Ford Piquette Avenue Plant

The basics

One of the top draws for gearheads and history buffs in Detroit, the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant can be visited on your own or as part of a guided tour with a museum docent. Pair your visit to this landmark museum with a walking, cycling, and driving tour of the city’s downtown sights, including The Spirit of Detroit and Monument to Joe Louis (The Fist), Hart Plaza, and the Detroit Riverwalk. You can also admire the 1904 building as part of a Detroit architecture tour, or stop by before or after a local food tour.

Things to know before you go

• This unique factory museum is a great stop for kids and car enthusiasts of all ages.

• Purchase a ticket to visit at your own pace, or book an in-house tour led by museum docents.

• Photography is allowed inside, and visitors can sit in one of the antique cars for a photo op.

• There are restrooms and a gift shop at the museum, but no café.

• The building is accessible to wheelchairs (though the floors are uneven in some areas of the building). Wheelchairs are also available at no cost; it’s best to contact the museum in advance if you’ll need one.

How to get there

The museum is located on Piquette Avenue in downtown Detroit, easy to reach by car from any location in the city and highways I-94 (exit 215c) and I-75 (exit 54). There is free parking in the paved lot next to the museum and in the gravel lot directly across Piquette Avenue. Alternatively, take the QLine to Amsterdam station and walk two blocks down Piquette Avenue.

When to get there

The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and some holidays. Weekends are the busiest time to visit, so go on a weekday morning to enjoy the antique cars and other highlights without the crowds.

Highlights of the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant

At the historic factory, you can admire 65 rare antique automobiles, including the landmark Model T and other vintage models manufactured here. You can also see recreations of Henry Ford’s office, the Secret Experimental Room where the Model T was developed in 1908, and a period dealership office. Visitors can snap photos on board a Model T and toot its horn, plus kids are given a scavenger hunt kit to explore on their own. Guided tours also include an introductory video and Q&A time.