Did you know that Henry Ford created multiple history museums? I live 45 minutes away from them. Today I want to talk about Greenfield Village, how it got started, and why he chose to build it.

Greenfield Village began in 1919 as a renovation project on Henry Ford’s childhood home. Due to a road improvement project, Ford got notice that his old home was to “be moved 200ft or destroyed.”

As he had memories with his late mother on the property, he chose to not only move the house but restore it to how he always remembered as a child.

When Henry saw the reaction to his completed project he continued to purchase and restore properties, forming what we know as Greenfield Village.

He designed the village in seven different districts to represent America’s history.

Since I live so closely, my family and I will go out about once a year. It’s always an incredible experience. I enjoy how informational it is, but it’s also a great atmosphere to leisurely observe in. It doesn’t feel overwhelming, or like a theme park.

The employees are in character, you’re able to walk in and explore all of the buildings, there are horse and buggy & Model-T’s driving all over the place. I absolutely love history and have a lot of fun going.

A highlight of my last trip was Robert Frost’s house. Yes, Henry Ford shipped Robert Frost’s house here.

When you walk in, along with the complete restoration, there are also frames of Robert’s poetry on the walls. I want to share a classic with you:

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–

I took the one less travelled by,

And that made all the difference.

– Robert Frost, 1915