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100,000 in 1962, and $ 250,000 worth of
Christmas decorations intended for the Winter Spectacular. The Ford Rotunda also housed the Ford Archives, which survived the blazes intact due to a special carbon dioxide (cardox) fire protection system. These archives – then considered the most complete single collection of its kind – consisted of over 14 million items, including business papers, memorabilia, and over 250,000 photographs. A year later, in December 1963, these archives were donated to the
401:, had just exited the building and, from the parking lot across the street, witnessed the first flames as they appeared; also present were two truant students from Detroit who were arrested at the scene. Around 60 employees escaped safely, with the only casualty being John Riley, 58, of Dearborn, a building engineer, who suffered a burn on his arm and shoulder and was treated for smoke inhalation.
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The building itself was a 900-foot-long building with a 12-story glass rotunda at its center, hence the name. The building also contained 65 towering pylons at one end and a large exhibition hall at the other, requiring enough steel to erect a skyscraper 125 feet square and 22 stories high. Since the
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designed a lightweight geodesic dome weighing 18,000 lb (8,200 kg), solving the problem, and becoming a tourist attraction in its own right. On June 16, 1953, the rotunda was reopened to the public as a part of Ford’s 50th
Anniversary celebration and as a highlight included 50 huge birthday
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Late in 1934 it was announced that, following the World’s Fair, the Ford
Rotunda would be dismantled and shipped to Dearborn, Michigan where it was to act as a visitor center and be reconstructed using more permanent materials. It was constructed on a 13.5 acres (5.5 ha) site across Schaefer Rd.
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called the “largest and finest” in the country, as well as animated characters from children’s stories, a 1 in (25 mm) per 2 ft (0.61 m) scale 15,000-piece miniature circus with 800 animals, 30 tents, and 435 toy figurines of circus performers and customers. The
Christmas Fantasy
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Ford utilized the
Rotunda’s popularity to call attention to new model introductions, and was used as a venue to photograph its automobiles and hold special events. The Rotunda was used for dealer presentations, press events and other business meetings. In the first 12 months of re-opening nearly 1.5
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It was estimated that damages totaled over $ 15 million (equivalent to nearly $ 115.5 million in 2013 when adjusted for inflation). Along with the destruction of the
Rotunda, the fire consumed each of the 1963 Ford models which were on display, several one-of-a-kind "dream cars," each valued at $
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attached to it, matching the administration building. It stood 10 stories high and measured 210 ft (64 m) at the base and had a center courtyard with a diameter of 92 ft (28 m). Two additional wings were also added to the permanent location in
Dearborn that anchored the center
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In anticipation of re-opening in 1952, the
Rotunda underwent extensive remodeling. Seeking to enclose the open center court with a roof, Ford engineers calculated the weight of a conventional steel-framed dome at 160 short tons (150 t), which the Rotunda structure could not support. In its
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The
Rotunda had a completely new look after being reassembled at its new location; the building resembled four gears stacked in decreasing sizes. Inside the Rotunda were murals showing the River Rouge assembly line. On the grounds of the Rotunda was a .75 mi (1.21 km) track were 19
201:, who designed the Rotunda for Ford’s exposition at the World’s Fair, was also called upon to update the design for its new purpose. Its ultramodern design, elaborate shows, and spectacular Christmas displays contributed to the Rotunda’s popularity among tourists during its existence.
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emphasis was on the automobile, part of the tour of the
Rotunda took place in automatically operated Ford-built convertibles riding on a special roadway. The pavilion featured a number of exhibits designed by Walt Disney. This exhibit was seen by over 12 million visitors.
322:, introduced during the late 1950s, a depressed economic period where buyers wanted smaller, more economical cars. This was the start of the American compact car race and the Edsel division was discontinued shortly after the 1960 models and a production run of two years.
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for the Century of Progress International Exposition (the Chicago World's Fair) held in 1933 and 1934 to house installations depicting man’s developments in transportation. The Rotunda was situated within 12 acres (4.9 ha) of the
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Magic Skyway: Fair-goers, seated in convertibles, were first taken for a ride through plastic tunnels around the outside of the Rotunda for a sweeping view of the grounds, then onto the exhibit building and the fantasy-land
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pm. The official report from the Dearborn Fire Department read: "Plastic dome on light aluminum construction over interior court of building collapsed spreading fire to combustible content (Christmas Fantasy display)."
275:’s band played for more than 22,000 visitors at the grand opening. Movie stars, celebrities, business leaders, heads of state, and millions of people came to learn about and celebrate the Ford Motor Company.
286:, with barracks set up across Rotunda Drive. The theatre inside the Rotunda was used as a movie hall to entertain soldiers. In 1946, ten young army officers, soon to be known as the Whiz Kids, first met
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in Chicago. After the World’s Fair, the Rotunda was dismantled and rebuilt in Dearborn, serving as the visitor center for what was then the equivalent of Ford Motor Company’s world headquarters.
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Hall of Science: highlighted Philco-Ford laboratory research projects, like laser light, sound of stars being picked up with a radio, and a display of new materials Ford would use in later cars.
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became the 49th state, a display was built featuring mountains, fisherman and a stuffed grizzly bear in the Rotunda. Flower shows and custom car shows were also held in the Rotunda.
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pm, a fire began on the roof of the Rotunda. The fire started as workers were waterproofing the building in preparation for that year’s Winter Spectacular. The alarm rang at 1:12
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Drama of Transportation: a collection of chronologically-arranged vehicles–from an Egyptian chariot, to horse-drawn carriages, to the latest automobiles of the day.
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In 1953, the annual Christmas Fantasy was held for the first time at the Rotunda and nearly half a million people visited that year. A 37-foot-tall (11 m)
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where visitors would be driven in the latest Ford vehicles. The Rotunda was reopened to the public on May 14, 1936 after more than a year of construction.
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The site of the Ford Rotunda was left empty until the Michigan Technical Education Center (M-TEC) opened on the site in 2000.
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Ford World: a 20-foot-diameter, 12-ton, rotating globe highlighting the Ford Motor Company’s operations around the world.
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is now. Ford did not participate in the 1933 World's Fair. This building was constructed for the 1934 World's Fair.
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City of Tomorrow: a futuristic city with towering metal spires and the glittering glass of bubble-shaped buildings.
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The Ford Rotunda (also referred to as the Ford Pavilion, and the Ford Exposition Building) was built by the
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million people visited the Rotunda to see the displays, ride the cars, and tour the Rouge. In 1958 the new
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pm and, despite efforts of the entire Dearborn fire brigade, the walls of the Rotunda collapsed at 1:55
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was held for nine years at the Rotunda and in that time nearly 6 million people visited.
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was displayed. An elaborate Santa’s workshop and a life-size nativity scene that the
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The road in front of the Rotunda's former location retains its name, Rotunda Drive.
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The Rotunda was the fifth most popular tourist destination in the 1950s, after
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Rotunda in Dearborn, across street from Ford headquarters, over river from the
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was introduced to the press under a 100-foot-tall (30 m) model of the
739:"Heritage Moment: 50th Anniversary of the Ford Rotunda Fire in Dearborn".
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reproductions of what Ford called the Roads of the World, including the
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Detroit Remember When I: Motor City Memories and Hometown Traditions
707:"Fire Levels Ford Motor Display Hall: Fire Destroys Ford Rotunda".
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One of the brands introduced at the Rotunda was the ill-fated 1958
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from the original Ford Administration Building and near the later
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candles, mounted and lit along the rim of the rotunda.
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609:"The birth of the geodesic dome; how Bucky did it"
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423:Second Ford Rotunda at 1964 New York World's Fair
589:. A&E Television Networks. November 13, 2009
786:Demolished buildings and structures in Michigan
218:shoreline on the South Side of Chicago, where
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558:"The 1964-1965 New York World's Fair - Ford"
377:On Friday, November 9, 1962, shortly after 1
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461:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
796:Buildings and structures completed in 1933
687:"Fire Destroys World Famed Ford Rotunda".
538:"When Flames Consumed a Christmas Fantasy"
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481:Learn how and when to remove this message
757:"Famed Ford Rotunda in Dearborn Burns".
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294:first real-world application, inventor
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759:The Washington Post and Times-Herald
743:. Ford Motor Company. November 2012.
459:adding citations to reliable sources
724:"Ford's Archives Given Institute".
630:Kolbert, Elizabeth (June 9, 2008).
393:A group of 118 schoolchildren from
343:Great Smoky Mountains National Park
162:that was originally located on the
667:"Ford Rotunda - Glory and Tragedy"
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761:. November 10, 1962. p. A1.
713:. November 10, 1962. p. N1.
619:(6): 14. November–December 1989.
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691:. November 10, 1962. p. 5.
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583:"Sun sets on the Ford Rotunda"
205:1933–1934 Chicago World’s Fair
193:The Rotunda was built for the
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791:Ford Motor Company facilities
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331:National Council of Churches
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16:Former US tourist attraction
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96:42.3120667°N 83.1767056°W
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671:automotivemileposts.com
536:Nolan, J. (June 1996).
347:Smithsonian Institution
311:and in 1959 just after
244:Ford World Headquarters
138:Design and construction
101:42.3120667; -83.1767056
651:Nathanson, M. (1996).
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226:Relocating to Dearborn
710:Chicago Daily Tribune
296:R. Buckminster Fuller
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728:. December 31, 1964.
562:worldsfairphotos.com
455:improve this section
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409:(known today as the
781:Century of Progress
363:Washington Monument
305:Lincoln Continental
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40:General information
726:The New York Times
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236:Ford Rouge factory
211:Ford Motor Company
160:tourist attraction
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143:Architect(s)
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587:History.com
373:Destruction
273:Fred Waring
199:Albert Kahn
147:Albert Kahn
112:Inaugurated
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74:Coordinates
775:Categories
521:References
395:South Bend
257:Appian Way
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248:limestone
120:Destroyed
48:Destroyed
741:Ford.com
365:and the
349:and the
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176:Dearborn
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593:June 1,
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399:Indiana
278:During
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320:Edsel
128:Owner
595:2020
446:any
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