. The building sat and deteriorated for many years until it was turned into a museum. It is a great piece of Detroit history and automobile history. It is full of historic cars and artifacts.
The staff were very friendly and helpful. Our tour was terrific. It was just under two hours and our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable. If you like cars or you like history you will enjoy the Ford Piquette Plant. I highly recommend it.

Although we are not really car people, it was really fun to visit this museum! We even got to sit in one of the cars. I highly recommend spending some time checking out all of these cars because you get to see them up close

I wasn't sure I wanted to spend $12 to visit this museum, but am I ever glad I did. We arrived just as the 12:00 tour with Tom was starting, so we got to hear a wonderfully orated, two-hour tour of the early history of the Ford Motor Company and the Model T. Along the way, we learned about other early car models, about some of Ford's competitors, and about advances in automotive technology. And if that wasn't enough, we got to see the inside of this wonderful old factory. This was a highlight of my summer.

Fascinating to see a key location in Ford’s history and countless examples of the cars which are in amazing condition.

This was a great little museum !! Close to Motown museum too!! Great to do both on the same day. Really enjoyed it.

We only had an hour and decided to come here. Went on a personal tour, I think his name was Tom. He was a great guide, entertaining and knowledgable. Learned a lot about Henry Ford's history in the plant, as well as about the vehicles made there. Glad we decided to come.

Well worth the visit. I enjoyed this tour significantly more than the one at Motown. Avoid late Saturday tours if you have the choice as they apparently have events booked every Saturday and the set up interferes with the tour. Lots of cars and 5 star information. You'll spend more time than you think you will.

Ford wasn't in the Piquette Ave plant for all that long but it's still well worth a stop and a tour. Pro tip - don't go in the middle of the summer on a hot day - there's no AC.

This was one of the top museums I have ever visited, and especially if you like history/cars. And our kids loved it also. After a movie, a guided tour by experts, then the unique gift shop. They have an actual car for just about every model made between A and T. Besides their own cars, owners have given/loaned their cars. Museum is in actual building where the model T was designed (we were shown the secret room where the secrets were guarded). The museum is relatively new and is being continually updated with newly restored rooms. Bathrooms are fine. Free hot chocolate and tea (not well heated yet). Recommended for all ages and they accommodate physically challenged.

This was small but might museum. Easy to find, plenty of parking. Great history, no crowds. This should be on your list of places to see in Detroit!

I heard a lot of buzz about the Piquette Plant, and so I brought an older school group here, and was super happy with how engaged and interested the students were with the museum and tour guide. If you are a car person, or a Detroit person, or a history person, make this a priority.

It is so educational to tour this facility. It is so small compared to the sprawling complexes where cars are now manufactured, yet it was quite efficient in it's day. This tour is well worth the time and money. Very family friendly, a hidden gem in Detroit. Also very informative for anyone interested in the history of automobile manufacturing. You don't have to love cars to appreciate this facility, but it will give you an appreciation of the advances in manufacturing since it first opened.

Informative guide. One of the original Ford plants, a little bit about the history of the company and a ton of cool cars. Original model A's, T's and other versions from the early 1900's. It was a little chilly in the plant so be sure to wear a jacket in the winter. Also the tours are at 10, noon, and 2 so be sure to arrive at one of those times or you'll be walking around by yourself if you don't want to wait.

My negative comments at the end because there is too much good stuff to start off with small problems.

The entry fee is very reasonable, the gentlemen working the booth are very friendly and helpful. Be prepared, you are entering an original Ford factory, I think the outside of the building proclaims it is the first Ford Assembly plant. The floors are unfinished wood, in places it is uneven. I did not see that as a problem, it only contributed to the ambience but it can be a consideration for others.

The lineup of cars favors the Model T, in all of its configurations and there are many. One Tin Lizzy is not like another Tin Lizzy. There are Runabouts, Coupes, Touring Cars, Town Cars, racing cars and converted trucks among others. There are over a dozen other makes, mostly competitors of the Model T. I can remember Maxwells, Brush, Flanders, Cadillac among them. Overall, a great look at the first 20 years of American automobile production.

Entry to the museum is on the second floor. There is an elevator but it takes a little work to find it. There are auto displays on the second and third floor throughout the length of the factory. I left with my curiosity about early cars completely satiated.

The greatest thing about the museum is that the cars are not roped off, you can get right up on them for pictures (but do not touch!). You can walk around them, compare cars side by side... it is like Disney World for car nuts.

A wedding was scheduled for the afternoon and there were some decorations, etc in the middle of the passageway but that was no problem for me. A card invited anyone who wanted, to attend the wedding. It would have been nice to stay but I had a schedule.

The negative is parking. Online instructions suggest you park across the street next to the little brick church. I wasn't altogether happy with that, it didn't feel safe but I had no problem. The guys at the desk said that on the weekends parking on the factory grounds was possible but I didn't remember that from the website. That's the only negative.

Kids? Not so much. Wives? If they are patient. Guys? Yep. Even better if they like cars. My appreciation for the Model T grew enormously and it was a thrill to see these cars in the facility where the men and women of Ford actually make many of them.

Highly recommended for car nuts.

We toured this place July 24, 2025, we paid for the tour and it was very informative about the history and the building of Ford Motor Company. It was very interesting to see all the cars in the building, and how they were built in that building, It’s beautiful on the inside, well worth it to her if you’re into cars

Very easy to find just of Woodward ave. Plenty of parking just over the street which is a great place for a picture of the factory. The museum is split over the first and second floor. Some very rare cars on both floors. Friendly staff give you a tour of the factory answering any questions as you go, once the tour finishes there is NO throwing you out the door, your free to wander around and ask more questions. You could stay all day! If your a petrol head/gear head this is a must see bucket list place, there knowledge is impressive.

This Plant is the first significant factory of the Ford Motor Company and the birthplace of the legendary Model T.

Cars were hand assembled here until production moved to an assembly line. There is little left of that operation other than the building itself, but Henry Ford’s office and the Secret Engineering Room where the Model T were designed have been reconstructed. There are also dozens of antique Fords and a few other brands’ cars on display, most in excellent condition.

There is a lengthy (90-minute tour) by a docent who explains the history, the Plant and even how to drive the cars. Unlike many air and car museums, it doesn’t get too bogged down in the technical details, providing just enough information for visitors with general interest.

We needed to kill some time in Detroit until we could head to our boarding for the evening so after the Motown Museum we headed here. Parking is easy and admission was $12 each. While our tour guide was a little ADHD at first, he grew on us. It was clear he was very passionate about his work here at the factory being a docent. We learned how Ford revolutionize the automobile by taking it from a custom item to interchangeable parts aka affordable for the masses. He focused on high quantity low profit rather than the opposite. He also employed the Dodge brothers early on until they spun off their own company. He was an innovator but not a hands on guy. This plant is where the Model T was built and there are still screws imbedded into the wood flooring. There is no heat so if you go in winter, bundle up. One of the coolest parts was meeting a guy who owned 7 cars in the museum and he let our group sit in one of his to take pictures. Other than that there is one car they have set aside for photos. I love the passion of the people that came together to make this place a museum, and they are on their way to become a World Heritage site. They do make money by holding weddings here so our 2pm tour was rushed for a wedding at 4. Can’t really blame them though as they have to keep admission low and the lights on. Totally worth the price of a ticket. Enjoy the views out the windows too!

Really interesting place, especially when petrolhead or just interested of automotive history. Pretty authentic place and decorated nicely. It is not a big place, two floors only. Didn’t take the guided tour, though such is available. Easiest to reach by own car or using taxi.

Really enjoyed the tour of the Ford Piquette museum, this is the historical place where the Ford adventure started, and the museum is fully maintained by passionate people. You will learn a lot on cars and history even if you are an old time addict. The museum is huge, you can really spend 3 hours there. I will definitely come back when the whole museum is converted to show the production lines and also has a roof opening view! Thank you for such a great tour !

I truly loved going to this old Ford plant. It is on a back street and you either walk up a set of old stairs or take the freight elevator but the experience is certainly worth it. The museum contains all the original Ford automobiles in immaculate condition. I could have spent hours there

Visited the plant where you can see rare Model T's as well as their predecessors. The guide was very knowledgeable and was a lot of fun. Would recommend to anybody.

I surprised my husband with a visit to the Piquette Museum after he had taken me to see Michael Buble the night before. He loves cars and history and I had no doubt he would love the museum after reading the TripAdvisor reviews. We had time for one more adventure before leaving town and heading across state, and after checking it out online I knew this was the place to go. We only had about 6 minutes to make it before the first tour started and we still needed to check out of our room. Luckily we were close by and made it just a few minutes late. They had just started the introductory video... which is very interesting... and it was easy to join the group. From the moment we arrived, everyone was so welcoming and friendly. I believe that the docents are volunteer workers and you can tell how happy they are to have you come and visit the museum and how proud of it they are. My husband was so interested in all the cars and the history of Henry Ford and his factory... and I have to admit that I loved it too. There are so many antique cars here, mostly Ford Models starting with the Model A. This is truly a hidden gem, but I will spread the word. Military, ask for a Veteran's discount as it's not advertised.

What a wonderful museum and such an informative docent!
This museum is small. It has all the old Ford models. This visit was the best museum experience because the docent was very knowledgeable and very enthusiastic. He was a retired engineer who had worked at the Ford plant and knew all the history behind each car model on display.
A must visit when you are in Detroit!

Great place and building loved being inside makes you feel like you are back in the 1900's where they 1st built the car

My friend found this museum. I didn't know it existed. It was the main Ford plant before the went to the assembly line Ford is famous for. The building is beautiful and the cars in the collection are amazing. This is a must stop if you are in the area. The only negative was they were setting up for a wedding and made it hard to see all of the cars, but the building is so cool, I can understand it. It's another great source of revenue to keep this place funded.

This was a great spot to visit for car enthusiasts or people interested in history. Our guide (Tom) was very enthusiastic and informative but kept things moving so the tour seemed to go quickly. This was definitely worth a stop!

It was the worlds first Ford Model T factory. A very interesting and fun place to visit for auto buffs. Worth every penny and they have a great gift shop. We highly recommend.

This place exceeded my expectations. A wonderful display of cars; mostly Model T's. And very good historical displays. You could spend anywhere from 45 minutes to 2.5 hours, depending on your level of interest.

The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is very interesting. If you like old cars this is the place for you. A guide will walk around with the group and explain a little bit about the cars that you see. Many of the cars have interesting stories that go with them.

I have planned many, many, many wedding at the Piquette plant over the last several years. The staff is pleasant and flexible, the space is beautiful, and the history of the place can't be beat. If you are planning a private event here, keep in mind all that charm and SPACE means it can be kind of difficult for event staff to work in, so just be patient, and enjoy all this Detroit gem has to offer. It will be worth it.

This is a really lovely little museum. Set in the original Ford factory where the Model T was designed (but not built) it gives a real feel for early 20th century factory conditions and has dozens of lovingly restored antique cars (mainly Fords). The guide, Tom, was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the subject, and very effective at communicating this to the group. I think the best museum in Detroit area.

We visited today as a party of two on the one day we had in the city and are so glad we did. We are both car fanatics, visiting from the UK, so the combination of a museum for cars and also a museum covering such a crucial part of the history of the city was, for us, a no-brainer. That said, I wasn’t prepared for the quality of the experience we received. For just $15 each, we spent a very enjoyable two hours in the company of tour guide Tom who is not only a veritable encyclopaedia for all things Ford but also fantastically patient with the amount of interruptions with (mostly stupid) comments and questions being thrown around by other tourists. The array of cars on loan from private collections is breathtaking and the working 1920s car lift to move between floors, reconstructed room mock ups etc. all add to the effect and the feeling of going back in time. Similarly the way the vehicles are displayed to take you on that journey through time and the effort the team have gone to in order to ensure authenticity is also just phenomenal. To say the museum is not actually directly associated with Ford in any way and is run on an entirely charitable kind of basis is even more remarkable. Honestly, I can’t rate this place enough. An amazing afternoon. If you’re reading this, please make the trip and go visit.

What an incredible building! It's too bad there isn't more old tooling machinery in here however. But the building itself and it's mystique is unmistakeable. When I went, they were setting up for a wedding which must've been cool!. I love how they kept, and you have to actually open up yourself to transit from one section for another, the old sliding fire doors! Great selection of older Ford Model T's and other Ford cars. Small gift shop with some interesting things. Be aware that access to the museum is via stairs on the second level (If you call, they will send the elevator however). I would try to park inside the courtyard as the neighborhood is sketchy.

Who knew this place still existed? Thanks to a groupon, my wife and I thought we would check this place out. This well preserved small factory is where Henry Ford produced his first automobile. On two floors you can see early Ford models A-T. You can tour on your own or wait for the guided tours at 10-12-and 2. The guide was knowledgeable and fun.

This is a real jewel of an auto museum. My son and I have visited several auto museums over the last few years and this is one of the best. Not the biggest, but well done. It focuses on the development of various Fords from Models A - T that were manufactured in this plant. The video is professionally produced that does much to describe not only the development of the museum but how location played a role in the development of the auto industry here. The docents are knowledgeable and do a great job of explaining the impact of the auto on the area and nation. This is a well focused and run institution and well worth the visist.

If you love cars and history you need to see this place. This is the original Ford factory, not to be confused with the River Rouge Factory tour/Henry Ford museum. The River Rouge Factory Tour/Henry Ford Museum are also awesome. The tour guide was friendly and insightful.

Have to say the area around the Ford Piquette Ave. Plant has seen better days and feels a bit sketchy, but the Saturday we were there, there was plenty of safe parking across the street and I wasn't concerned getting into the museum. Just make sure your GPS is working! We tied in a visit to the plant with Eastern Market which is a 10 minute drive away; a nice combo.
The plant itself is very interesting, but made so much better with a guide. There is plenty of signage in front of each car, but the guided visit, included in the cost of your ticket ($12 regular/$10 seniors) really made the visit fun and informative. Our guide, Tom Genoa was excellent, full of corny jokes, interesting facts and overall provided a great insight to the car industry. The building is atmospheric made even better by a wedding set-up the day we visited, which was gorgeous....who knew you could be married there and enjoy cars at the same time? Tours are given a few times a day, would suggest you time your visit to coincide with there schedule, for a memorable visit.
They have a small gift shop, no food that I saw, clean bathrooms, but the plant might be difficult for the mobility challenged, as I didn't see an elevator from the ground floor to the entrance of the plant on the second floor, although there might be one. We used the massive car elevator during the tour to access the third floor, although you can also use steps.
Our guide emphasized that they attempt to add and change exhibits so there is something different to see each visit. We certainly enjoyed our visit and will be back next year.

About a 10 minute Uber ride from my hotel at the Detroit riverfront, this historic assembly plant where the Model T was developed and built was well worth the visit. I appreciated the free admission for military. Informative and interesting tour by the guide, an auto industry retiree. Beautifully-restored cars that would have been made there. The plant is surrounded by blight and many abandoned buildings. Don't miss this tour, but I'd suggest leaving before dark.

The history and the dedicated staff are astonishing. We enjoyed the guided tour by a former Ford Plant employee who was funny and extremely knowledgeable about the company and its rich history and contribution to the automotive industry evolution.

We actually liked this Ford Museum the best. We really got to see how Ford Autos Progressed over the eary years. Also lots of interesting information about how the first plant came about.

We loved every second of our tour. Didn’t know what we were getting into, but boy, Tom made it well worth it. We could’ve stayed hours longer listening to his knowledge and stories! Absolutely worth it. Request Tom for your guide. You won’t regret it. Will return to see there progress… its already come a long way!!!

I read about the Ford Piquette plant last year and thought it would be a place to visit someday. Had the chance to go yesterday and was well worth it. Cars changed our world and if you want to visit the location where it all started from, this is the place to be. Lots of car and people history, great tour guides. Just soaked up what it took to launch a car for the masses. Great attraction!

This is a magical wonderland of automotive history. I spent about 3 hours there yesterday. Highly recommend the guided tour. Jerry's tour was filled with rich history and stories, I asked plenty of questions and he had damn near every answer.

At one point I blurted out the title of this review, "more people need to know about this!!" He seemed to enjoy that.

This is the birthplace of American automotive ingenuity, and it DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.

If you want to see a great collection of antique Ford alphabet cars, this is the tour for you! Located in the building where Henry Ford built the famous Model T, it is an amazing experience. Our guide, Tom, is a retired Ford electrical engineer, and was friendly, full of knowledge, and funny. The recreation of Ford’s office from photos is phenomenal. The original freight elevator from 99 years ago is still in operation, so limited mobility isn’t a reason to avoid this museum. Great experience!

I went here for a wedding. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is the need for a better restroom and the major stair climbing needed!

So glad we made the effort to travel the extra distance today to squeeze in a tour!! It’s THE place where it all started & the building is brilliantly preserved as it should be. After seeing a Henry Ford documentary, it was great to see & hear some more of the details.

There are fans for cooling areas that aren’t air conditioned, which were appreciated!!

We also found Lizzie from the Cars movie franchise 😊

This is the first auto plant ford owned, and where he first built the model T and experimented with the moving assembly line. A historic group now owns it and has exhibits on the history. They have a number of historic cars on display. Fans of old autos will want to visit (check the hours) where it all started.

This is the place! We are glad it is still there and the tour is well worth the effort to get here. They have done all they can to keep it original and the cars in the building are each special in their own way. You can just visualize what went on 100+ years ago as you take the tour. Tour guides are great. If you get the chance do not pass it by.

So glad I went! The tour guide was very well versed on Ford family and company history, and chock full of amusing stories - I really enjoyed the guided tour and 15 min film.

Tom gave THE BEST tour of the plant. He was both extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. It looks like a small museum but gives the full history not just of the start of Ford but of the automotive industry in general. It also has every ford from the Model A to the Model T on display so you can really see and appreciate all the progress and history. The tour lasted two hours but we easily could have spent at least another hour with Tom (they do encourage you take some time to look around on your own afterwards too). This is a must do in Detroit.

Our Tour Guide - Was Amazing and Answered all of our Questions and Taught Us many New Facts and Information on Henry Ford and His Ideas
Which have Blessed America with His Affordable Cars Made for the Masses and Showing Henry in His Early Days, Make Sure You Watch the Movies in the Theatre - Before the Tour...

Amazing building, loads of Ford's first cars, great docent = very worthwhile stop in Detroit! We were not aware of this gem until we looked at TripAdvisor.

wonderful we had our Christmas party there from work. Very nice really enjoyed it. Just remember to order heat if you plan an event there when cold.

If you are a car person or just someone who loves history The Ford Piquette is a must visit. If for nothing else than to see the exquisite antique cars. The docents are very knowledgeable. Just a great place to visit. Look for Groupons that are usually available.

Easy to find. A great location if you have any interest in the start of the Ford Motor Co and the Model T. Movies are very good as is the tour guide. So glad we visited!

Anyone interested the the Early history of auto manufacturing and Ford Motor Company specifically should visit the Pique the Ave. Ford Plant. The building is nicely restored and maintained. Guides give some history and cut visitor visitor's loose to explore. Other guides are available to explain exhibits. Very friendly staff.

Outstanding museum...don't miss. All volunteer and has 60 Model T's on display. Building lovingly restored.

This building plays a special part in the history of our country. All the workers, volunteers, and tour guides were super friendly and very informative. Absolutely recommend stopping by if you are ever in the area!

Being surrounded of those great cars and being submerged in the real plant is unforgettable!
In addition, just after our tour, a wedding was going to be celebrated and we saw the bride and the decoration.
Our kids were delighted with the cars, the interesting facts, the wedding, etc.
Highly recommended!

Nice secure location. An automotive dream. Nice cars and stafff!
I will return in the near future. Good food and music.

When I booked this tour for our group I was not sure what to expect, but after our visit I was amazed. The experience starts with a 15 minute movie presentation which details the history of the building as well as the effort to save it from demolition.

The collection of vehicles is absolutely superb and the history behind the many early auto manufacturers is very interesting. Every member of our 34 person group found this to be a well worth while place to visit.

The saddest part of this attraction is that it is relatively unknown. I cannot say enough about the helpfullness of all the staff members and the quality of docents.

If you are visiting Detroit and want to learn some real automotive history do not miss this attraction!.

Wonderful and enthusiastic tour narrated by David yesterday at this historical facility, Our 2 hr visit included a walking tour of the 2nd (but larger) Ford auto manufacturing plant in Detroit including the story of the early Fords from A to T, full of entertaining and interesting facts about the implemented plans and inside stories. Also providing a museum of old classic pre 1920 Fords (this is where the first model T's were made), the visit included photo ops in an old 4 seater model T and a nice movie about the early Ford manufacturing plants and history. Well worth the price and definitely worth a visit when you're in Detroit! A must for car enthusiasts.

I never knew this place existed till I had to go there for work. They have tours which includes a 15 min video and about 70 Model T's in this original building where the first ones were built.

Wow! What a captivating 2.5 hours we spent at this museum. I believe every person who has the opportunity to be in Detroit should take the time to see the past come alive. I was transported back in time and felt I was living during the time The Model T's were made as well as learn about the many cars competing for dominance. What history. This is an experience that can't be duplicated.

Thank you Dick, Dave, and Anna for making us feel so welcome and providing a great tour.

Great preservation of a Ford Assembly factory. Self-guided or guided tours 10AM, 12PM and 2PM. Adult admission $12.00 discounts for seniors and students. We would return in years to come.....as they will continue to collect vehicles. Free parking across the street.

For NON-CAR ENTHUSIASTS, this is actually a must do WHEN you take the and listen to the tour guide. (think the times are 10am,12pm, and 2pm - but double check before going). There is so much discussion about how this plant literally changed the world including things you don't think of such as the American educational system.

For CAR ENTHUSIASTS, you will be in heaven even without the tour.

Our tour guide, Tom, was fantastic! He has a great passion for keeping the Henry Ford, Model T story alive and well. We learned so much and got to see some amazing collector cars!

We love history and being auto buffs as well thus was an awesome tour! Our tour guide was the best ever! So much info and passion in what he does was impressive! Ryan instilled the importance of what Ford and automotive industry did for this country and world! He drew you in and made you feel the history! If you are in the Detroit area , go to this museum!

Birthplace of the Model T with new exhibit of Henry Ford's "Secret Experimental Room". Several cars on display from the era. Tour guides discuss history of the auto industry and plant operations.

Interior has original paint and timber framing exposed for old-time atmosphere. Only limited areas are air conditioned.

To think it all started here for the Ford dynasty.
The outside of the building has been preserved beautifully, a credit to the people who look after it.
Inside there was a myriad of Model A's and T's cars and trucks in various states of condition, some beautifully restored and some still in a barn find condition.
There was some early inventions of Henry Ford which were interesting and the new addition upstairs when finished will be a great addition to an already amazing place to visit.

This should on everyone’s “must see.” This is where it really started for Henry Ford. And through a lot of money and hard work by an army of volunteers, the place was saved from the wrecking ball and preserved.

They have (many on loan) every alphabet model ever built there. Especially important is a Model B that is engine serial #1, body #1 and was owned by Henry Ford himself. There’s only a handful of other ones anywhere else in the world, and none as classic.

This place has no ropes, excellent tours by knowledge docents and is easily reached via the Q-Line Street Car (4 block walk on flat side walk from the Amsterdam station).

One gripe: some people the day I visited tried to see this place even cheaper than the $12/per person cost. For groupons, senior discounts, on and on. This place is a nonprofit. They need the money!!! It’s a donation. Don’t be cheap. Places way less interesting charge a lot more.

This is a really cool plant/museum to visit, but not when it's 90 degrees outside because it's even hotter inside. I recommend visiting in the fall.

this was a really great place to visit - Tom Genova was our guide and he was enchanting. The information and the extra he gave to his tour made our visit truly special. He gave us such a lot of history and we were really impressed with all the cars and the work that continues to be done to make it a really great place to visit.
there are two films and the exhibits are fantastic.
REally recommend going if you are in the area. A real good value tour at only $12.

This place makes the perfect quick trip to see the history behind Detroit’s auto industry without making the trek to the Henry Ford museum. I love taking out of town guests here and the guides are incredibly knowledgeable.

Car lover or not, you shouldn’t miss this one! This is the actual factory where the first Model T was built! Full of history and great cars! You can opt for a guided tour or just go around on your own. Nice gift shop too!

This museum had fantastic exhibits of many Ford models covering the entire alphabet from Model A to Model T. It also had other vehicles on display on the 3rd floor. We had never seen many of the vehicles on exhibit there. It also has a display showing Henry Ford's office. It was a great place to go after having toured the Henry Ford Museum. My husband particularly enjoyed a guided tour at this museum in which he learned a lot more about how Henry Ford actually got started. This museum doesn't seem to be nearly well known as the Henry Ford Museum but it deserves a lot more attention than it seems to get. The admission price was very low, too. There was an elevator available for those who would have difficulty going up 3 flights of stairs. It is an old fashioned freight elevator which they use to move vehicles down to take out for events. We were fortunate that we went on a very cool day because it is not air-conditioned and the 3rd floor would have been uncomfortably warm on a hot day. For anyone who loves vintage automobiles, this place is an absolute must.

Lots of model A-T's to see, a nice place for car lovers to visit. We spent about an hour and a half. A wedding was being set up for that evening, sounds like a cool place for that!

This was one of Ford’s early auto factories. It was built in 1904. You watch about a 30-minute movie and then a docent takes you through the “factory,” which is really a large warehouse with a number of Ford’s early cars. This was interesting and our docent, Don, knew his stuff. The guided tour was just a little too long for me. We were there nearly two hours. (Frankly, I think other people were getting a little antsy with the tour as well.) I didn’t need to know the intricacies of every vehicle and the design and assembly process. If you are a car buff, you’ll probably find it fascinating. The factory building itself is interesting to see, I just didn't need to see it for two hours. There are restrooms available and a small gift shop.

Thank you Trip Advsor! I'm so glad I came here BEFORE driving out to The Henry Ford Museum. Our tour guide was a wealth of knowledge and made the rest of my visits to other areas of the city easier to understand since I now knew the history & legacy of Mr. Ford.

Was not enthused about going to this plant but could not have been more impressed! A treasure that fortunately was saved. Is the very first Ford plant. The docent gave a wonderful tour of the plant and his enthusiasm for the industry and museum showed. Several in our party could not walk the stairs so they have an older freight type elevator to take you up or down stairs. Very much appreciated this courtesy. A true gem not to be missed while in Detroit.

Fantastic tour guide named Tom. Knows everything about the history of Fords. Happy to answer lots of questions. Amazing collection of Model T’s from beginning to end. Well worth your time and the price of admission. Plenty of free parking across the street. Enter from a side entrance.

The Piquette plant gives you an accurate feel of the really early days of the automobile. The wood floors and windows are unchanged from original where the assembly line began. Some classic cars on display. Cool little museum for car buffs.

So enjoyed the tour .. lots and lots of information and a true feeling of the “man” and who Henry Ford was all about. Thank you for having this part of history still available to everyone

We finally made it to the birthplace of the Model T, and it was spectacular. We didn’t know what to really expect but was thrilled with all the cars. The building itself is fascinating and can keep your attention all on its own. We had a retired Ford engineer as our tour guide who was just incredible, he really made the tour incredibly fun, educational and cohesive. I highly recommend attending here if you’re into history or cars.

The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant was high on my list of places to visit on my trip to Detroit. It exceeded my expectations. It’s not a large facility, but there is plenty of room to tell the story of the early days of the Ford Motor Company. And it is told beautifully, using bright, shiny cars. If you go, which I highly recommend, take the tour. You will learn interesting facts you may otherwise miss, such as why the steering wheel is on the left.

As the place where Henry Ford made his big start and fine tuned the production line this facility/ museum is most interesting. While there is an ongoing restoration project there are some rough edges, but you might expect that in a facility like this. Great interest for auto and architectural buffs. The beginning of industrialization and modernization is on display.

There really isnt anything I can add to all these wonderful reviews, Tom was our tour guide, he did a fantastic job spent 2 hours on the tour. We want to come back in the future and do another tour it was that good.

Seldom an attraction adds so much to my knowledge and love for this country - this attraction really educated and inspired me. The Ford Model T was a lot more than just "a car" - so much innovation! In addition, Ford paid the same wages and treated women equally - in the early 1900s! The plant has been restored by the loving work of volunteers, and you can see models A-Q too (ever wondered about those? how you got to "T"?).

What a wonderful gem. Thanks to all the volunteers who have donated countless hours into saving/restoring this historic place. If you like history and you like the specific history of the Auto Industry in Detroit starring Henry Ford and his vehicles. Make sure you take the one of the tours.

The tour takes about two hours and is led by two very knowledgeable volunteers. One had spent 40 years in the auto industry as an automotive engineer. The tour tells the story of Henry Ford's early trials of trying to get the Ford Motor Company off the ground and the most well known early automobile, the Model T. There some really great early automobiles on display. Be prepared to walk up and down some steep stairs. They do have a service elevator for the handicap. The museum is a "Blue Star" museum and is free to the active duty military.

Plenty of free parking, an enthusiastic tour guide, and riding on the elevator that delivered the first Ford Model Ts to the streets of Detroit are the plusses that make this historic museum a memorable place to visit.
Henry Ford's Piquette Avenue plant, a National Historic Landmark, is the oldest auto plant open to the public anywhere in the world. It's the first factory built by Ford, the location where the early models C, F, K, N, R, and S were designed and built, and it's the plant that produced the first 12,000 Model T's. The three-story plant was built in 1904, and it is one of the first industrial building designed with fire-safety features such as firewalls, temperature sensitive fire doors, fire escapes, and a fire sprinkler system supplied by a wooden water tank on the roof.
Ford's "secret room," where the Model T and other early models were developed is easily viewable. Henry Ford prohibited any photographs of the secret room, so it was recreated by using hand-drawn sketches from the first teams of engineers and the assistance of an architectural archaeologist. The tour guide explained, "The archeologist got down on his hands and knees and matched every hole in the floors and walls to where a nail should go."
The museum collection of early (and very valuable) Detroit-built automobiles and the signage and display provide the specs on the individual automobiles and a historical overview of early automotive history. One display features the names and locations of 2,500 different early US auto companies which, due mostly to the Great Depression, were eventually reduced to just 18 successful auto-makers.

I am interested in old cars so with this place, ho hum, a 5 star rating. Yet, I can't imagine anyone not being blown away by Piquette. The building is a monumental piece of American history, the birth of the Model T. But, a nonprofit group has managed to save this 100 year old building and take it the next level. Working with the alphabet, Henry Ford and team developed a number of cars before arriving at the Model T (then producing 15M of them). The museum has a benefactor that has loaned his set that includes all of these "alpha" models, some incredibly rare as well as many rare Model Ts, Model T variants, and other makes that all competed to replace the horse in those days. Tying this all together is a very knowledgeable tour guide (Tom) who provides the backstory on each car and how it fit into the history of those times. Just great!

We had the most incredible experience having our wedding reception at The Ford Piquette Plant. The entire event crew is top notch and the evening flowed seamlessly. Ginger is amazing and made the entire planning process and day-of event a stress-free experience. We worked off of their approved vendor list, but they were amenable to us using an outside vendor without issue. We received rave reviews from our guests about the unique venue and the cocktail hour tours of the museum. Would absolutely recommend having your next event at this historic venue!

It’s only $ 17 for the guided tour.
There is this one guy giving all the tours of today, but unfortunately I don’t remember his name (but it was something short eg Tom…):
But this guy is awesome! He literally knows ALL about the Ford history, legacy and the cars in this museum.
Some of these cars are very rare !

So don’t miss the guided tour!!!
You could book over the internet at least one day in advance…

We were visiting Detroit from the UK and so lucky to get the chance to visit the Piquette Plant. The displays are top notch and our guide (Greg, I think) was most knowledgeable about his subject matter and really made the tour such fun with his enthusiasm. Hats off to all the volunteers who make the visits/tours possible.

Went with a few friends to a tour. How amazing! The tour guide was so knowledgeable... And it was neat to see the history of Henry Ford. Can only recommend!

The best way to see the Piquette Avenue Plant is with a guided tour. You can tour the museum on your own but the docents are awesome and share SOOOO much information about Henry Ford, the Piquette Avenue Plant and the cars produced by the Ford Motor Company. There are quite a few cars at the museum and you can see how the cars improved over time. The tour also included information on how the Ford Motor Company/Henry Ford made an impact on society. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone

I came to the Ford Piquette Plant on a rainy Sunday in September and I was very impressed. There was lots of information about Henry Ford and the early part of the Ford Motor Company. We took the tour, which I would strongly recommend, and were very impressed with Tom (the tour guide) knowledge and delivery the of the tour which was entertaining and informative. Although the collection of cars does change we were impressed with the amount of different model Ts and early alphabet cars there as well as some competitor models. In total I’d although 2 or so hours for the tour and another half an hour to look ok around the exhibits yourself. Overall this is a fantastic museum that’s well worth visiting if you’re in Detroit.

As some other people said in their reviews, the rundown area does not reflect the impression that this place made on us.
Free tour if you like or wander around by yourself: the choice is yours.
The Ford history is told by the cars and the boards spread through the building. Great for who loves cars, (American ) history ot technics.

Visiting Detroit for a hockey game, had some down time during the day. Found this little gem sitting in a residential neighborhood. It was much better than expected. Easily affordable, our tour guide was a walking encyclopedia of Ford and antique cars in general. They have dozens of antique cars in all manners of restoration. There's one Model T in particular that visitors are permitted to climb all over and take photos. There is a model of Henry Ford's original office, early engines, wooden frames, any more displays than there is time. Even my doubting/disinterested 14 year old admitted it was a good way to spend part of the day.

Beautifully and impeccably restored factory building, very rare autos, great tour guides!! Fascinating slice of Detroit history that changed the world forever.

Got off the Q Line and walked about 5 min from Woodward avenue. Found the entrance with out any problems. Don was our tour guide,excellent job. Former Ford long time employee,really knew his facts.Great job.There is just a multitude of things to see here.Spent 3 hrs just taking in all the history. If you like American History you would like this Museum.
Detroit has received a lot of bad publicity over the years. The Downtown area has really comeback. Just a nice city to visit.Fly the W.

My husband & I had a wonderful time touring the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant. Our guide was amazingly knowledgeable & FUN! If you love cars & history, you won't be dissapointed.

To see is to understand. What was he thinking? Why did he take the chances and how did he succeed? What did it take to succeed in Ford's time? What were his steps? Worth every minute of my time.

The tour begins with a 15 minute documentary of the Ford Piquette Plant which sets the stage for the tour with a docent. We were fortunate to have Tom as our docent and he shared tons of trivia and information about the Fords and the activity of the plant in the early 1900's. Even if you're not a car enthusiast, you'll appreciate the historical and cultural events that are part of the whole story. The entire tour was a bit over an hour; well worth it and I highly recommend it! It was extremely cold the day we went and the factory is not very warm. This was the only downside.

Great history and wonderful tour guide!! Loved exploring on our own and the tour guide was very informative!!

Absolutely a must see place! The staff is super friendly,knowledgeable and have so much pride in Henry ford . Many retired men and women from ford and give their time to educate you about Henry ford and this magnificent place

Really enjoyed the museum and tour through the building that manufactured the Model T automobile. Go back in time and see how the development began and see wonderful historic automobiles while learning the history/development of a product that changed the world.

Fantastic tour guide, Tom, did a great job giving the tour. Extremely interesting museum. Highly recommend this for a visit.

We had a terrific docent and a small group. He was so knowledgeable that our tour ran over but the guys hung in there and a couple of us sat and waited comfortably. Parking was right across from the structure and it was good to see renovation happening in that building and the neighborhood. The cars are exceptional and it tells that epoch of our history very well. I wholeheartedly recommend this tour!

We had rehearsal dinner for daughter and future son-in--law at the Piquette. A unique collection of Ford autos, with every model from the Model A to the Model T, in the original 3 story building created by Henry Ford to assemble his inventory of vehicles. Great creaky wood and steel factory elevator takes you to the 3rd floor exhibit level. Big enough to lift the vehicle components and bring the assembled vehicles down to ground level.

We recently did a tour with Tom, and we could have stayed for HOURS. It was a great piece of history, and the team at the Ford Piquette Ave Plant really know their stuff!

Not only was the team welcoming and knowledgeable, they made the tour engaging and really took their time answering everyone's questions.

Even if you're not a car enthusiast, we would recommend going to visit this AWESOME museum.

This small museum offers a great glimpse of the early automotive industry in Detroit. This was the first plant built specifically for Henry Ford (he had used a rented space prior to this) and it's where he developed most of his earliest vehicles, including the famous Model T. Note that this is NOT where Ford first developed the assembly line - that was introduced at their next factory. The Model T's were still built one at a time here.

The museum includes a reconstruction of Henry Ford's office, the offices of several of his top engineers and executives, and an excellent display of early Ford automobiles as well as several of their competitors from that era. They are currently restoring the "secret room" where Henry Ford and a few of his most trusted colleagues first developed the Model T.

The museum offers a very informative guided tour at 10:00, 12:00, and 2:00, although you can visit at any time and just tour the building on your own. Our guide was a retired Ford engineer who knew a great deal about the history of the company and their products.

This was our introduction to Detroit and it gave us a good overview of the evolution of the automotive industry in the area. There are lots of models to look at, and even one car you can get inside to take photos. Lots of free parking nearby.

This is the original plant where the Model T Fords (as well as some other models) were built. The building is neat (although a bit chilly in winter). The admission is $12 which includes a 90+ minute tour. I was more interested in the history than in cars. Jerry-the-tour-guide knows EVERYTHING about both history and cars. I was kind of done with the car info after about an hour. There is plenty of parking in the courtyard and on the street.

Growing up in Detroit the auto industry is important to us. This tour was very interesting and informative. The guides were friendly knowledgeable and helpful. If you visit in very warm or cold weather dress appropriately as when we visited it was chilly and there was no heat.

Enjoyed visiting the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant. The tour guide was a retired Ford engineer who was very knowledgeable and entertaining. There are numerous cars and the guide tells the history behind them, including non-Fords. Excellent tour and I found it interesting to walk through this plant that had to have been so active and lively over 100 years ago. The staff was also very nice and helpful. Recommended visit.

I am not a car buff, but a tourist can't help but get excited by an enthusiastic tour guide like Tom. First, we saw two short movies and then Tom led us on an a hour and a half tour of this huge, restored Ford plant.
Lots of cars and Tom pointed out what was special about each one.
Henry Ford was not perfect. His car production techniques changed the world.

We stopped here last Saturday with the grandkids. What an awesome place to spend a few hours. Great restoration job going on with some vehicles on loan from collections all over the U.S. Our tour guide Tom was incredible. There was not a question he could not answer. Great place for a wonderful history lesson. They even have weddings on the top floor.

A hidden gem to visit and learn ! Not being a car enthusiast , I went on the tour for my husband and surprise, surprise, I was never bored the entire time ! Tour guide was very knowledgeable and the history of the Model T, Henry Ford and his workers was told in story book form which captured all the woman and children on the tour ! Admission cost was extremely reasonable and also there was a Groupon that I was able to use. I learned not only about the invention of the early cars, but also about the history of the building and the laborers who worked at the Piquette Avenue Plant. Can't wait to return !

This tour was extremely informative and fun at the same time. The tour leader Tom had the perfect blend of facts and legend. So incredibly informative and researched. Plus to throw yourself back to the turn of the century and see these cars in person was a treat. For a non car enthusiast I was completely smitten

We enjoyed a tour from a retired Ford engineer. We were pleasantly surprised at the amount of cars in the collection. It was very interesting learning about the history and seeing the variety of cars and having a tour of the factory

The intro video is very good. The tour guide - Tom - was awesome, he knew so much yet made it interesting. There is lots to see and learn about even if you're not 'car person'. I'm glad we called in advance and they told us to wear warm clothes because it's kind of cool inside on a winter day.

Walls need renovation, outside of the museum not very sale, some abandoned areas. Interior full of history, cara of all kinds, very beautiful. I recommed the visit!

This is the facility where Henry Ford's dreams turned into reality - where all the Ford cars from Model A to Model T were developed and produced, until Ford opened his Rouge River plant and began mass-producing the Model T. The museum offers an orientation video and excellent guided tour. Our tour docent could not contain his enthusiasm as he showed us car after car. If you like cars, or the history of the automobile. you definitely want to visit this museum!

Walk the floors that automotive pioneers walked.
This building is an amazing tribute to the automotive industry.
Even the structure is an engineering tribute of an earlier era.
Henry Ford would be proud to see the Piquette Plant today.
The collection of cars rotate, but each vehicle has a story of its own. Anyone interested in architecture, history or automobiles this is a must see.

The Ford Museum is famous, but it may not be familiar to Japanese people. It has great historical significance as the birthplace of the Model T. It costs $17 with a guide. The second floor shows the history from the Model A. The third floor also displays historical cars from other companies. The live, fast-paced English commentary is difficult for Japanese people, but it is very informative to hear historical anecdotes.

If you have any interest in cars, automotive heritage, or the history of the Motor City you should absolutely pay a visit here. We took the 2 hour guided tour, which I definitely recommend as a way of learning the background to the exhibits and building. After the tour we wandered for nearly another hour to take pictures.

Only part of the building is air-conditioned so if you go in summer expect it to be warm inside! Parking is free and in a courtyard area down the side of the building, (no need to park on the street.) There's not a lot nearby so figure on heading into downtown for something to eat.

Our tour guide, Tom, was a retired Ford worker. It was impressive to hear the passion he had for the company and this building!
Great that they haven't repainted and "modernized" the tour areas!

Even people who aren't car buffs will like the history, architecture and staff!

Having visited the Henry Ford site in Dearborn, we thought this was a logical next step and we were blown away! We took a tour round with a guide which starts with a really interesting video about the site and how it was restored followed by a walk round the different floors and cars.

It really is filled with little gems and as a complete set of the Ford "letter" cars, you really see how they evolved technically before arriving at the Model T. The guide was awesome and really knew his stuff- definitely a must see in Detroit!

Every part of this museum is amazing. From the history of the building, the incredible collection of 100+ year old cars and the informative exhibits.

They have guided tours but we just explored in our own and it worked out great!!

Truly enjoyable experience. We spent 2 hours here and loved every minute of it

I highly, highly recommend a visit here!!!

Ti understand that this is a museum was quite difficult, but after entering we saw wonderful things, the evolution of the machines, beautiful. tour a bit long but nice.

This rather unimposing building is the origin of the modern car industry. The tour provides a comprehensive overview of the beginning of Ford Motors. The tour highlights the evolution of the early models.
An eye opener is one of the earliest Model Ts - the old adage is not true
Great diner down the street

A great place to see beautifully restored antique cars and learn about how the auto industry started. Be sure to take the tour and not just see the cars. The docent was very knowledgeable and able to answer all the questions from the car enthusiasts. There even is one car that you can sit in and have your picture taken.

Kudos to the people whose hard work captured the history of this almost forgotten factory - the place where the Model T's assembly line changed America. Beautiful examples of early Fords on display, tours led by highly-informed guides. I'll go back.

Four docents from the Gilmore Car Museum visited the museum. The tour filled in some gaps in our knowledge of Ford and the Model T history.

All volunteer operation run very professionally. Our tour guide, Jerry, was knowledgeable and passionate about the plant. Was not a question from the group he could not answer. Was surprised at how many cars that were on display. Both the men and women in the group were so fascinated with the history of the plant and cars that our tour continued for two hours. We probably would have stayed longer, but they were closing. To get a full picture of Henry Ford's life at the time check with the staff for them to direct you to Henry and Claire Ford's house in the Boston-Edison neighbor located less than two miles away. Great way to while away and afternoon.

WOW! One of the hidden gems of the Auto World of Museums. Our tour guide, Tom was a font of knowledge and made the tour extremely enjoyable. The gift shop has items in it that are extremely reasonably priced. Nothing worse then wanting to get a souvenir and it's priced so high you don't buy. Get a group of friends together and have a great tour. There are stairs to climb I do no know if there is an elevator to take.

We visited after visiting the Ford factory, village, and museum and I think worked out better. Those venues did not provide a lot of information about the series of cars in the early years so helped to see his home and museum before going on this tour. Our guide (retired Ford engineer) was enthusiastic about the history and full of stories highlighting the success and failures of Henry Ford. This was the first factory where he designed and built it specifically for cars. And it was here that he first designed the Model T (after several other attempts). He was so successful the he had to build another factory down the road with the first automobile assembly line. Great guide, great cars. Not to be missed. Tours all day.

For those history buffs, this is an amazing plant to visit in the midst of historical Detroit. You will see some amazing historical automobiles that will blow your mind. The tours are very informative. Reasonably priced. Parking available.

Shout out to our tour guide Tom who took us around this very fun old factory. Lots of fun old Fords and other types of cars. You start off with a little video you don't have to take the tour but Tom was very knowledgeable and made it fun. They also have a cute little gift shop.

You love really old cars? This is the place for you. Model T's galore in this former manufacturing plant. The tour guide was informative of what had taken place in this old building. Its hot in there but they have fans going. You can get a picture sitting in an old Ford Model T. You can toot an old timey car horn. Cool place.

The tour of this building was great. It's staffed with volunteers actually in characters of people who worked at the plant. There are large areas that can be rented out for meetings, weddings etc. It was nice to see a Ford motor car building restored in Detroit - not just at the Henry Ford in Dearborn

This humble downtown factory has been faithfully maintained in its original condition so that it does not look 'restored' in any way. The incredible story of Henry Ford is told in several places in the area. Here it can bee SEEN...his office, design area and manufacturing space where the Model T's were produced. Nice collection of different models of the era.

This was a very interesting tour. It took 90 minutes. The cars are so cool and hearing the history was great. I’m so glad they saved this building! This is very close to the Motown museum, so do both.

Amazing journey to the past, I personally have an affinity for older structures that carry significant history. This was the site of the first Model T and there are many horseless carriages in this museum to get your fill, especially if you are a car enthusiasts...we did the guided tour which takes approximately 2 hours, but it's very insightful...enjoy!!

This was very interesting, first, the building. This is a very typical factory of it's time, brick outer shell and the floors (three) and support columns made of wood, no wonder Ford was concerned about fire. I have worked in such buildings before, not fun when somebody is sweeping the floor (above you). Not many people are aware of the several models Ford made before the Model T and during our visit, there was at least one example of each (built in this building) on display. Ford sold this building to Studebaker after he moved production to Highland Park and there is a Studebaker on display that was built in this building, impressive. The Model T was developed at this location and to see the corner where the 'secret project' was carried out is exciting for us car history buffs. Our guide, Tom, was very enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable, made for a great tour of the place.

A must for car lovers. The guide knew everything possible and loved what he did. I learned so much about the process.

I grew up in the Detroit area and graduated from Wayne State University. This location was the birthplace of the Model T and predates the development of the assembly line. When I was planning my trip to Detroit, this was on my list of places that I had to visit.
The tour began with a short film that explained about the development of the Milwaukee Junction area where many different car companies were located during the early part of the twentieth century. When Henry Ford opened this plant, access to trains was an essential part of delivering cars to other locations. Tom Genova was our tour guide, he is a retired Ford engineer and was extremely knowledgeable about the history of cars and the history of this plant. He shared information about a young Edsel Ford riding his bicycle through the factory when he visited the plant. One of the most interesting aspects of doing business at this time was that the employees did not trust paper money and many were paid in gold coins. There were two safes in the building, one was used for plans related to the cars and the other was for money to pay manufacturers and employees.
The Model T cars are displayed in chronological order from 1904. I saw bright red and hunter green Model T cars as well as black. There were many different options that were available on a Model T, headlights and a roof needed to be ordered at an additional cost. Tom shared information about the number of cars that were produced in each model year and how few are still “on this earth”. On the third floor, at the far end of the building was a secret Experimental Room where only his most trusted employees were able to work with Henry Ford on new developments in car design and manufacturing.
I have a new appreciation for the Model T. This tour in the actual Ford plant was interesting and provided a historical perspective about the people that created the automobile industry.

The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is a must visit if you are in Detroit. It is located about 3 miles from the Tigers Comerica Park. Plan to spend about 2-3 hours here. Tickets are $12 for an adult and there is a 30 minute movie and a guided tour available several times a day. Nearly all cars on display are fully operational. Most leak oil or fluid and can be seen with a pan underneath to collect the runoff.

Do not miss a tour of this amazing place! It is both a remarkable preservation story of an important building in American industrial history, and a fascinating story of how Ford’s early cars were invented and produced in this building, which would have been demolished if not for dedicated volunteers & Ford History Junkies & Collectors. The enthusiasm of our guide, retired Ford engineer Tom Genoa, is contagious. He is a living encyclopedia of Ford history and is a joy to learn from.

From the outside its a small, somewhat unassuming museum but the magic lies inside with the superb tour guides who bring the place to life with their impressive knowledge of the stories, vehicles and history of Henry Ford, the Ford motor company, the Piquette plant and the birth of the auto industry. By far our favourite and most memorable tourist attraction during our visit to Detroit. We left with a profound new respect for Henry Ford and all that he accomplished. Kudos to the hardworking and dedicated staff at this little gem.

The tour guide has a rich collection of trivia for various cars including how many still exist today and what the latest auction price was. He answered 100% of the guests questions. The film is 15 minutes followed by a 90 minute tour of two factory floors. Self guided tours are also an option. If you appreciate fascinating history, the evolution of auto innovation, and really cool cars, you'll enjoy this experience.

Fascinating experience...a must do if you're in the area.
This is the original Ford Plant where Henry Ford started his company. It is now a museum. There is an entrance fee. A tour is provided. There are three floors of automobiles and the history behind them. After the tour you are free to roam at your leisure. Photography is allowed. You will also see Henry Ford's office and and re-creation of a dealership office. You can even sit in one of the automobiles and take your picture. The tour guide will take pictures of you for free with your camera.

Henry Ford's first assembly plant. Huge. In mixed up and coming neighborhood. Take a tour, do not attempt to do this on your own.

This is an incredible piece of Detroit history, and a great tour. The Ford Model A-S collection is one of only two complete collections in the world. A couple of the cars are barn finds and the rest are beautifully restored. Our tour guide, Dan, was incredible informative and brought so much of the history alive. He was also VERY patient !

Great little miseum that was the first place Henry Ford first started building cars for himself. Great collection of Model A-T’s currently that supposedly changes regularly. Volunteer tour guide was very knowledgeable and told great stories of how Henry Ford started his business.

A really interesting piece of Detroit & Automotive history. Loved the plant itself, the collection of autos and the recreation of Henry Ford's office.

This museum is awesome. We unfortunately missed a special exhibit of The Abernathy Boys. The specific time of the screening should have been listed. That negative aside. Too much history here for a quick visit. Had no idea Henry Ford had several unsuccessful attempts to form car companies or that one of his designs was used to establish the Cadillac car company. He was also trying to develop a race car! There are many cars on display. At the time of our visit a wedding and reception was bring set up. Their elegant design set up combined with the vintage automobiles makes this a must check out venue for weddings and receptions. This unique space would be perfect for corporate functions as well.

My husband and I aren't auto fans but have visited our fair share of car museums (including Mercedes Benz in Stuttgart, BMW in Munich, and Ferrari in Modena). However, the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant has been our favourite so far.

We visited on the Memorial Day Saturday around 11am. Entrance fee was $12 (and half price on Groupon). Guided tours of the plant are at 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. We preferred to explore on our own. The carefully-curated exhibits and wonderfully-preserved Model T's (as well as some of the previous models) are arranged over the second and third floors of the building, which maintains the original wooden floors and brick walls. We enjoyed learning about Henry Ford, the Model T, and the Detroit automobile industry. This is the place where the assembly line was invented, and Ford went from producing 1000 Model T's a year to 20,000 annually. You can even sit in one of the Model T's for a photo op. What an incredible National Historic Landmark!

Incredible experience viewing a remarkable collection of beautifully restored old vehicles in a vintage factory by an absolutely expert tour guide. We arrived quite a bit after 10am but were still able to join the 10am tour by just missing the movie. The tour and staff a great job making it especially fun for my two kids, 7 and 8, who got to do some demonstrations and also did a fun scavenger hunt and some other interactive activities. My 82 yo father-in-law visiting from overseas was also very entertained and he wasn’t able to follow the tour guide for the most part due to a language barrier. Overall, highly recommend! What a unique experience for the whole family. And we didn’t arrive as car enthusiasts - the museum just really makes it all so exciting that you leave as one!

Was able to attend a special ghost tour.
Volunteers dressed and acted parts of important individuals who supported Henry Ford and his desires to create a car for the people that was affordable and modern as it could be for the time. We were spoken to in present tense by each individual who proudly told our group about the part they played in the building of the first Model T's. The Piquette Plant has/is lovingly restored and maintained by a cadre of individuals whose labor of love shows.
Henry Ford's genius along with the brilliance of his support posse shines here. This is such a humble place yet so cutting edge. So much of what is taken for granted when we drive cars today started in this building. Amazing.

We spent 1.5 hours following the tour and had an excellent experience. The tour was informative and entertaining with our amazon guide Tom. You can feel his passion and love for the history and the automobile culture and we definitely learned a lot. Compare to the more modern and big Henry Ford museum, I would say this one is more personal, and is also more of a vintage vibe if that’s what you seek for.

Visited with my wife and we were both very surprised, they have a lot of very rare vehicles and the tour was fantastic. Very interesting to see this unique piece of history.

We came here thinking we would be content spending one hour to see everything since we're not that big into cars and automobile history, but we ended up leaving after 2 hours wishing we had more time. We ended up taking the guided tour, which, while it's optional, I would suggest doing if you have the time since it gives you a more personal history than you would get from just reading the signs next to each car. Our tour guide was also extremely passionate about the cars and history, so you can't help but appreciate that. As for the building itself, there's definitely more than meets the eye, and just when you think you've seen every room there seems to be another equally large space with even more pristine restored vehicles. Between this plant and the larger Henry Ford Museum/Rouge Factory Tour, you'll definitely get a thorough sense of the impact Ford has had on Detroit.

The visit to the museum was an unexpected highlight of our trip. A Great and beautiful historic building. Every model built there represented on the floor.Tour guide Jerry shared a wealth of information and was very engaging/ entertaining to listen to. Learned about the important impact Ford had on Detroit history and the rest of the world as well. Would highly recommend for all ages.

You can still feel like you've discovered something when you pull up to the plant where Ford built the first Model T's. The docent was a retired Ford engineer and gave a very engaging tour of the plant, its history, and an impressive collection of classic cars. They have the first Model B ever built. Serial #1. This is a don't-miss tour.

This is a hidden gem of a museum and a must see for anyone who is interested in the early automotive history of Detroit. It was the original Ford Motor Company plant before Henry Ford moved to the famous Highland Park plant and assembly line process. It has one of, if not, THE finest collections of early Ford automobiles that predated the famous Model T.

Excellent hidden gem of a museum with friendly, knowledgeable staff. Lots of cars on display and some great artifacts.

This building is on the register of historical places. When the building was about to be torn down, a group of concerned citizens and former Ford engineers rallied to buy the very first Ford factory, home of the Model T. $1 million worth of renovations were completed by the work of dedicated volunteers.
For the next 4 years an entire collection of Model T’s will be on display here, on loan from the estate of a former Ford dealer and collector. There is one car available for touching and climbing into, all others are hands off. Some Studebakers, Cadillac’s and other Ford competitors are also on display. Ford’s office and the area where he came up with his secret innovations have also been recreated.

I wanted to visit this museum for my husband's sake as he's a really car guy. As a history buff and a woman who drives a car, hard not to be WOWED by this place. The volunteer who gave us a tour was funny and super knowledgable. Absolutely worth a solid 2 hours of fascinating history and super cool cars.

Amazing place with amazing people! Our tour guide Tom was fantastic. If you like cars and history, it is a must do. It gives an incredible insight into the beginnings of not only Ford Motor, but also the whole automotive industry. Great value and 2 hours very well spent.

It is such a stroke of luck that this building is still here to be experienced. The building has had just a little restoration and still is original enough to picture a car being built. The cars on display are interesting and shiny. Anyone who drives or rides in a car will appreciate how our modern way of life began. This is real history.

Our guide was Jerry - very knowledgeable, he gave us a wonderful tour.

We arrived early and we were welcomed by all staff and given complimentary tea and coffe.

Well done everyone.

I just loved it. The tour guide was terrific, and there a bunch of really interesting cars, both before the Model T, and after it also. If you are a car nut, and you go to the Henry Ford Museum, this is a terrific addition.

If you are interested in Henry Ford - this is a must. Tom, our guide, was most knowledgeable about the early history and the cars designed and built at this plant. The recent addition of the Porter collection of early Fords is terrific. Seeing all the car models built at this plant in one location is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. Be aware - if you go on a winters day, most of the tour is in the unheated plant and it can get chilly! The cars are displayed so that you can get right up to them, and look inside and all around. For those that love the details of the old cars - this is a must see.

Drove 100 miles to come on tour. It was closed to individuals! Only about half full. Nowhere was this advertised on their web site. Probably never go back

My two 11 year old boys and I had a really great explore about the plant! SO many cool old cars to see. They offered us a clipboard with a fun scavenger hunt when we paid our admission. If your kids don't care at all about cars, just know that's really all their is - but if you DO love them, it's paradise!

If you are interested in learning more of the history of the automobile in the Detroit area, Piquette is a must see. The tour guides are very knowledgeable in the automotive history of the area, take the time to follow them through the building. The best single thing you can take in to understand the history of the area during the early 1900's. Outstanding!

This plant was opened in 1904 and it is where the Model T was developed and built. The tour was great as it shows the history of Ford's early years and the building is filled with old cars. Not all are by Ford and our guide shared stories about most of them.
One interesting part of the tour was the area where they showed the different stages of construction. Since the assembly line hadn't been invented yet, each man has to move to the car to add his pieces. Pretty information.

This is just a basic building in Detroit.

IT is the original Ford Plant in the World. Not much exists of the original plant and you have to use your imagination some what.

There are a couple of mock up room of what use to be there but that is it. There is no old plant or machines that give u an insight.

There are however, plenty of old Ford models on display. We are talking nearly the whole alphabet of Fords. Eg B,C,D,R,S. Of course there is also a the Model T.

It is run by volunteers who do a great job. It will only take an hour or so, including the tour. But you have so time to kill have a look.

This Ford plant was constructed in 1904 and operated until 1910 building the Model T. Now a museum with an amazing collection of Model T's including an immaculate 1909 Touring model in the foyer (No. 220 built). Excellent guided tour with much interesting information about Henry Ford and the history of this plant.

This is the plant where the first Model T was designed and built. The tour was excellent. You can see Henry Ford's office. There are many Ford cars including the earliest complete Model T #220 and it is red.

It is truly amazing that this is the place where Ford and his engineers created the Model T. There is so much history packed into this unassuming place located on a side street in downtown Detroit. Surprising that it managed to escape being demolished as Detroit has gone through its ups and downs over the years. Jerry, the guide, had all kinds of fascinating information about the evolution of the early Ford vehicles as well as what life as like for the people/workers of the time. It really needs to be a World Heritage site given the world wide impact the automobile has had. I would love to visit it again a they continue their restoration.

we had a very enjoyable visit, way exceeded our expectations. definitely take the guided tour. Our guide Tom was terrific. So enthusiastic, loved telling the stories of the early cars. You learn how the early Models A-T evolved, what drove the changes, what the conditions were like, and how the early factory operated. Our tour was 1.5 hours but could have been longer, as we all were enjoying the stories, the history, and the facts. You could enjoy seeing the cars on your own, but the guides make it come to life.

I'm not a car buff, my husband is. So he LOVED the displayed vehicles and being able to get so close. (Don't tell but he even crawled underneath one or two!) Our tour guide, Tom, was very knowledgeable and combined history and anecdotes to make the tour interesting to all levels of car lovers. We arrived about 10 minutes late for the start of the tour, but joined in and didn't feel like we missed very much. There is one car that you can get in and have someone take your photo. Don't miss it! P.S. I used a Groupon to get a discount on admission.

The display of all the cars and the tour is very interesting. It gave us much more insight into the development of all cars and the automobile industry than you would have imagined.
Try to visit at a time slot when there is an actual tour is available. It is worth spending time to go on the guided tour.

We just went on a spur of the moment and were quite surprised. I’d recommend the guided tour because you’ll get so much more information. The collection of cars is impressive.

My mom recommended this plant tour to my husband and me, it did not disappoint. The best way is to sign up for a guided tour. Our tour guide, Tom, was excellent! Tom was enthusiastic, answered every question our group had, and gave very interesting facts. We learned so much, saw rare cars, and had a very enjoyable experience. Thank you Tom!

They start out your visit with some very interesting movies. The one about the Mercedes Benz woman driver was especially interesting. Our guide was great--he was very knowledgeable about the auto industry AND Henry Ford and his company. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Detroit and in learning more about the automotive industry.

Great collection of Model Ts and in the right setting. You can go on a self guided tour after the initial video. Tony was great at teeing everything up. Knew all about Ford having worked for them for 31 years, as well as 16 years at the museum. Really informative and a great place to visit.
Two quitelong and largely derelict blocks off the Amsterdam Street QLine stop. But they are making improvements to the area like the repurposed flats in the attached old building next door.

Don't miss booking a tour of this fascinating place. Our guide Don explained the history of the auto industry in over 2 1/2 hours, while showing a wide range of early Ford and other cars.

I own an Edge and wanted to drive her from NJ to the birthplace of Ford. Loved seeing this plant, loved the cars, loved the history. Detroit is an awesome city. Seriously, people along our vacation kept asking why we were going to Detroit, but it is awesome there. People are friendly, great places to eat (Greek town), and lots of history for car or music buffs. Definitely stay in the converted fire house! You will enjoy every minute of this city. USA is an awesome melting pot! Enjoy!

Visited on July 27, 2019. Was curious but not really expecting much. I was wowed!!! The Piquette plant was Henry Ford’s first production plant and is where the first Model As and Model Ts were made. The building has been authentically restored and there are at least 20 of the original Fords on display (most of which have also been lovingly and authentically restored). The place has a warm and welcoming feeling - some of that is because of the amazing history but most of that is because of the top-notch staff. Our tour guide was Tom. He described himself as a retired Ford engineer and seemed to love sharing all his historical and technical knowledge. He also has a wicked sense of humor!! Go. You will love it!

If one has a remotely affinity with cars love to speed or has ever dreamt of a specific model , then one has to definitely visit his museum as this is where it al began. Ford first factory will blow your mind as one gets to see real and authentic cars created by the early ford company back in 1907-1915. The collection is unique, invaluable the information as to how these early models came into fruition and how the entrepreneurship of Ford maintained a continuous output of models aiming for the model T is just beyond anybody’s imagination. Located una decadent part of today’s Detroit this should me a MUST visit in you to do list when in Detroit

Highly recommend taking the guided tour which commence about 4 times /day. Check the website for times. I arrived early for the midday tour and wandered around myself checking out the cars but the guide brings the plant to life - explaining the history not only go Ford but also the reacquisition and restoration of the factory to what you see today. The tour took at least 90 minutes and sadly, I had to leave before it was finished as I had a flight to catch. The guides know so much and are so passionate that I think the tour could take as long as people were interested and asking questions. Really appreciated the opportunity to be able to sit in a Model T :-)

You might not think that you're in the right place but go up to the 2nd floor. This is a great place to visit. Our guide was very informative & looked like he loves his job. The building was Henry Ford's first plant & filled with history. Very enjoyable.

We had never heard of this museum until we read about it in our hotel info book. With our young kids, we knew that we wouldn’t be able to stay for the guided tour. However, I would recommend watching the movie though—it’s not too long and extremely informative. The building itself is amazing. The collection of automobiles is impressive. We spent about an hour there and enjoyed it.

The tour with Jerry was so interesting and full of insights about the history and the technology used in the different Ford models.
Visiting the plant with the tour is definitely worth it!!
Would definitely recommend it!

A group of citizens and former Ford engineers rescued this incredible historic building in a sketchy neighbourhood. Now operated by a nonprofit society consisting of enthusiastic and knowledgeable retired automotive engineers who are also your guides. The first Ford factory producing early models A through S, and the birthplace of the model T. The period warehouse two floors now houses a complete & impressive collection of beautifully restored cars and you learn about the social and working history of the time. They have serial number #1 the first Model B ever built.

The movie was very informative, and our tour guide a delightful fountain of information and very engaging.
Enjoyed by everyone in our group, even the ladies and non- car enthusiasts. Nominal entry fee - the optional tour is highly recommended.

If you are contemplating skipping this museum in favour of the Henry Ford Museum Don't ! This museum does a much better job of Ford's early history, and has a more extensive collection of early cars.

Our Tour Guests had a great time here!
We were lucky enough to be guided by Jim and he was the one that made our visit, his knowledge and presentation are just terrific and he bought the place alive.
Thanks Jim, All of us at Fletch Tours are very thankful.

We chose to do a self guided tour, but still really enjoyed the museum. It's a pretty small museum but full of history and really cool cars. I would definitely recommend for anyone in the area looking to learn more about cars and Detroit.

We really enjoyed our time touring the Henry Ford museum. It was great to see the extensive history. However do not eat at the Michigan restaurant, the line was probably 20 people and we stood for 45 minutes, then another 15 waiting for the teenager to "warm up" the already cooked burgers, needless to say it was like leather when he was done with it. Cost was way overpriced but I expected that given the venue.

This unassuming building in Detroit was the birthplace of the Model T%, the world's best selling car until overtaken decades later by the VW Beetle.
There are fascinating tours, three a day on five days a week, where you can look at Henry Ford's early motor cars. Definitely worth a visit with adults charged $20.
One of my photos shows the Detroit Electric car - nothing new is there!

After visiting the magnificent Ford museum of American innovation the day before, we drove here on purpose next day to see where it all began in automotive industry.
I was greatly disappointed finding the space closed.
As I learnt there they're only open for few hours and only Thu-Sun, very strange.

Very interesting and historical tour, guided by Tom, a very knowlegeable guide with a good sense of humor, a friendly attitude, and who had only interesting things to say. Kudos! I loved the cars and the history behind them.

My first impression was oh no “What have we gotten ourselves into” as we drove thru the vacant run down industrial wasteland of Detroit’s past to our destination on Piquette Avenue. We arrived and proceeded to the upper floor where you enter into the past as the building has been renovated to match its original patena and keep as it was with the same paint on the walls that Henry Ford and his employees viewed. This factory was the birthplace of the model T and it has all models previous and post era and even some off Fords competition. Please do yourself a favour and take the guided tour as it is very informative and in my opinion one of the best tours I have ever taken, hats off to the staff for a professional history lesson that keep all of us engaged with amazing facts! My 10 year old daughter even said Dad that was fun as we left the parking lot! The Ford Picquette Plant was an amazing!

This is an impressive journey a hundred years back! Our guides, all Ford longtimers, were so passionate about the early years of Ford, you couldn’t escape. Fascinating stories about individual cars on display, Henry Ford and the birth of the Detroit auto industry.
Absolutely worth the trip!

This is a museum about the first makers of automobiles. They do 3 tours a day but you don’t have to do the tour but would highly recommend. Jack our tour guide was excellent and am not a mechanic and I learned things. This wasn’t an expensive museum but had the first cars there. The tour took a full 2 hours.

You have presenters bar none are very good at what they do. Many were retired Ford employees down through the years so are just great with little tidbits within the broader scope of the Piquette history. You may want to be able to make this a non hurried tour as there are so many aspects of the Model T ultimate creation in the very building in the undisturbed interior of the plant that Henry and his employees worked.

Traveling to Michigan from Florida to visit our children. Our kids took us to the piquette plant because my husband retired from ford and a few years ago helped to fix the roof. He never toured the building until now. He just had a stroke and the plant had a wheelchair for him to us which was a plus. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the plant, loved the cars that were there.

Such an fun visit with my young son. Incredibly knowledgeable and personable guide. Beautiful building and cars.

This place is a hidden gem in Detroit. It's a non assembly line model T factory that has been converted, partially, into a car museum. Rarely crowded, easy parking, and great guides really make this a must see for locals and tourists alike.

My son and I visited while in town for a weekend of Tigers - Indians baseball. This museum was a highlight of the weekend.

The presentation of the museum was first-rate, including the history of the building, Ford's "letter series" cars, and the history of the early 20th Century industry.

The actual automobile were the highlight. Many, many wonderful cars, each one more interesting than the last.

It was neat to be in THE place where the Model T first rolled off the assembly line. Beautiful cars! It was fun to sit in a real Model T too. The people were very helpful. It was worthwhile to take the guided tour (free with admission). I like hearing all the stories.

This museum was set up and guided by volunteers. It includes an introductory film and a guided tour through the development of a series of cars. Fascinating !

Lots of interesting info about the early days of the Ford Motor Co. and the car industry in general. My co-workers enjoyed hearing about the trivia I learned on the tour. It's easy to get to, just take the QLine and walk 2 blocks.

I didn’t have too much time, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see the birthplace of the automotive revolution. One hour was enough to see some beautiful historic cars, the room in which the famous T-model was created and even join an ongoing tour for a bit and pick up some interesting facts. If you’re really interested in historic cars and want to see everything in detail as well as the full tour, you should allow more time, maybe 2-3 hours. Very conveniently located right off I-94/I-75 and plenty of free parking.

This was an awesome tour. Our tour guide was Tom and he was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic during his presentation and tour of the plant. It was a wonderful experience and a must for any car buff or historian. We would totally recommend this while you are in Detroit. Than you Tom for making it so interesting. Well done!

Met some family members Michigan for a wedding and decided to go see the Motown museum. Unfortunately it was closed that day, so we randomly chose to tour the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant...very happy we did. A great history of the automobile industry, fun and interesting tour guide in a historic building. Very reasonably priced admission which goes to the building upkeep and exhibits. I'd recommend the tour highly if you have any interest in early automobiles or history of the industry. I had neither and still very much enjoyed the tour!

Was in town for the weekend for baseball game. Was looking for something to do during the day before game time. After visiting the DIA, took a quick Uber ride to this museum. I had wanted to visit the larger Ford museum in Dearborn but did not the time. The museum was pretty cool. They do offer tours, but I was on a tight time schedule, so just wondered around on my own. Note: There are 2 floors of the museum (3rd and 4th). On the 4th floor, they were preparing for a wedding reception event, where the layout looked pretty cool. They do have a vehicle where you can sit inside for a nice a photo opportunity.

Car club members, have you seen this wonderful museum! Car lovers and history buffs take notice. This tour is excellent. I highly recommend. Sixteen people on our 2 pm tour on a Wednesday. Tours are 10 am, noon, and 2 pm, Monday through Friday. There is a cost.

The guided-tour is a must. Our tour guide spoke too fast, repeated himself, and made a few dubious claims (e.g., "Ford's advances helped put a man on the moon"), but he also shared so much information about Henry Ford, advances in automotive technology and manufacturing, and how things were over 100 years ago. I realized that Ford also invented "design-to-manufacture" -- the engineering philosophy that thinks through the implications of design on manufacturing cost and time. Over the life of the Model T, the retail price dropped from $850 (1908) to $280 (1925), and Ford produced over 15M Model Ts.

This was a fantastic little gem. I'm surprised that the Ford family doesn't incorporate this within the Henry Ford Umbrella. We had a great tour from a former Ford employee who had a wealth of knowledge and stories to share. This is the only location with a version of all the cars Ford made up to and including the Model T.

This is a great museum! Kind of hidden away in my opinion but easy to get to one you search. We had a great tour guide and saw alot of old cars. They are committed to making this place better too. Only downside was it was quite cold on our tour! Worthwhile to see while visiting Detroit

We took the guided tour that took around 2 hours. The tour guide told us the history of Ford and the many vehicles on display. There are many automobiles on display over and above the the Fords such as Buicks and Cadillacs. I found the controversy of where the automobile’s steering would be located (left or right) fascinating. Be aware, there are rooms that have no air conditioning so it can get hot in the summer.

I was surprised to learn that the plant is really not heated in the winter. The website indicates "enjoy a warm cup of hot cocoa or tea as you visit our museum this winter!" What this really means is that you need to be prepared to be dressed in a coat, hat and gloves. We were not prepared for this.

If you do go, ensure you visit so you can enjoy the optional tours at 10AM, Noon or 2PM. The are free and the guides are passionate and full of information regarding the plant and the vehicles!

Fantastic. We did the henry ford museum and this is a great complement. Lots of history; great tour. This is the site were Ford designed and built the Ford T, among many others; arguably where the car for the masses was born. Would not be surprised if this becomes a national park site in the future. Even the young girls were fascinated.

Shady part of town but parking and easy to get to. The building is full of antique cars both ford and his competitors of the early 1900s
We started with the tour, the guide was super knowledgeable on the early ford Models and the building and of the life of Henry Ford. The kids were restless so we went around on our own. 2 floors of cars.
Great history lesson.

Although the area around this building is barren and questionable, the inside is difinately a sight you will not want to miss. The bottom floor has portions from the original Model T factory. There are at least 30 classic vehicles most of which are from private collectors. While we were here, they were setting up the seond floor for an upcoming wedding. It was absolutely beautiful!

Some colleagues and I had some time to kill before our flight after a business trip to Ann Arbor. The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant came up on TripAdvisor as a good option. We drove the half hour or so to the plant (we are from Miami and it was 21F) and rushed up to the door. When we got upstairs the door was closed and we knocked. We were greeted by Nancy who politely informed us the museum was closed, they have reduced hours during the winter. She then asked where we where from and upon learning we were only in town for a few more hours she very graciously offered to not only let us in, but give us a personal tour of the museum. The museum was amazing the cars beyond beautiful and the whole place a step back in time. It was made all the more impactful and educational by our amazing guide who exuded a profound excitement about the cars and the history. After the tour was completed I got Nancy's card, it turned out the Executive Director of the museum was our guide. With her excitement and dedication I can't for the life of me figure out why Ford isn't bankrolling this museum. If you are in Detroit and have even the slightest interest in cars and/or history I'd say this is a MUST.

We visited today and were lucky enough to have a tour guide Greg Dabkowski. Our tour was awesome! I feel I got the chance to really appreciate the history of the building and Ford Motor Company. If you go, try and get a tour guide, it is worth your time.

It's a great experience to be at this historic plant where the early Model Ts were build. And now it's a museum to enjoy pristeen cars from the early era.

This place is so cool and rich with history! If you love history or cars this is the place for you. To see the first Ford Plant and where the model T was born is pretty incredible. So many cars on site for you to see in pristine condition, there is even one you can sit in for pictures. Great way to spend some time downtown and take in the great history of Detroit. Free parking and reasonably priced tickets (got mine off Groupon). You can join a tour or go off on your own. Also a very cool and unique venue for a wedding, one was being set up while we were there.

We spent 3 hours touring and exploring this amazing gem. The docents are excellent; so knowledgeable about Ford history. The building alone is fascinating but then add in the cars and it’s unbelievable. Everyone should visit this historic site if you are coming to Detroit.

This is not only the starting place of the Ford automobile, but our guide gave us information on the entire auto industry that was started in Detroit. How all of the stars aligning to create the defining industry of Detroit. And - Why did the steering wheel get moved to the left hand side of the car.

Don't leave Detroit without going here.

A team event was organized to visit the Piquette plant from my office. I had some idea of what to expect but honestly, we were all blown away. The team consisted of all MI residents and most had never visited this place. This is truly a historical gem, the birthplace of the model T and so much more! You get to see so many models of antique cars, many that are only one of its kind in the country!! You get to see Henry Ford's secret office and so much more. OUr guide Tom Genova was just phenomenal! He is passionate, extremely knowledgeable and entertaining too. This is a must see place and I will definitely be taking my family and guests here from now on.

The main Henry Ford attraction in Detriot (The Henry Ford, see our sperate review) does not even acknowledge the existence of this important historical site, the factory where the newly formed Ford Motor Company churned out its first few thousand vehicles and where Henry Ford designed & built the very first Model Ts. You have to drive through a very depressed area of Detroit to get to the building in Piquette Ave, but you park your car OFF the street in the building's carpark so it is quite safe. Volunteers will give you a solid hour personal tour after an informative intoductory film explaining the history of the building. By the time you leave, you will be impressed by what an engineering & commercial struggle it was for Henry Ford to get things going.
Note summer hours are advertised as Wednesday to Sunday, but we went on Tuesday and it was open anyway. So call to see if you only have Mon & Tues.
For the sceptics questioning if they need to see this if they go to the Henry Ford Museum, what you get here but not there is a greater number & variety of the very early cars (no driveshaft, chain driven) both Ford & otherwise (Oldsmobile etc) plus an appreciation of the primitive but very competitive beginnings of the Detroit car industry, plus detailed look at important early components (Ford's first "kitchen sink" one cylinder experimental engine (reproduction) and the Model T engine block & transmission with cut-aways so you can understand a little of how it worked & how advanced it was for its time.
Bottom line: This is a must-see if you want to understand the complete history of Henry Ford, or you are a gear head!

We loved this part of our trip to Detroit. Our tour guide was great, he was very informative and personable. We learned a lot about the history and many fun facts! Our timing was great in that they just received some Model Ts on loan, they were restored to like new.

A new mueseum in a old building it gives a great insight in the early development of the automobile industry. Although the most interesting tour was a bit to long 2 -hrs. then I departed with a whole new insight on how the whole car business began.