ON EXHIBIT

Wish You Were Here

Unpacking Ford Family Travel

Wish You Were Here

Unpacking Ford Family Travel

Located in the Visitor Center | Free Admission

Your invited to explore the journeys that shaped the Ford family’s worldview, values, and legacy.

Wish You Were Here: Unpacking Ford Family Travel is a Ford family travel exhibition that takes visitors through history, adventure, and innovation.

This immersive exhibition spans the years 1915 to 1936 and highlights trips taken by Eleanor and Edsel Ford and their children, from leisurely escapes to Hawai‘i to culturally rich expeditions across Europe.

Through rarely seen photographs, vintage postcards, travel documents, and engaging interactive displays, visitors will discover how the Fords’ experiences abroad influenced their design choices, philanthropic outlook, and sense of global responsibility. Highlights include a 1930s-inspired display evoking the Century of Progress exposition, recreated settings from Ford family adventures, and personal stories drawn from Ford House’s archives.

At the heart of this Ford family travel exhibition is the question: how did travel shape their legacy?

Entrance to the “Wish You Were Here! Unpacking Ford Family Travel” exhibit at Ford House, featuring a red wall with vintage photos of the Ford family, a gilded portrait, and text introducing the family’s historic travels between 1915 and 1934. A decorative banner reading “Wish You Were Here!” hangs above the exhibit entryway.
Step into the Ford family’s golden age of travel with Wish You Were Here!, an immersive exhibit exploring their journeys across America and beyond.

More than a look at luxury travel, Wish You Were Here reveals how travel shaped a family’s identity—and inspired their vision for home, art, and community. The exhibition is on view in the Gaukler Pointe Gallery through May 2027 and is free with general admission.

And don’t miss our permanent exhibition, The Ford Family Story, located on the first floor of the Visitor Center next to Gaukler Pointe Gallery.

The “Traveling to Hawai’i” section of the Ford family travel exhibit, decorated with bamboo textures, tropical visuals, and luggage props. The display includes vintage photographs, informational panels on surfing, leis, and Hawaiian fashion, with a surfboard and palm trees adding to the immersive island atmosphere.
Say aloha to 1916 as the Ford family explores Hawai’i — complete with trunks, surfboards, and sun-soaked stories.

Step inside a vibrant blend of Ford family destinations — from the 1934 World’s Fair to Hawai‘i in 1916 — where better cars made for safer journeys and unforgettable stories.

Wide view of the Wish You Were Here! exhibit showing the “Better Cars Better Drivers” panel in the center, flanked by a curved “1934” World’s Fair display on the left and a tropical-themed 1916 Hawai‘i section on the right. A red arrow-shaped banner with the exhibit title hangs above. Surfboards, luggage, palm trees, and vintage travel graphics create an immersive environment.
From scenic roads to sandy shores — the Ford family’s travels come to life in vibrant displays that celebrate innovation, safety, and the spirit of adventure.

This rendering highlights an early Ford road trip experience, showcasing one of the first major cross-country car journeys. Interactive and archival elements will bring this story to life-final design subject to change.

A transitional view from the 1915 road trip section to the Hawai’i display, with panels showing historic photographs, quotes from travelers, and a bold red sign labeled “Better Cars, Better Drivers” standing beneath the “Wish You Were Here!” banner.
From dirt roads to distant islands — this exhibit journeys from the early days of road travel to tropical escapes.

A stylized rendering of the Ford family’s 1916 trip to Hawaii, featuring tropical backdrops and travel-themed interactives. Exhibit layout and components may differ from what is shown.

Corner of the Hawai’i-themed section of the Ford family exhibit, featuring a sepia-toned photograph of a carriage on a Hawaiian road. Artificial palm trees and faux lava rocks enhance the tropical setting, along with a wooden surfboard adorned with colorful leis.
From vintage roads to volcanic rocks, this exhibit corner re-creates the lush Hawaiian landscape of a century ago.

A rendering of the 1934 Ford pavilion-inspired display, inviting visitors to explore the family’s connection to international expositions and innovation. Final exhibition elements may vary.

A 1934 World’s Fair-themed section of the Ford family travel exhibit, featuring a tall blue panel describing the Ford Motor Company’s participation in the Chicago fair. The background includes a curved art deco-style structure with colorful stripes and the word “FORD,” as well as projected photos of Edsel Ford and companions in the Netherlands.
Experience the excitement of the 1934 World’s Fair and the global reach of Ford Motor Company’s innovation and influence.

Guests engage with a 1934-themed immersive display inspired by the Century of Progress Exposition. Final exhibition design may vary.

A circular screen projects black-and-white footage of Edsel Ford and others exiting a car at the 1934 World’s Fair, surrounded by blue-tinted historic images of vintage automobiles and spectators. A small display stand with descriptive text sits in front of the screen.
Step into history with Edsel Ford at the 1934 World’s Fair — an immersive look at how travel shaped public image and innovation.

From unpaved roads to paradise palms — follow the Ford family’s extraordinary adventures as they journeyed across the country and into the tropics, exploring how travel shaped their lives and legacy.

The “Mixing Business and Pleasure” display in the Ford family travel exhibit, flanked by scenes from Germany and Hawai’i. The exhibit features a backdrop with a large vintage photo of European landscapes and a door suggesting immersive entry into a new scene. Panels explain the blending of professional and leisure travel.
Explore how the Ford family seamlessly mixed business with leisure — from European factories to tropical escapes.

Plot the path of a true American adventure — follow the Ford family’s 1915 cross-country road trip across hills, highways, and history, brought to life with original maps, photos, and headlines.

Exhibit section featuring a map of the United States with a red route line marking the 1915 trip path. The wall includes vintage newspaper clippings and a quote about removing car weight to climb steep hills, alongside photos of early automobiles and rough terrain.
See the route, read the headlines — retrace the Ford family's daring cross-country trek in their own words.

Discover how better cars made for better drivers — and unforgettable memories — as the Ford family explored the world by road, sea, and sky.

Wall exhibit at Ford House displaying the Ford family’s 1915 cross-country road trip, featuring vintage newspaper clippings, a large quote about climbing steep hills, a sepia-toned photo of a Model T, and a large map with a red travel route marked across the Midwest. Additional photos of early automobiles are pinned to the map.
Retrace the Ford family’s 1915 cross-country road trip — a rugged adventure that required hauling supplies uphill by hand and carving new paths across America.

In 1915, the Ford family set out on a bold cross-country journey by automobile. This display captures their route, challenges, and roadside memories — from hauling gear up steep hills to navigating a nation still unpaved.

Wall exhibit at Ford House displaying the Ford family’s 1915 cross-country road trip, featuring vintage newspaper clippings, a large quote about climbing steep hills, a sepia-toned photo of a Model T, and a large map with a red travel route marked across the Midwest. Additional photos of early automobiles are pinned to the map.
Retrace the Ford family’s 1915 cross-country road trip — a rugged adventure that required hauling supplies uphill by hand and carving new paths across America.

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Ford House and The Continental will remain closed on Friday, July 17

out of an abundance of caution due to air quality from Canadian wildfires currently affecting Southeast Michigan.

Guests with tickets or reservations will be contacted directly by our Visitor Experience team. Thank you for your understanding. The health and safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers comes first.

We will resume normal operations tomorrow, Saturday, July 18.

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