Lillian Schwartz: Whirlwind of Creativity

In 2021, The Henry Ford acquired the archive of multimedia artist Lillian Schwartz. Working in sculpture, drawing and painting, with a later expansion into some of the first digital art, Schwartz’s work was groundbreaking. Her fascination with the connections between art, science and technology led to a body of work exhibited and owned by the Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art and numerous other institutions in the United States and abroad.

The Lillian Schwartz exhibit is the first to be housed in the new Collections Gallery, a rotating space featuring items from The Henry Ford’s collections.

With Liberty and Justice for All

Explore the proud and often painful evolution of American freedom, from the Revolutionary War through the struggle for women’s suffrage, in this groundbreaking exhibit.

Guided "Herstory: Celebrating Women’s History" Tour

Daily at 1 p.m., beginning at the Cornerstone in the Museum Plaza

Join us on this engaging tour as we celebrate the remarkable women who shaped history. Be inspired by the stories of women who defied norms, shattered glass ceilings and left a mark on our world.

Story Stroll

Located in our Made in America: Manufacturing exhibit

Combine movement and literacy as you follow the signs to read a picture book page by page in this self-guided experience. March's feature is Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer, written by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Natasha Donovan.

Experiment with History | Light Sculptures: Art Inspired by Lillian Schwartz

Daily 10 a.m.-noon at our Intersection of Innovation exhibit

Lillian Schwartz is known for taking risks with her art. Learn how she used light and movement to create her inspirational pieces, and then try making your own colorful light sculptures.

Celebrating Women in Racing

Women have been involved in automobile racing from the start — on the track, in the pits and behind the scenes. From pioneering drivers like Vicki Wood and Janet Guthrie to more contemporary competitors like Sarah Fisher and Danica Patrick, women have made their marks on the sport from Detroit to Daytona and from Indianapolis to Le Mans. Learn more. 

• Featured Artifact | Chrysler 300 | Driven to Win
  Stock car racer Vicki Wood will forever be known as the “the fastest woman on the beach” for her record-setting one-way speed record of 150.375 miles set in 1960 on Daytona Beach. Wood drove at least one Chrysler 300 from Carl Kiekaefer’s NASCAR stable — we can’t be sure it was this exact car — during her speed record attempts in 1955 and 1956.


• Featured Artifact | Racing Glove Worn by Janet Guthrie | Driven to Win
  Janet Guthrie broke one of auto racing's highest glass ceilings in 1977 when she became the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500. Guthrie wore this glove in that race.


• Featured Artifact | Racing Suit Worn by Sarah Fisher | Driven to Win
  Sarah Fisher’s third-place finish at the Kentucky Speedway in 2000 made her the first woman to earn an IndyCar podium position. Fisher formed her own team, Sarah Fisher Racing, in 2008. She retired from competitive driving after the 2010 season. Fisher wore this suit in October 2009 to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Featured Activity | Women Innovators in the Automotive Industry

Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. throughout March

Women have made, and continue to make, significant innovations and contributions to the automotive industry. Join us at Ford Rouge Factory Tour as we highlight some of these women.

• Activity 1
  Learn about innovations from Florence Lawrence, Mary Anderson, Lyn St. James, Janet Guthrie and Mimi Vandermolen. Then participate in a treasure hunt to find artifacts and displays related to these women automotive innovators.


• Activity 2
  Take part in a flip card activity showcasing women automotive innovators who made contributions to the industry in its early years.