Ford Highland Park Plant
Ford Motor Company (historic), Highland Park, Michigan
Ford's Highland Park Plant, designed largely by Albert Kahn, opened in 1910 to build the Model T and is considered the birthplace of the moving assembly line, installed in late 1913. Ford announced its Five Dollar Day there in 1914. Final car assembly moved to the Rouge in 1927, and the plant later made Ford tractors until the 1970s.
- Company
- Ford Motor Company (historic)
- Status
- Closed
- Opened
- 1910
- Employees
- Not stated
- Industry
- Vehicles
- Revised
- November 12, 2026
What is made here
Built the Ford Model T from 1910, along with trucks and components, and later served as the main facility for Ford tractors (1947-1974).
Facts
| Moving assembly line | The first moving assembly line was installed in Factory H in late 1913, cutting assembly time for a complete car from 728 minutes to 93 minutes (federal: npgallery.nps.gov) |
|---|---|
| Output | By 1920 a Model T was produced every minute of the working day, and on October 31, 1925 output reached one car every ten seconds (federal: npgallery.nps.gov) |
| Five Dollar Day | Ford announced the Five Dollar Day at the plant on January 5, 1914 (state: miplace.org) |
| Architect | Largely designed by industrial architect Albert Kahn, with Ford engineer Edward Gray (state: miplace.org) |
| Later years | Final assembly moved to the River Rouge plant in 1927; Ford tractors and components were made at Highland Park into the 1970s (state: miplace.org) |
| Landmark status | Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978 (reference: en.wikipedia.org) |
Figures are as stated by the source named next to each one. Company figures are the company's own claims.
Can you visit?
Yes: Ford Rouge Factory Tour has hours, booking and age rules checked on the operator's site.
Sources
- NPS National Register nomination: Highland Park Plant, Ford Motor Company (federal, checked November 12, 2026)
- Michigan SHPO (MEDC): Highland Park Ford Plant (state, checked November 12, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Highland Park Ford Plant (reference, checked November 12, 2026)
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