Ford at the Fair Exhibition

Ford Rotunda by Philip Lyford, 1933-1934

Oil painting (Visual work)

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. The 11-acre Ford Motor Company exhibit became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934, featuring a central Rotunda designed to simulate graduated clusters of gears. After the fair, this building became an attraction at Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, until it burned down in 1962.

Booklet, "The Industrialized American Barn," 1934

Brochure

Henry Ford moved the William Ford barn from Dearborn to the 1934 Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago to demonstrate how soybeans could be processed for industrial uses in an ordinary American barn. Ford published this booklet to explain the process, and how it could create a better future for the American farmer.

Miniature Dynamo, Displayed at the New York World's Fair, 1939

Model (Representation)

Henry Ford firmly believed in the "practical educational value" of World's Fair exhibits. During the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, he highlighted the work of students attending his experimental schools. In a miniature machine shop in the Ford building, boys from Ford's Edison Institute Schools operated quarter-size replicas, including this dynamo, based on machines from Thomas Edison's Menlo Park.

Miniature Lathe, Displayed at the New York World's Fair, 1939

Model (Representation)

Henry Ford firmly believed in the "practical educational value" of World's Fair exhibits. During the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, he highlighted the work of students attending his experimental schools. In a miniature machine shop in the Ford building, boys from Ford's Edison Institute Schools operated quarter-size replicas, including this lathe, based on machines from Thomas Edison's Menlo Park.

Miniature Milling Machine, Displayed at the New York World Fair, 1939

Model (Representation)

Henry Ford firmly believed in the "practical educational value" of World's Fair exhibits. During the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, he highlighted the work of students attending his experimental schools. In a miniature machine shop in the Ford building, boys from Ford's Edison Institute Schools operated quarter-size replicas, including this milling machine, based on machines from Thomas Edison's Menlo Park.

Advertisement for the 1940 Ford Deluxe Fordor Sedan, "Watch the Fords Go By"

Advertisement

Ford Motor Company featured its exposition at the 1939-40 New York World's Fair in national advertisements. This print ad depicts the Ford exposition's Road of Tomorrow experience, which suggested forward-looking techniques for safer, quieter, more efficient roadways. Even if they could not attend the fair, readers across the country could imagine themselves in "modern cars" - Fords - "for modern highways."

Booklet, "100 Reasons Why You Should Own a Ford V-8," 1934

Brochure

Ford Motor Company's 1934 models featured only minor changes from the previous year. The grille had fewer vertical bars, side hood louvers went from curved to straight, and new painted hubcaps were seen on V-8 cars. Prices started at $585 for a Fordor sedan with the V-8. The four-cylinder Fordor was priced $50 lower. Calendar year production was 563,921 units.

Two Automobiles Touring Part of the 'Roads of the Pacific' Exhibit, California Pacific International Exposition, San Diego, 1935

Photographic print

The Ford Exhibit--the most popular attraction at the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition--featured "Roads of the Pacific." Visitors rode in brand new Ford V-8s through realistic reproductions of historic and modern routes. In this photograph, two groups of riders round a bend on one of the 14 sections comprising the immersive experience.

Visitors inside Rotunda, Ford Exhibition Building, Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1934

Photographic print

Ford Motor Company mounted the most talked-about exhibition in Chicago during the World's Fair in 1934. One attraction, a revolving globe in the Ford rotunda building's central Court of the World, illustrated Ford's growing industrial presence in mining, logging, and manufacturing operations around the world. This large three-dimensional map exemplified the fair's Century of Progress theme.

Rotunda, Ford Exhibition Building, Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1934

Photographic print

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. The Ford Exhibition Building, which sat on eleven acres at the fair and featured industrial demonstrations and informative displays like this, became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934.

Quadricycle inside Replica of Henry Ford's Workshop, Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1934

Photographic print

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. Ford Motor Company's popular exhibition at the fair included the century room, where fairgoers found a nineteenth-century machine shop, a replica of Henry Ford's first workshop, and the Quadricyle -- the original Ford automobile.

Ford By-Products Exhibit, Ford Exhibition Building, Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Illinois,1934

Photographic print

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. The Ford Exhibition Building, which sat on eleven acres at the fair and featured industrial demonstrations and informative displays like this, became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934.

Ford Automobile Next to Roads of the World Exhibit, Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1934

Photographic print

Ford Motor Company recreated 21 sections of different historic and modern roadways outside the Ford Exhibition Building at Chicago's Century of Progress Exposition in 1934. Fairgoers could tour these reproduction "Roads of the World" in courtesy vehicles.

Soybean Field outside the Ford Exhibition Building, Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1934

Photographic print

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. The 11-acre Ford Motor Company exhibit became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934, featuring a central Rotunda designed to simulate graduated clusters of gears. After the fair, this building became an attraction at Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, until it burned down in 1962.

Replica of the Vaughan Plank Road, Roads of the World, Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1934

Photographic print

"Roads of the World" was part of the Ford Motor Company's exhibition at Chicago's Century of Progress Exposition in 1934. Fairgoers rode in brand new Ford V-8s over 21 reproductions of famous roadways. This section representing an historic Canadian plank road contributed to the immersive "Roads of the World" experience.

Presenter inside the Rotunda of the Ford Exhibition Building, Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, IL, 1934

Photographic print

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. The Ford Exhibition Building, which sat on eleven acres at the fair and featured industrial demonstrations and informative displays like this, became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934.

Proof of Safety Exhibit, Ford Building, Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1934

Photographic print

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. The Ford Exhibition Building, which sat on eleven acres at the fair and featured industrial demonstrations and informative displays like this, became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934.

Out of the Earth Exhibit, Ford Exhibition Building, Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1934

Photographic print

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. The Ford Exhibition Building, which sat on eleven acres at the fair and featured industrial demonstrations and informative displays like this, became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934.

Soybean Processing for Fiber and Oil, Ford Exposition, New York World's Fair, 1939

Photographic print

Ford Motor Company poured resources into the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, spending more than $5 million to construct and maintain its elaborate and well-attended exposition space. Ford's massive exhibition building attracted fairgoers with industrial demonstrations and informative displays in two main halls. At the "industrialized farm," visitors could learn about soybeans and watch presenters process them into plastics and fibers.

Henry Ford Trade School Students at Ford Exposition, New York World's Fair, 1939

Photographic print

Henry Ford viewed national expositions as business opportunities and platforms for public education. During the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, Ford Motor Company spent more than $5 million to build and maintain an elaborate exposition space. Informative displays and manufacturing demonstrations inside Ford's massive fair building offered visitors an in-depth, entertaining, and educational look at industrial processes.

Edsel and Henry Ford in front of 27-Millionth Ford Car, Ford Exposition, New York World's Fair, 1939

Photographic print

On February 15, 1939, the twenty-seven millionth Ford automobile rolled off a Richmond, California, assembly line. The green DeLuxe Tudor embarked on a promotional tour from San Francisco to New York City and back -- an 8,854-mile circuit. During this transcontinental journey, the famous sedan -- and a visit from Henry and Edsel Ford -- drew crowds at the New York World's Fair.

Henry Ford Trade School Students "Learn by Doing" at New York World's Fair, 1939-1940

Photographic print

Henry Ford firmly believed in the "practical educational value" of World's Fair exhibits. To help accomplish his education mission during the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, he highlighted the work of students attending his experimental schools. Here, boys from Henry Ford's Edison Institute Schools demonstrate miniature machine replicas based on Thomas Edison's Menlo Park Machine Shop.

Brochure Advertising Ford V-8 Automobiles and the Century of Progress Exposition, 1934

Brochure

Ford Motor Company's 1934 models featured only minor changes from the previous year. The grille had fewer vertical bars, side hood louvers went from curved to straight, and new painted hubcaps were seen on V-8 cars. Prices started at $585 for a Fordor sedan with the V-8. The four-cylinder Fordor was priced $50 lower. Calendar year production was 563,921 units.

Brochure, "Ford Exposition, A Century of Progress," 1934

Brochure

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition highlighted progress to encourage optimism during the Great Depression. The Ford Motor Company exhibit became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934, featuring a central Rotunda building designed to simulate graduated clusters of gears. The phrase "ONE-THIRD OF A CENTURY OF PROGRESS PRODUCED THE FORD V-EIGHT" refers to the 30-year history of Ford Motor Company.

Brochure, "New Ford V-8 Trucks," 1934

Brochure

Ford Motor Company's 1934 trucks were only slightly changed in appearance from the previous model year, though the blue oval logo was notably added to the side of the hood. The stake body version was particularly flexible. The racks were removable to ease loading or accommodate oversized cargo. Ford's trucks were powered by the company's flathead V-8 engine.

Brochure, "The Ford Rotunda, Fifty Years Forward on the American Road" 1953

Brochure

Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from the 1934 Century of Progress Exposition back to Dearborn and, from 1936 to 1962, recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This souvenir book commemorated Ford's 50th Anniversary in 1953. The Ford Rotunda reopened then, with renovations that included a geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller.

Henry Ford Trade School Information Brochure, 1931-1941

Brochure

Boys who attended the Henry Ford Trade School learned by doing. The school, the brainchild of Henry Ford, trained teenage boys in a variety of skilled industrial trade work -- machining, metallurgy, drafting, and engine design, among others. Students created useful components for local factories in hands-on lab and shop classes. In addition to the manual training received, academic classes were required.

Sketch of the Ford Exhibition Building for the Century of Progress Exposition, 1933-1934

Photographic print

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the Great Depression. The Ford Motor Company exhibit became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934, featuring a central Rotunda building designed to simulate graduated clusters of gears. This sketch was created by Albert Kahn Inc., the architects of the building.

Souvenir Brochure, "Roads of the World, Ford Exposition, 'A Century of Progress' Chicago," 1934

Brochure

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition highlighted progress to encourage optimism during the Great Depression. The Ford Motor Company exhibit became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934. In its "Roads of the World" feature, guests could walk over, or ride in cars alongside, replicas of 21 world-famous thoroughfares ranging from the earliest Roman types to the most modern highway construction.

Postcard, Ford Motor Company Exhibit Building, California-Pacific International Exposition, San Diego, California, 1935

Postcard

Ford's steel, concrete, and glass exhibition building towered above more traditional structures at the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in San Diego. The Ford Building -- created in the "Streamline Moderne" architectural style by industrial design pioneer Walter Dorwin Teague -- combined clean curves and sharp lines with modern materials, reflecting technological progress in the new machine age.

Postcard, Ford Motor Company at Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1934

Postcard

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. This postcard depicts Ford Motor Company's 1934 exhibition building, which featured a central Rotunda designed to simulate graduated clusters of gears. After the fair, this building became an attraction at Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, until it burned down in 1962.

Program of Events, "One Hundred Car Dealers Meeting" at the Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1940

Program (Document)

The 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition reflected American aspirations at the end of the Great Depression. Held on Treasure Island -- a manmade island in San Francisco Bay -- the fair celebrated the completion of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay and Golden Gate bridges. This program contains the menu for a Ford dealers' meeting at the "beautiful Ford exhibit" on Treasure Island.

"Industries Within an Industry, Ford By-Products," Ford Motor Company, 1939

Brochure

Henry Ford was careful about reducing and reusing waste products from his factories. Wasted materials meant wasted money, which led to higher prices for the customer. Illuminating gas was taken from coke ovens. Portland cement was made from blast furnace slag. Most famously, wood scraps from Ford's Kingsford, Michigan, sawmills were converted into charcoal briquettes.

"Recipes for Soy Bean Foods," Ford Motor Company, circa 1939

Recipes

Throughout the 1930s, Henry Ford vigorously promoted soybeans as a versatile crop with industrial and culinary potential. This Ford Motor Company booklet touted soybeans as nutritious, inexpensive substitutes for traditional ingredients. It contains recipes that incorporate cooked soybeans, as well as soy-based milk, butters, and "cheese" (tofu).

Brochure, "Ford Charcoal Briquets, Fuel of a Hundred Uses," 1935-1941

Brochure

Ford Motor Company sawmills created heaps of wood wastes. Some was used to produce steam for factory operations. The rest was carbonized and compressed into charcoal. Workers mixed charred hardwood chips with starch, forming nearly 100 tons of charcoal briquettes each day. This 1930s brochure suggests the many uses for this Ford byproduct.

Sales Brochure, "New Ford V-8 Cars for 1939"

Trade catalog

Ford offered models in Standard and DeLuxe lines for 1939. The fancier DeLuxe models featured a refreshed, modern appearance with teardrop headlights and a low-set grille. The big news for 1939 was that, for the first time, all Ford cars came equipped with hydraulic brakes.

Sales Brochure, "1939 Ford V-8 Trucks"

Trade catalog

Ford Motor Company's truck lineup for 1939 included pickups, panel trucks, stake body and platform models, and sedan delivery vehicles. Larger commercial models were available in dump truck and cab-over-engine configurations. Power came from V-8 engines available with displacements of 136 or 221 cubic inches.

Sales Brochure, "1939 Ford V-8 Commercial Cars"

Trade catalog

Ford Motor Company's truck lineup for 1939 included pickups, panel trucks, stake body and platform models, and sedan delivery vehicles. Larger commercial models were available in dump truck and cab-over-engine configurations. Power came from V-8 engines available with displacements of 136 or 221 cubic inches.

Sales Brochure for the 1939 Lincoln Zephyr V-12, "The Modern "12" for the Modern World"

Trade catalog

The Lincoln Zephyr's V-12 engine was adapted from Ford's successful flathead V-8. Engineers added four cylinders, narrowed the angle of the V, and made other modifications. Unfortunately, the engine suffered from inadequate ventilation and poor oil flow, which led to overheating and excessive wear. Nevertheless, with 200,000 units sold, the Zephyr engine was the most successful American-built V-12.

Souvenir Brochure, "The Ford Exposition, New York World's Fair," 1939-1940

Brochure

The 1939-40 New York World's Fair encouraged a depression-weary public that the future would be rosy. Ford Motor Company was a major participant in this fair. This brochure highlights the Ford Exposition building's many features, including its stunning architectural design by industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague, its interior exhibits, new car models, and its outdoor, drivable "Road of Tomorrow."

Souvenir Brochure, "Ford at the California-Pacific International Exposition, San Diego, 1935"

Brochure

Ford Motor Company poured resources into the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in San Diego, constructing the fair's largest and most popular exhibition. This souvenir publication highlights Ford's exhibits there, including its unique car manufacturing methods and materials, displays of new car models, and the outdoor, drivable "Roads of the Pacific."

Ford Falcon Automobile and Christmas Tree Inside the Ford Rotunda Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1959

Lantern slide

After the Chicago Century of Progress Exposition ended in 1934, Ford Motor Company brought back its central Rotunda building from that fair to Dearborn, to serve as a visitor center and starting point for Rouge Plant tours. However, its biggest draw between 1953 and 1961 was the annual "Christmas Fantasy," shown here. Unfortunately, the Rotunda burned down in November 1962.

Ford Gyron Automobile Displayed at the Ford Rotunda Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1961

Lantern slide

Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from the 1934 Century of Progress Exposition back to Dearborn and, from 1936 to 1962, recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. People flocked to the Dearborn Rotunda when new car models were displayed, like the Ford Gyron, a futuristic two-wheeled gyrocar introduced in 1961.

Santa's Wonderland Castle at the Ford Rotunda Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1961

Lantern slide

After the Chicago Century of Progress Exposition ended in 1934, Ford Motor Company brought back its central Rotunda building from that fair to Dearborn, to serve as a visitor center and starting point for Rouge Plant tours. However, its biggest draw between 1953 and 1961 was the annual "Christmas Fantasy," shown here. Unfortunately, the Rotunda burned down in November 1962.

Conceptual Drawing of the Ford Exhibition Building for the New York World's Fair, 1939

Rendering (Drawing)

Ford Motor Company, a major participant in the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, hired industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague to create its exhibition building in New York City's Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. This conceptual rendering shows the entrance to Teague's Ford Building. It features a stainless steel sculpture depicting Mercury, whose mythological speed symbolized the swift progress of modern transportation.

Santa Claus Seated on White Ford Tractor, Inside the Ford Rotunda Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1961

Lantern slide

After the Chicago Century of Progress Exposition ended in 1934, Ford Motor Company brought back its central Rotunda building from that fair to Dearborn, to serve as a visitor center and starting point for Rouge Plant tours. However, its biggest draw between 1953 and 1961 was the annual "Christmas Fantasy," shown here. Unfortunately, the Rotunda burned down in November 1962.

Ford Thunderbird Display Inside the Ford Rotunda Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1961

Lantern slide

After the Chicago Century of Progress Exposition ended in 1934, Ford Motor Company brought back its central Rotunda building from that fair to Dearborn, to serve as a visitor center and starting point for Rouge Plant tours. However, its biggest draw between 1953 and 1961 was the annual "Christmas Fantasy," shown here. Unfortunately, the Rotunda burned down in November 1962.

Poster, "See, Play, Hear. Chicago 1934 World's Fair: A Century of Progress," 1934

Poster

Hungarian-born artist A. Raymond Katz, or Sandor as he often signed his work, captures the liveliness of the 1934 World's Fair in this streamlined poster. A portrait of iconic burlesque "fan dancer" Sally Rand points the viewer towards another highlight -- the architectural showpiece Sky Ride, which shuttled fair goers in rocket-shaped cars more than 200 feet above the ground.

Ford at the Fair, Century of Progress Exposition, 1934

Brochure

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. The 11-acre Ford Motor Company exposition became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934, featuring a variety of industrial demonstrations and informative displays. Ford produced this booklet as a souvenir for fairgoers who visited the Ford Building.

New York World's Fair Ford Exposition Ashtray, 1939

Ashtray

Coming at the end of a decade of worldwide economic depression, the 1939-40 New York World's Fair placed a distinct emphasis on consumerism as the means to prosperity and social unity. This souvenir ashtray from the Ford Motor Company exhibit advertised a Ford four-door sedan from the company's latest product line.

A Century of Progress World's Fair Ford Rotunda Tray, 1934

Tray

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. The Ford Motor Company exhibit became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934, featuring a central Rotunda designed to simulate graduated clusters of gears. After the fair, this building became an attraction at Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, until it burned down in 1962.

Ford V-8 Souvenir Medal from Century of Progress Exposition, 1934

Medal

Ford Motor Company produced this commemorative coin for the Ford Exposition at the Century of Progress 1934 Chicago World's Fair. This souvenir reminded visitors of their time at the fair. It also advertised Ford's newest innovation, the V-8 engine. Ford introduced the V-8, the first compact and powerful engine affordable to the general auto-buying public, in 1932.

Children's Activity Book, "Christmas at the Ford Rotunda," 1958

Activity book

After the Century of Progress Exposition ended in 1934, Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from that fair back to Dearborn. From 1936 to 1962, Ford recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This souvenir Christmas book from 1958 was illustrated by noted children's book illustrator Richard Scarry.

Sales Brochure, "Know the Thrill of Driving the New Ford V-8," 1934

Trade catalog

Ford's V-8 engine, introduced in 1932, was an immediate hit, outselling the company's four-cylinder unit from the start. This 1934 brochure promoted the V-8's technical design, its smooth performance, and its accomplishments on the race track. Low price was the engine's greatest feature -- the Ford V-8 started at $510, while the nearest-competing V-8 car started around $2,500.

Ford Rotunda Commemorative Plate, 1957

Plate (Dish)

After the Century of Progress Exposition ended in 1934, Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from that fair back to Dearborn. From 1936 to 1962, Ford recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This plate, with a transfer print in the center, was used in Ford's corporate dining room.

Poster, "Visit Ford Exposition, Century of Progress, Chicago" 1934

Poster

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the Great Depression. The Ford Motor Company exhibit became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934, featuring a central Rotunda building designed to simulate graduated clusters of gears. This poster was probably posted at Ford dealerships.

Ford Charcoal Briquets Bag, 1929-1947

Briquets (Fuel)

Ford Motor Company sawmills created heaps of wood wastes. Some was used to produce steam for factory operations. The rest was carbonized and compressed into charcoal. Workers mixed charred hardwood chips with starch, forming nearly 100 tons of charcoal briquettes each day. Dealers sold branded bags of the popular briquettes in Ford dealerships across the country.

Century of Progress Souvenir Specimen Box of Materials Used in Ford Automobile Manufacture, 1934

Souvenir

Ford Motor Company mounted the most talked-about exhibition in Chicago during the World's Fair in 1934. One highlight of the Ford Exposition building was "Out of the Earth" -- a series of dioramas showing the major resources used in automotive production. Visitors could return home with souvenir boxes that contained samples of some of these natural materials.

Brochure, "Ford at the Fair," Century of Progress Exposition, 1934

Brochure

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. The 11-acre Ford Motor Company exposition became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934, featuring a variety of industrial demonstrations and informative displays. Ford produced this booklet as a souvenir for fairgoers who visited the Ford Building.

Ford Souvenir Salt & Pepper Set From Texas Centennial Exposition, 1936

Salt and pepper set

Scientists at Ford's Soybean Laboratory developed a variety of plastic products made from soybean solids left when the oil was extracted, including gear shift knobs. These soybean gear shift knobs were converted into a set of souvenir salt and pepper shakers for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition.

Souvenir Card, "Industrial Products Made from Soy Beans," circa 1934

Card (Information artifact)

Starting in 1931, Henry Ford invested much money and research into soybeans. He viewed the crop as a bridge between agriculture and industry. Based on this work, soy-based materials were incorporated into Ford Motor Company vehicles. Soybean oil was used in body enamels, for example, while soy meal was used in the plastic for gear shift knobs and horn buttons.

Ford V-8 Medal From Century of Progress International Exposition, 1934

Medal

Ford Motor Company produced this commemorative coin for the Ford Exposition at the Century of Progress 1934 Chicago World's Fair. This souvenir reminded visitors of their time at the fair. It also advertised Ford's newest innovation, the V-8 engine. Ford introduced the V-8, the first compact and powerful engine affordable to the general auto-buying public, in 1932.

"On Your Way to Two 1939 Fairs, You are Cordially Invited to Visit the Ford Rotunda and Rouge Plant," Dearborn, Michigan, 1939

Brochure

Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from the 1934 Century of Progress Exposition back to Dearborn and, from 1936 to 1962, recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This brochure enticed travelers visiting one of the 1939 world's fairs to visit the Ford Rotunda and Rouge Plant in Dearborn.

"Ford Rotunda Presents a Glimpse of Your Dearborn Holiday," 1957

Brochure

Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from the 1934 Century of Progress Exposition back to Dearborn and, from 1936 to 1962, recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This brochure enticed travelers to visit the Ford Rotunda, Rouge Plant, Ford Research and Engineering Center, Greenfield Village, and even Michigan's "water wonderland."

The Herald for February 1939-January 1940, Bound Volume of Magazines

Magazine (Periodical)

Souvenir Brochure, "You are Cordially Invited to Visit the Ford Rotunda and Rouge Plant," Dearborn, Michigan, 1938

Brochure

After the Century of Progress Exposition ended in 1934, Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from that fair back to Dearborn. From 1936 to 1962, Ford recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This 1938 travel brochure attempted to entice travelers to visit the Ford Rotunda soon after its opening.

Model of Menlo Park Machine Shop Built for the New York World's Fair, Set Up inside Henry Ford Museum, March 31, 1939

Photographic print

Henry Ford firmly believed in the "practical educational value" of World's Fair exhibits. To help accomplish his education mission during the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, he highlighted the work of students attending his experimental schools. Here, boys from Henry Ford's Edison Institute Schools operated miniature machine replicas based on Thomas Edison's Menlo Park Machine Shop.

Ford Rotunda Construction Site, Dearborn, Michigan, June 11, 1935

Photographic print

The Rotunda was built for the Ford Motor Company exhibition at the 1934 Chicago World's Fair. It was later rebuilt in Dearborn, Michigan, where it served as a hospitality center for tourists from 1936 to 1962. This photograph shows the Rotunda under construction at its second and final home - across from the Administration Building at Ford's River Rouge Plant.

Ford Rotunda Construction Site, Dearborn, Michigan, July 31, 1935

Photographic print

After the Century of Progress Exposition ended in 1934, Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from that fair back to Dearborn. From 1936 to 1962, Ford recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This photo, from July 31, 1935, shows the Ford Rotunda being constructed in Dearborn.

Henry Ford and Edsel Ford inside Ford Rotunda, Dearborn, Michigan, 1936

Photographic print

After the Century of Progress Exposition ended in 1934, Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from that fair back to Dearborn. From 1936 to 1962, Ford recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This photo depicts Henry and Edsel Ford at the Ford Rotunda on its opening day, May 16, 1936.

Courtyard inside Ford Rotunda Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1937

Photographic print

Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from the 1934 Century of Progress Exposition back to Dearborn and, from 1936 until a devastating fire destroyed the building in 1962, recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This photo shows the central courtyard inside the building soon after it opened in 1937.

Aerial View of Ford Rotunda, the Rouge Plant and Administration Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1939

Photographic print

The Rotunda was built for the Ford Motor Company exhibition at the 1934 Chicago World's Fair. It was later rebuilt in Dearborn, Michigan, where it served as a hospitality center for tourists from 1936 to 1962. This photograph shows the Rotunda in its second and final home -- across from the Administration Building at Ford's River Rouge Plant.

Ford Rotunda, 1953

Photographic print

The Rotunda was built for the Ford Motor Company exhibition at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. It was later rebuilt in Dearborn, Michigan, where it served as a hospitality center for tourists from 1936 to 1962. This photograph shows the renovated Rotunda that reopened in 1953 for Ford Motor Company's 50th anniversary. It housed exhibits featuring progressive research and engineering.

Ford Rotunda Fire, Dearborn, Michigan, November 9, 1962

Photographic print

Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from the 1934 Century of Progress Exposition back to Dearborn and, from 1936 to 1962, recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This photo vividly depicts the Ford Rotunda fire, November 9, 1962, caused when a sealer for the geodesic dome ignited accidentally from a propane heater.

Menu of Soybean Dinner Served at Ford Exhibit, Century of Progress, August 17, 1934

Photographic print

Ford Motor Company's exhibition at Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition included the industrial barn. Here, exhibitions and demonstrations illustrated Henry Ford's belief that soybeans could unify agriculture and industry, building more profitable farms. A special dinner held on August 17, 1934, showcased the crop's wide-ranging culinary potential.

Aerial View of Ford Exhibit Building at California Pacific International Exposition, San Diego, California, 1935

Photographic print

Ford Motor Company poured resources into the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in San Diego, constructing the fair's largest and most popular exhibition. Ford's massive Exposition building enclosed an open-air courtyard with a V-8 emblem-shaped fountain.

Ford Exhibit Building, Century of Progress Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1934

Photographic print

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. The 11-acre Ford Motor Company exhibit became the most talked-about exhibit of 1934, featuring a central Rotunda designed to simulate graduated clusters of gears. After the fair, this building became an attraction at Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, until it burned down in 1962.

Ford Exhibit Building at Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, California, 1939-1940

Photographic print

The 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition reflected American aspirations at the end of the Great Depression. Held on Treasure Island -- a manmade island in San Francisco Bay -- the fair celebrated the completion of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay and Golden Gate bridges. Ford was a major participant at this fair, claiming a large building near the ferry entrance to the fairgrounds.

Ford Industrialized Barn, Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1934

Photographic print

Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition used the theme of progress to encourage optimism during the depression. Ford Motor Company's popular exhibition at the fair included the industrial barn, where a machine shop and experiments with soybeans demonstrated new possibilities for more profitable farms.

Ford Exhibit Building, Texas Centennial Central Exposition, Dallas, Texas, 1936

Photographic print

The Texas Centennial Central Exposition in Dallas celebrated the frontier past of Texas, especially its 1836 victory over Mexico. The Ford Motor Company Pavilion, among the largest of industrial firms' buildings at the fair, was designed by industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague. Its interior displays focused on how agriculture and natural resources of Southwest could be transformed into car parts.

Henry Ford's 1896 Quadricycle on Display at New York World's Fair, 1939-1940

Photographic print

Ford Motor Company poured resources into the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, spending more than $5 million to construct and maintain its elaborate and well-attended exposition space. Ford's massive exhibition building attracted fairgoers with industrial demonstrations and informative displays. In the entrance hall, visitors could view Henry Ford's first automobile, the Quadricycle.

People Viewing the Ford Cycle of Production Exhibit, Ford Exposition, New York World's Fair, 1939-1940

Photographic print

The "Ford Cycle of Production," featured at the Ford Exposition building during the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, was a huge revolving wedding-cake turntable with tiers that floated on pontoons in a moat. With 87 working models and 142 animated figures, it illustrated how 27 raw materials (at the bottom) were progressively transformed into parts for automobiles (at the top).

Presenting the Soybean Extractor, Texas Centennial Central Exposition, Dallas, Texas, 1936

Photographic print

Ford promoted soybeans at the World Fairs and Exposition of the 1930s. In this image, a presenter at the Texas Centennial Exposition demonstrates how the soybean extraction process works with a model of a soybean extractor.

"Industries Within an Industry, Ford By-Products," Ford Motor Company, 1939

Brochure

Henry Ford was careful about reducing and reusing waste products from his factories. Wasted materials meant wasted money, which led to higher prices for the customer. Illuminating gas was taken from coke ovens. Portland cement was made from blast furnace slag. Most famously, wood scraps from Ford's Kingsford, Michigan, sawmills were converted into charcoal briquettes.

"Recipes for Soy Bean Foods," Ford Motor Company, circa 1939

Recipes

Throughout the 1930s, Henry Ford vigorously promoted soybeans as a versatile crop with industrial and culinary potential. This Ford Motor Company booklet touted soybeans as nutritious, inexpensive substitutes for traditional ingredients. It contains recipes that incorporate cooked soybeans, as well as soy-based milk, butters, and "cheese" (tofu).

"On Your Way to Two 1939 Fairs, You are Cordially Invited to Visit the Ford Rotunda and Rouge Plant," Dearborn, Michigan, 1939

Brochure

Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from the 1934 Century of Progress Exposition back to Dearborn and, from 1936 to 1962, recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This brochure enticed travelers visiting one of the 1939 world's fairs to visit the Ford Rotunda and Rouge Plant in Dearborn.