Rouge: Pictured in Its Prime

41. Ford Rotunda

41 FORD ROTUNDA The Ford Rotunda was built in 1934 for the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. The Rotunda’s popularity at Chicago convinced Ford management that the same structure would serve well as a welcoming center for the approximately 100,000 tourists visiting the Rouge Plant each year. Dismantling, moving, and reconstructing the Rotunda in Dearborn were completed in May 1936. Strictly speaking, the Rotunda was not reconstructed on Rouge property; it faced the Ford administration building from across Schaefer Road and was connected by a pedestrian tunnel and surface sidewalks . Using the Rotunda as a starting place, more than 100 guides escorted visitors on Ford buses to the Rouge Plant, where the steel mills, machine shops, and final assembly lines were especially popular attractions. The Rotunda was an attraction in itself.The latest Ford automotive products were always on display. The giant geographic globe in the center was open to the sky, and the large photographic murals of Rouge industrial scenes covering the walls could not but attract attention. Special holiday and children ’s events drew enormous crowds. The Ford Rotunda was indeed the showplace of the City of Dearborn, as well as of the Ford Motor Company. 252 An aerial view of the Rotunda, at the right, facing the administration building, with Schaefer Road between them. Beyond is the Rouge Plant. The circular highway in the foreground was named Rotunda Drive. (833.71349) 253 Above: The front of the Rotunda with Schaefer Road in the foreground. The photograph is dated June 1, 1936. (833.66152) Left: Looking down from the rim of the circular atrium of the Rotunda to a large and colorful world globe mounted on a compass. (833.66811-B) Right: A close-up view of the world globe. The inscription over the Indian Ocean reads, “Ford Industries Cover the World — Plants, Forests & Mines shown in yellow.” (833.68493) Below: A crowd in the Rotunda attends a musical concert by Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians on May 6, 1936. (833.66060-A) 255 Above: Opening day at the Ford Rotunda on May 14, 1936, with Fred Waring’s orchestra seated below the wall of murals. Visible with the murals is Henry Ford’s quotation, “With one foot on the land and one in industry, America is safe,” one of several such quotations among the murals. Each photograph in the 600-foot mural is a 20-foot enlargement of an original 10-inch photograph of a Rouge manufacturing scene taken by George Ebling, Henry Ford’s personal photographer. (833.66036-E) Left: Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians entertain on May 16, 1936, in the Rotunda auditorium in the south wing of the building. Featured at this moment is “Evelyn and Her Magic Violin.” To the right sit the Lane sisters and “Babs” Ryan. (833.66059-A) 256 Above: Near the entrance of the Rotunda is a display of 1940 Fords, Mercurys, and Lincolns on October 6, 1939. (833.72517) Right: A Ford tour guide with his visitors at the north end of the B building on April 18, 1940, as cars and trucks are being assembled. The tours are free, and the guide is not allowed to accept gratuities. The first public tour of the Rouge Plant took place on August 5, 1924. (833.73546) ...