Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Dearborn, Michigan · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Museum with a major rail exhibitOpen daily, 9:30 am to 5 pm

The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn holds one of the largest collections of its kind ever assembled, and its Railroads exhibit brings vintage trains and hands-on displays into a story of American ingenuity that also includes the Rosa Parks bus and the Wright brothers' plane.

  • Railroads exhibit with vintage trains
  • Open daily 9:30 am to 5 pm
  • Over nine acres of exhibits
  • 26 million artifacts in the archive
  • Next door to Greenfield Village

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation at a glance

Hours
Daily, 9:30 am to 5 pm
Admission
Single-venue and multi-venue tickets sold online, with prices that vary by date; members free
Train rides
No rides in the museum itself; steam train rides are next door in Greenfield Village
Seasonal events
Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village, Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village, Celebrate Indigenous History, Artemis Adventure with LEGO Bricks
Plan for
Half a day or more
Best for
Families and rail fans who want trains plus big-picture American history
Best ages
All ages
Parking
On site; free for members
Accessibility
The Henry Ford posts accessibility details on its website

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Dearborn.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A museum built to keep America's ingenuity in reach

The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is the indoor heart of The Henry Ford, a nonprofit cultural institution in the historic area of Dearborn, Michigan. Its stated purpose is to offer educational experiences built on authentic objects, stories and lives from America's traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation, and to inspire people to use those traditions to shape a better future.

Behind the galleries sits The Henry Ford Archive of American Innovation, which holds some 26 million artifacts, with more than 100,000 digitized for anyone to search online. The institution describes it as the greatest collection ever assembled documenting American innovation, and calls itself steward of one of the nation's largest museum collections.

Transportation is a big part of that story, and railroads have their own place in it. The museum's Railroads exhibit gathers vintage trains with exhibits and hands-on experiences meant for all ages, and rail historians note that The Henry Ford is home to a number of historic steam locomotives that played important roles in the development of American rail transportation.

The museum is one of four venues spread over 250 acres, alongside Greenfield Village, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour and the Giant Screen Experience. Its education work reaches well beyond Dearborn through inHub and Invention Convention Worldwide, a program that grew from The Henry Ford's 2018 acquisition of The STEMIE Coalition and now supports young inventors in communities across the country and abroad.

Vintage trains under the same roof as the Rosa Parks bus

The museum covers more than nine acres of exhibition space, so a train-loving family will want to head for the Railroads exhibit first and then branch out. There you will find vintage trains, interpretive exhibits and hands-on experiences pitched at visitors of every age. The rest of the floor holds some of the best known objects in American history, including the Rosa Parks bus and the Wright brothers' plane.

Changing exhibitions keep repeat visits fresh. From October 18, 2026 to January 3, 2027, Artemis Adventure with LEGO Bricks fills The Gallery by General Motors with large LEGO sculptures and interactive engineering stations about NASA's Artemis missions. The Giant Screen Experience next door shows films daily, with select showtimes in 3D.

Don’t miss

  1. The Railroads exhibitThe museum's train gallery, with vintage trains, exhibits and hands-on experiences for all ages.
  2. The historic steam locomotivesThe Henry Ford is home to a number of steam locomotives that mattered in the growth of American railroading; ask staff which are on the museum floor during your visit.
  3. The Rosa Parks busOne of the museum's most famous artifacts and a powerful stop on any visit.
  4. The Wright brothers' planeA landmark of flight that pairs nicely with the train exhibit for kids who love anything that moves.
  5. Artemis Adventure with LEGO BricksA hands-on space exhibition with big LEGO sculptures and engineering stations, open through January 3, 2027.

Plenty of room for young engineers

The Railroads exhibit is designed with hands-on experiences for all ages, and the museum floor is big enough to give kids room to move between trains, planes and cars. Through early January 2027 the Artemis Adventure with LEGO Bricks adds building and engineering stations that school-age kids will enjoy.

With more than nine acres of exhibits, plan breaks and pick a few favorites rather than trying to see everything. The Giant Screen Experience, with daily films, is a good way to rest small legs.

Plan your visit: tips for Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

  • Head to the Railroads exhibit first if trains are the main goal.
  • Combine the museum with Greenfield Village next door for a real steam train ride.
  • Members get free general admission, free parking and 10% off dining and retail.
  • Call the Contact Center at (313) 982-6001 with ticket questions.
  • Big company or club outing? Greenfield Village picnic packages cover groups of 150 to 5,000.

The Henry Ford's biggest seasonal events take place next door in Greenfield Village. Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village runs on select October evenings (in 2026, October 1 to 4, 8 to 11, 15 to 18 and 22 to 25, 6 pm to 9:30 pm), and Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village follows in the winter, with member presales and discounts. For more October ideas around the state, see our roundup of Halloween train rides in Michigan.

A nonprofit supported by members

The Henry Ford is a nonprofit, and memberships are a major way visitors support it. Annual memberships start at $75 and bring 12 months of free general admission to the museum and Greenfield Village, free parking and discounts, with optional ride passes for the village's steam locomotives, horse-drawn carriages and Model T's. The Henry Ford also welcomes donations, volunteers and corporate support.

Trains right next door and across Detroit

The Greenfield Village Railroad is on the same Dearborn campus, so you can go from the Railroads exhibit to a working steam train in one day. The Detroit Historical Museum's Glancy Trains are about 9 miles away, and the Michigan Transit Museum is about 27 miles north. For the whole state, see every train museum in Michigan.

Every train museum in Michigan

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Vintage trains look enormous up close, and that always makes me think of Rally. In our book his little corgi legs cannot manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. I can just see a small child at the Railroads exhibit here, head tipped all the way back, needing the same kind of lift to take it all in. My mom understood that feeling of being small next to something wonderful. You can read about her on our story page.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Henry Ford Museum railroad collection: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation?

The museum is at 20900 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, Michigan 48124, on the same campus as Greenfield Village, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour and the Giant Screen Experience. Together the four venues cover about 250 acres. Call (313) 982-6001 with questions about directions or which entrance to use.

What are the Henry Ford Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is open every day of the week from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Greenfield Village, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour and the Giant Screen Experience keep their own schedules, so check the hours page if you plan to visit more than one venue.

How much are Henry Ford Museum tickets?

The Henry Ford sells single-venue tickets and multi-venue packages online, with prices that vary by date. Members get unlimited free general admission. For current prices and the best combination for your family, check the admission page at thehenryford.org or call the Contact Center at (313) 982-6001.

Does the Henry Ford Museum have a train exhibit?

Yes. The museum's Railroads exhibit features vintage trains along with exhibits and hands-on experiences for all ages. The Henry Ford as a whole is home to a number of historic steam locomotives that played important roles in American rail history, and Greenfield Village next door runs an operating railroad and roundhouse.

Can you ride a train at the Henry Ford Museum?

Not inside the museum itself. Train rides are next door in Greenfield Village, which has an operating railroad and an operating roundhouse. Members can add a ride pass to their membership for the village's steam locomotives, horse-drawn carriages and Model T's. Check Greenfield Village's own season, since it is not open year-round.

Is the Henry Ford Museum good for kids who love trains?

Yes. The Railroads exhibit offers vintage trains and hands-on experiences for all ages, and the museum's huge floor also holds planes, buses and other big machines. Pair it with Greenfield Village next door, where an operating steam railroad lets kids see trains in action during the village season.

How long does it take to see the Henry Ford Museum?

Plan on at least half a day. The museum covers more than nine acres of exhibition space, so a family focused on trains might spend a couple of hours in the Railroads exhibit and a few favorite galleries, while history fans could easily fill a full day. Many visitors add a second venue.

How big is the Henry Ford Museum?

The museum itself has more than nine acres of exhibition space, and The Henry Ford's four venues together cover about 250 acres. Behind the scenes, The Henry Ford Archive of American Innovation holds about 26 million artifacts, with more than 100,000 digitized and searchable online.

What famous artifacts are at the Henry Ford Museum?

Along with the vintage trains in the Railroads exhibit, the museum is known for the Rosa Parks bus and the Wright brothers' plane. Its collection documents American innovation in transportation, technology, culture and civil rights, and temporary exhibitions in The Gallery by General Motors change through the year.

Is there a membership for the Henry Ford Museum?

Yes. As of October 2026, annual memberships start at $75 without rides, with levels from Student to Visionary. Members get 12 months of free general admission to the museum and Greenfield Village, free traditional films at the Giant Screen Experience, free parking, and 10% off dining and retail.

How much is a family membership at The Henry Ford?

As of October 2026, the Family level, covering two members plus children or grandchildren 18 and under, is $235 without rides or $335 with rides. Family Flex, which adds two guests per visit, is $325 or $425. The ride option covers village rides such as steam locomotives and Model T's.

Is parking free at the Henry Ford Museum?

Parking is on site, and free parking is one of the member benefits. Non-members should check the admission page for the current parking charge when buying tickets. If you plan more than a couple of visits in a year, a membership can pay for itself through parking and admission.

Can you host a party or group event at The Henry Ford?

Yes. The Henry Ford hosts private events, galas and holiday parties in the museum, and all-inclusive group picnics in Greenfield Village for 150 to 5,000 guests, with packages as of October 2026 from $45.50 per youth and $55.50 per adult, children 4 and under free. Contact the events team at (313) 982-6220 or sales@thehenryford.org.

Can schools take field trips to the Henry Ford Museum?

Yes. The Henry Ford runs field trip programs and classroom resources through inHub, its learning community for educators, which also offers professional development. Teachers can find planning information on inHub and contact the reservation center at (313) 982-6001 for booking.

What is happening at the Henry Ford Museum this fall?

As of October 2026, Artemis Adventure with LEGO Bricks runs October 18, 2026 to January 3, 2027 in The Gallery by General Motors, and Celebrate Indigenous History programs run October 9 to November 30. Author talks in the Anderson Theater are scheduled for early November.

Does The Henry Ford have Halloween or Christmas events?

Yes, in Greenfield Village next door. Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village ran on select October evenings in 2026 from 6 pm to 9:30 pm, and Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village is the winter event. Members get presale access and discount pricing on both.

Is the Henry Ford Museum accessible?

The Henry Ford publishes accessibility information for its venues on its website, including the museum. For specific needs such as wheelchairs, strollers or sensory accommodations, call the Contact Center at (313) 982-6001 before your visit so staff can help you plan.

How do I contact the Henry Ford Museum?

Call The Henry Ford Contact Center at (313) 982-6001 or email info@thehenryford.org. As of October 2026, phone hours are Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 3 pm and Sunday 9 am to 1 pm. Event and private rental questions go to sales@thehenryford.org or (313) 982-6220.

Can I search the Henry Ford collection online?

Yes. More than 100,000 of the roughly 26 million artifacts in The Henry Ford Archive of American Innovation are digitized and searchable online through the digital collections on thehenryford.org. Rail fans can use it to look up locomotives and railroad objects before a visit.

What other train museums are near the Henry Ford Museum?

Greenfield Village Railroad is on the same campus. The Detroit Historical Museum and its Glancy Trains are about 9 miles away, the Michigan Transit Museum in Mount Clemens is about 27 miles, and the Southern Michigan Railroad Society in Clinton is about 41 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil
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