Julia Child: A Recipe for Life
Exhibit at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation®
- May 20, 2023-September 10, 2023
- Time: 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Location: The Gallery by General Motors
Free for members or with museum admission
View Pricing
Julia Child’s insatiable curiosity and tenacious spirit drove her to endlessly try, test, prove and communicate how to make delicious food. Learning to cook empowered Julia, and she in turn empowered others, profoundly transforming American cuisine and food culture. Julia Child: A Recipe for Life explores the key ingredients that led to Julia’s personal evolution and America’s culinary revolution.
Visitors will journey through Julia’s life as she explored the world and discovered her sense of curiosity, including the moment that ignited her love for French cuisine and inspired her career.
At the heart of the exhibition, Julia’s passion for teaching is explored through her meticulous process of recipe development for Mastering the Art of French Cooking and The French Chef, culminating with her legacy of inspiring chefs of all levels.
Key Experiences:
- Interactive The French Chef television set
- Video, audio and photography documenting Julia, her distinctive voice and her extraordinary contributions to the culinary world
- Sounds and smells of Julia’s kitchen
- Visitors can view and share memories of Julia’s legacy
Featured Programs and Experiences
| May 20-September 10 |
Julia-Child Inspired Recipes in Plum Market Kitchen Enjoy dishes like ratatouille, cassoulet of pork and tomato Provençal at Plum Market Kitchen, crafted by our team of talented in-house chefs. |
| May 20-September 10 |
Themed Retail Merchandise You can also shop for Julia Child cookbooks and themed merchandise — like her signature string of pearls — on-site and online. |
| Thursdays: June 22, July 27 and August 24 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. |
On-Site Cooking Demonstrations Located outside The Gallery by General Motors. |
| Saturday, June 24 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. |
Gleaners – Cooking Matters Program Gleaners Community Food Bank will be on-site to share information on their Cooking Matters program as well as hosting an activity on healthy eating for kids. |
| May 20-September 10 |
Community Recipe Bank Located outside The Gallery by General Motors. |
Featured Films at Giant Screen Experience
Learn more about our sensory-friendly screenings of cooking-related films like Ratatouille, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and more.
June 24, July 22, August 26 and September 2 at 5 p.m. |
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August 18 at 7 p.m. |
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Connect with Us Virtually
Each Saturday across our social media channels, we’ll share a new digitized artifact or blog post connected to food culture, design or sustainability.
Plus, stay tuned throughout the summer for chances to engage with us online and win products from our Julia Child-inspired retail collection.
360 Exhibition View, Courtesy of Flying Fish
Become a Member and Save
Become a member for free admission to Julia Child: A Recipe for Life.
Then use your membership for a full year of free admission to the museum and village, plus free parking and exclusive savings on ticketed events.
Not a member yet?
Julia Child demonstrating a frosting technique, with Merida
Photos of Julia Child – Photography by Paul Child © The Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University
Julia Child and production crew at Cambridge Electric Kitchen (1963)
Photos of Julia Child – Photography by Paul Child © The Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University
Julia laughing on set of the French Chef while filming episode #131: Lobster Thermidor (May 13, 1966).
Photos of Julia Child – Photography by Paul Child © The Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University
Julia in the dining room of the French Chef set with a platter of foie de volaille, or poultry liver (1963).
Photos of Julia Child – Photography by Paul Child © The Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University
Julia Child holding a whisk and testing batter (ca. 1960)
Photos of Julia Child – Photography by Paul Child © The Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University
Julia and Paul Child pose for a Valentine's Day photo (ca. 1950)
Photos of Julia Child – Photography by Paul Child © The Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University
Simone Beck, Julia Child, and Louisette Bertholle cook fish at the Ecole des Trois Gourmandes (ca. 1960)
Photos of Julia Child – Photography by Paul Child. The Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University © The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts
Julia Child and other chefs and students at Le Cordon Bleu
Photos of Julia Child – Photography by Paul Child © The Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University
5. J at Aix en P; Hotel de Sativieli (ca. 1950)
Photos of Julia Child – Photography by Paul Child © The Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University
Julia and Paul Child in Marseille, France (November 23, 1950)
Photos of Julia Child – Photography by Paul Child © The Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University
Julia Child lounging on a cot in Kandy, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) while serving in the OSS. (July 14, 1944)
Photos of Julia Child – Photography by Paul Child © The Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University
Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
| Member | Nonmember | |
|---|---|---|
| Senior (62+) | Free | $30.50 |
| General Admission (12-61) | Free | $34.00 |
| Youth (5-11) | Free | $25.50 |
| Children (4 & Under) | Free | Free |
* Seasonal pricing will be in effect throughout the year. The pricing chart reflects the online discount price. There is an additional charge per ticket for purchases made on-site.
Julia Child: A Recipe for Life is a touring exhibition produced and managed by FLYING FISH, developed in collaboration with Napa Valley Museum, under the rights granted by The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and Culinary Arts and The Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, and generously supported by Oceania Cruises.
