Ford Rotunda: From Deco Dream to Flaming Fiasco

I remember going there and they had a test track were you could ride in the new ford models as many times as you wanted. They also had tours from there to visit ford foundry and assembly plant. I was 16 when it when up in flames. A cool place to visit.

 

I too remember the Ford Rotunda. I actually sing there as a kid the year before it burned down. The day it burned I was at Shorty's bar and bowling. I was on the 7th grade bowling league and watched the fire on the tv at the bowling lanes.
George

 

A little off topic but Drew Ford got the last Thunderbolt built, number 100. It is now in a collection with the first one built in Ohio.

 

Does anyone know when Ford's speciality tool brand, Rotunda, came about? I assume it has something to do with this...?

 

Cool post Jay.

 

Mid 50's maybe???.....

 

Here's some chinaware from the Ford cafeteria that have the Rotunda pictured on the plate.

I assume there was a cafeteria in the Rotunda.

Mick

 

Those would be worth some $$$ to a collector..

 

My dad worked at the Ford Rouge Plant in Dearborn and used to take us to the Chrismas parties Ford would have in the Rotunda. I was five years old and remember the 1955 Thunderbird they had spinning around on a pedestal that was in the center of the main hall. It was turquoise (Tbird blue) and I always said I'd have one. I'm sixty now and have two!
Still miss the Ford Rotunda because the Ford Motor Company always cared and still does.

Irishii

 

Yeah buddy!

 

Awesome story...I was just at the Henry Ford Museum and it's amazing how the landscape has changed from the pictures posted by Rickster.

 

Here's a couple more pics of the Rotunda building.....

 

Another interesting fact that hasn't been mentioned yet ...

The geodesic dome that roofed the Ford Rotunda was designed by the same Buckminster Fuller who designed the teardrop-shaped three-wheeled Dymaxian car!

 

He also designed the Dymaxion house that's on display at the Greenfield Village (Ford) museum right now.

 

As stated earlier Ford still uses the Rotunda name for its tool/equipment line. I'm a tech at a Ford dealer and we just got the latest Rotunda catalog. I always thought it was an odd name. We are an old dealer (started late 40's) and have Rotunda stuff dating back to at least mid 60's.

 

Thanks for sharing. I never knew how the Rotunda burned down. It's too bad Ford never rebuilt the Rotunda.

 

I sure wish they would!! Right on the same sight... Last time I drove by that area, the drive ways were still in place... I need to stop by there tomorrow and take some pictures....

 

Wow, good story, shame it burned to the ground.
Rik's pictures are beautiful, the ReC article is pretty kool too. I wonder how much the landscape changed since those shots were taken. I bet there isnt a inch of empty space left!

 

Great post.

Just out of interest I started looking at the shift knobs- the ones I found in my research were all a dark brown with gold metal casting. What's the story with the cream one pictured?

Adam F

 

I was just talking to my dad about the Rotunda building last month and he started tearing up with memories of it as a child back in the early sixties it was one of the most visited sites in America ahead of the Washington monument!

 

This thread is popping up on all the search sites..... I came across this little story on the net... So much for rebuilding the Rotunda on the same sight as the old one.. http://automotivemileposts.com/autobrevity/fordrotunda.html I could be wrong... I'll soon find out tomorrow.......

 

In regards to the soybean shifter knob, I remember seeing an artical in a 40's Popular Mechcanics that Henry built a soybean based body and if I remember right it was a 40 sedan.

 

Rotunda, wasn't that the name of that chick with the long hair?

According to Peter Wolf.

 

"Reputa. Reputa the beauta". LOL.

 

Yep,, good times..

 

Thanks for the history on that, I'm young enough that I never knew about it. Wish the big automakers today still put on a real show like they did back then.

 

I didn't know any of that.
I have over the years seen the word Rotunda associated with Ford, but never knew what it stood for.

 

That was Repunzel...

 

Also to add,the building that was sitting across the street from the Rotunda in Riksters birdseye view,was the original Ford HQ.(where Henry's office was)There was no glasshouse yet.That stood empty many years,till demolished(asbestos issues) around 5-6 years ago.Another sad day!
Another large old building sits empty right behing the HenryFord museum.I believe it's been donated to the museum by FoMoCo.We're still waiting to hear what they'll do with it.It contains another one of Henry's offices that supposedly has been left untouched.
By the way,the massive train layout is still setup during Christmas in the museum where Santa is for the kids.

 

The Rotunda site has been completely redeveloped. Those driveways are actually across the street where the old Ford HQ was.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48297161@N00/2437141200