I stayed in my first AirBnB on this trip in Detroit. I had given AirBnB a try a couple of times during my trial road trips to Portland. It’s no wonder that people prefer AirBnB over hotels. For a fraction of the price, you are getting a clean bed with personal touches around the room, all the privacy you want, and a well outfitted place to stay. I was even able to do my week’s load of laundry there. And with a Tesla, location is not an issue at all. No matter where I stay, I have my own means to visit wherever I want. I don’t need to be concerned about what is a walk away.
The highlight (and only venture) of my Detroit trip was The Henry Ford Museum.
As a Tesla owner, there was a special draw to this place. I’ve never really been a car person, but having followed Tesla for these past 3.5 years and listening to the parallels between Tesla and Henry Ford, I wanted to see the original Model T. I had read online that this place needs a full day to experience it all. I foolishly arrived at around 1:00 PM.
This place is massive!
Upon entering, you see a small electric car display to the right of the museum map.
The Bolt. Really? I suppose there’s some credit to the fact that they were able to release this “affordable” version before the Model 3, and make it their claim to fame. But this was created all because the Tesla Model 3 was coming. Still, front and centre before you start your tour is telling of how significant it is that EVs have come of age.
The next immediate eye-catch was the first of four presidential cars — assuredly build by Ford. THe first belonged to Reagan, and followed by those used by Kennedy, Eisenhower, and finally Roosevelt.
This museum is so much more than just Henry Ford and his car company. It is a tribute to “Drive America”. As I witnessed the evolution of these cars, not all of which were made by the Ford Auto Company, I was struck by how history is repeating itself in my current experience. There was a time when people were limited to what they could see by how far they could walk, or how long their horse could last. Then the Model T comes along, and suddenly, they don’t need to take the same kind of rest breaks for their horse when you have a horse-less carriage. Soon, gas cars were creating the ability to visit places that people would not have imagined, and the boundaries of where you could go was expanded. The Drive-Ins were created. If you had a car, your boundaries were gone.
They called this “Drive America” where you had the freedom to go where you want. They sold freedom.
This is the experience of owning a Tesla, not being limited by the cost of gas and the mental capacity required to drive long distances. Autopilot, together with the Tesla Supercharger network, changes everything. I have told many that a Tesla was made to do road trips. Commuting in a city is nice, but everything comes alive when you are on a long trip! Features that seem like just a party trick for your guests become functional and important when road tripping. I’m witnessing this every day that I’m on this trip!
There was an almost eery absence of “Tesla” in the museum, as if Ford was trying to resist having Tesla be part of the history of America’s cars. There was plenty mentions of electric cars, and even the Eevee1 was on display!
They even made mention of the Nissan Leaf as an example of an all-electric car. But the greatest disruptor of the auto industry was not there.
Up until now, I had not seen a lot of Teslas on the road... maybe 2 or 3 of them. (This is not including at the superchargers). In Detroit, there seemed to be a increased presence of Dodge Chargers, but I didn’t see a Tesla on the road.
Coming into The Henry Ford Museum, I followed a red Model 3 in, and even on my short walk from the parking lot to the front door, I saw two more Teslas parked. I smiled. I know they are probably here for the same reason I’m here. Elon has inspired us to see where we’ve come from, and how Tesla fits into the larger story of Drive America.
Of course, I had to see the Model T! This isn’t the first car designed by Ford, but it was certainly the one that spurred the assembly line process, and provided them at masses to Americans. There was one on display, but also one you could sit in! There was another that was deconstructed, to give you the sense of how it each part was compartmentalized to suit an assembly line production strategy.
And then turning one of the corners, I saw it!
I’ve never been a VW owner, but if there was any car I would buy, it would be the Beetle or the Camper Van. Now that I’m doing a road trip, I am imagining how incredible it would be to have a small camper van like this where everything fed off of an electric battery. I can picture turning on the electric stove to cook the food I took out of the electric fridge... and freezer! Food can be stored and packed behind closed doors away from the animals at night with ease. I would sleep in a comfortable bed in a climate controlled cabin, listening to soothing music in the background, or watching a movie at night.
Tesla, PLEASE make this camper van! It doesn’t have to be a luxurious RV. Just a humble camper van, just enough for campers to not have to lug around a big tent! I would covet such a beast!
The displays were not just about cars though. The other half of the museum was a tribute to life in America during Henry Ford’s time. They had a collection of his furniture, and showed how life would have been like. Of course, as a musician, I couldn’t resist capturing a picture of his violins!
By the time I had completed the museum part of the tour (having rushed through portions without doing it justice), the museum was close to closing. I headed to their cafe to grab some very late lunch (early dinner) at their cafe before it was too late.
I ordered the Triple Stack thinking it was just a normal club sandwich.
I was handed the sandwich on a plate and my jaw dropped. The server saw my eyes get big and proceeded to say “I guess you’ll need a take-away container with that?” and gave me a little smirk.
*****
The next day I was headed back to Canada, my home and native land (where I am now). I’m at a Bible Camp meeting my long ago high school friend and her friends. New friends and old friends, and a place to recharge physically, emotionally and spiritually.
More in the next post... (camping with Sparky)
*****
This day’s odometre reading: 17,265 kms
KMs traveled on this road trip so far: 3903 kms
My referral code: somi22310
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