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Things To Do In Dearborn
Much like its neighbor Detroit, Dearborn in Michigan is a city that finds itself deeply engaged with the automobile scene. It was the birthplace of Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Automobiles and the creator of the first car: Model T.
Dearborn is located in the Detroit Metropolitan Area and tourists to Dearborn Michigan will find themselves surrounded by many automobile museums and more such enterprises. Dearborn is also known to be a culturally diverse area, with a significant Arab American population.
In this here article, we will let you know about all the best things to do in Dearborn Mi. Your stay in Dearborn is bound to be informative, delightful and simply, awesome. Keep reading below to find out about the best things to do in Dearborn Mi:
Automotive Hall Of Fame
This is one of the attractions in the city of Dearborn that bring to you the input of people into the automobile industry. The Automotive Hall of Fame was founded in the year1939 and is geographically a part of the MotorCities National Heritage Area.
The Automotive Hall of Fame is a museum that houses permanent and changing exhibits showcasing the achievements of people in the automobile industry. While you are here, check out the paintings in the Hall of Honor and the exhibit about Karl Benz.
He was the person who is known to have invented the first automobile with an internal combustion engine. You will also be able to know stuff about the Lincoln Highway, the first ever interstate highway in the United States. The Automotive Hall of Fame is located at 21400 Oakwood, Dearborn Mi.
Henry Ford
The Henry Ford is an indoor and outdoor complex that is home to not one or two but five different attractions. This is probably one of the best tourist hotspots for people into automobiles in the entire North America.
Henry Ford, as we all know, was the inventor of the first automobile, and he was also a Dearborn native. The Henry Ford Complex has been built to pay homage to the man. The attractions lined up for you at Henry Ford are: the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, the Henry Ford Giant Screen Experience and the Benson Ford Research Center.
You will be able to find a very impressive collection of automobiles here, as well as some historical artifacts pertaining to cars and automobile technology. A visit to this place will make for a really cool day trip as there are a lot of attractions here.
Visiting Henry Ford is certainly going to be one of the best and fun things to do in Dearborn, Mi. Given the expanse of this area, we have dedicated a section to the Museum in the latter half of this article to give you an idea of the things you can do there.
Arab American National Museum
This unique museum is the only one of its kind in the United States. It is dedicated to Arab American culture and history in the country. The Arab American National Museum pays homage to the contributions of the Arab American people in various areas.
The museum hopes to break stereotypes and showcases the life and culture of the people while in the United States. You will find exhibits, documents, photos and artifacts here at the Arab American National Museum as part of their collection.
This place is a must visit while you are in Dearborn. While you are here, check out exhibitions like “Coming to America”, “Making an Impact”. “Living in America” and “Arab Civilization: Our Heritage”.
Sacred Heart Parish
This parish has been in Dearborn Mi since 1838. This place of worship underwent a transformation in 1918 with the construction of a new building. This gorgeous church features stained glass windows and interiors that are absolutely mesmerizing.
There are many events that the church hosts so while you are here, do find time to attend them. There are summer concerts, as well as a family friendly Oktoberfest. The Sacred Heart Parish is located at 22430 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn Mi.
Dearborn Historical Museum
The Dearborn Historical Museum was found in 1950 and is known as the “Gateway to Dearborn’s Past”. The building place of this museum was a military headquarter known as the Detroit Arsenal Commandant’s Quarters.
This place includes the McFadden Ross House which is a repository of local history and genealogy. Another place in the expansive area under the Dearborn Historical Museum is the Richard Gardner House. What is special about this place is that this is the oldest standing home in Dearborn.
The Dearborn Historical Museum is one of the best free to do things while in Dearborn Mi. Treat yourself to a day of fun filled educational experiences that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Fairlane Town Center
This place is located around 15 minutes from downtown Detroit and is a regional shopping mall that is a great addition to any tourist itinerary. A fun filled experience, the Fairlane Town Center in nearby Detroit is a place filled with retailers, multiplexes, food courts and restaurants.
There are hotels here so you can make this a place to stay while you visiting Dearborn and Detroit. This town center is famous for its unique architecture and interior design. While you are here, you can find a number of events to attend, such as cooking demonstrations and more. Find the Fairlane Town Center at 18900 Michigan Avenue.
Islamic Center Of America
The Islamic Center of America is the largest mosque in North America. This is a Shia mosque and the oldest of its kind in the US. This mosque was built by the Islamic Center of America organization which has been around since 1963.
There exists a large Muslim community in Dearborn Mi and this mosque, built rather recently, pays homage to this community. The mosque features programs for children and women and was designed by architect David Donnellon in an Islamic cultural style.
A really great place to visit, this mosque is a testament to the cultural diversity that exists in Detroit and Dearborn. Find the Islamic Center of America at 19500 Ford Road in Dearborn Mi.
Fairlane
Fairlane is known to be the estate of the prominent Dearborn figure Henry Ford. This area spans over 1300 acres of farm area along the river Rouge. Visitors to the site may explore it from 8 AM to 6 PM in the months of May through September.
This place has a deep significance when it comes to information and technology and has hosted some of the finest technological minds of the 20th century. Fairlane is on the National Register of Historic Places and also features constructions such as greenhouses, a boathouse and stables. You absolutely must visit Fairlane while you are here on your trip of Dearborn and Detroit.
Dearborn is a place that is not only known for its museums and historically significant places, but also for its great food. There are many restaurants and eateries in the town and you absolutely must take your time to visit them.
Enjoy delectable meals as you wander around the town for the experience of a lifetime. In this section of this article, lets go over some of the restaurants in the city of Dearborn:
Al Ameer Restaurant
This place is known to serve delectable Mediterranean cuisine since 1989. This place is famous for being the largest Middle Eastern restaurant in Wayne county. While you are here, try their Lebanese Hummus and Shish Kebabs.
Try the Al Ameer Platter for two with your partner that comes with grape leaves, fried kebbie, chicken shawarma, kebabs and koftas. Visiting Al Ameer must be on your list of things to do while in Dearborn.
TRIA
This restaurant is known for its contemporary American cuisine. Try their signature Dry Aged Angus Sliders, Caraway Dilled Salmon and House Pull-Smoked Mozzarella.
The place also features cocktails and have a wine menu that is a delight in itself. If you are here during the summer, then you will be greeted by their outdoor patio with scenic views.
Bangkok 96
For Thai food, you must come to Bangkok 96. This place has received numerous distinctions for the best Thai food. They serve great appetizers, and delicious main courses such as Pad Ped.
You must try their grilled items as they are known to be very tasty. They serve Thai steak and seafood that is fresh. Try a mix of savory flavors to go with your sweet and sour sauces and soups. Bangkok 96 will not disappoint you and you will name it as the best eatery in your travels to Dearborn and Detroit.
What Can You Do At The Henry Ford Museum?
This section of this article brings to you the best things you can do at the Henry Ford Museum while at Dearborn Mi. This place is one of the best things to do in Dearborn Mi and one of the most famous ones.
You must find time to visit this attraction and you can spend an entire day here full of learning and fun. With no delay, we bring to you the best things to do while you are here:
- Dymaxion House: This house was designed by architect Buckminster Fuller as part of his futuristic plans. However, this model was never adopted as a housing blueprint and there exists only this prototype in the museum. If you are a visitor here, you can get to see the Dymaxion House from the inside to see revolving closets and vintage furniture from the 1970s.
- JFK Limousine: This was the very limousine in which JFK was assassinated back in November 1963. A fact about the car is that it was subsequently repaired and was used until 1977. This car is part of an exhibit that features other presidential cars as well.
- Rosa Parks Bus: A well known figure in the civil rights movement, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat for a white man in a bus. The bus in question is here at the museum and visitors can even take a gander inside. There are other artifacts from the civil rights movement here as well, for example a whites only drinking fountain.
- Model T Ride: You can take a ride in a classic Model T while at Greenwich Village nearby. Purchase a pass and ride as many times as you want on a Model T, horse drawn vehicles and a Model AA bus.
- President Lincoln’s Rocker Chair: One of the exhibits here features the rocker chair on which the president sat while he was assassinated. This chair has been stored in the museum since the 80s.
- 1896 Quadricycle: This vehicle was the first ever automobile built by the Ford company. Find this attraction here which is a very important part of history.
- Help Build a Model T: One of the things you can do here is to help build a classic model T. Come to the Made in America: Manufacturing Exhibit. Doing this activity does not include any special price and it is included when you purchase a ticket to enter.
- Edison’s Lab: Edison’s Menlo Park Lab was recreated in Greenwich village. This is the lab where Edison invented the Phonograph and the light bulb,
- 1939 Douglas DC-3 airplane: The first metal plane, this one here at the museum hangs from above and is impossible to miss. The Heroes of the Sky exhibit houses this classic plane which remained in use from 1939 to 1975.
We have written this article bringing you the list of the most fun things to do in Dearborn Mi in order to help you get the best out of your trip to Dearborn. This place is known to be a classic location for automobile fans and makes for a fun day trip from Detroit.
While you are here, you will find many things to do from events like Maker Faire and museums featuring automobiles, history and culture. There are many fun things to do in Dearborn and you can enjoy them all as the town is very receptive and welcoming. You can even make it a point to visit nearby Detroit which features many things to do as well.
While you visit Dearborn, please be sure to take care of social distancing and other safety measures in light of the Covid 19 pandemic. However, this does not need to affect your travel plans and wanderlust if you take care of yourself and your family.
Dearborn Michigan is a really great place to visit and you will leave from here with a lot of history, culture and information in your head. As always, happy traveling.
Please also read about Things To Do In Perdido Key.
