Henry Ford Museum

The Henry Ford Museum is a National Historic Landmark and sits on 40 hectares of Detroit suburbia. It dominates the Dearborn area of the city, and the combined size of its indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces make it the largest museum in the United States.

The main hall alone covers a full five hectares. Here you'll find an incredible assortment of rare machines, artifacts and cars collected by Henry Ford himself since 1906, including a Ford Nucleon and an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

Head over to the enormous Automobile in American Life exhibit to learn about the impact that cars have had on US culture and society. The Heroes of the Sky area next door charts the history of aviation and features vintage aircraft and a replica Wright Flyer, while Made in America celebrates the country's best inventions and innovations.

American history is explored in depth via some iconic historical artifacts, including the limousine JFK was assassinated in and the chair Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot and killed. See one of Edgar Allen Poe's writing desks and wander through the Dymaxion house, inventor R. Buckminster Fuller's 1940s vision of the home of the future. Trace the path to freedom in the US at the With Liberty and Justice for All exhibit, where you'll learn about the US Civil War and the long struggle for civil rights.

There's plenty to explore outdoors too, in the museum's Greenfield Village. More than a hundred buildings, some dating back to the 1600s, are scattered across the village's 36.5 hectares. Highlights include the Wright brothers' bicycle shop and a replica of Thomas Edison's laboratory. Top off your visit with a ride in a Model T Ford or a steam train.

The Henry Ford Museum is located 22.5 kilometres west of Detroit city centre and is served by a SMART bus service. There's also a reasonably priced parking lot nearby. Greenfield Village is closed during winter, but the indoor exhibition halls are open seven days a week all year-round. Check the website for information about the programme of special events and visiting exhibits.