16 | JULY 18 • 2024 
J
N

T

he Henry Ford, encom-
passing the Henry Ford 
Museum and Greenfield 
Village with its historic work-
shops and other educational 
sites, is a popular tourist attrac-
tion and a frequent destination 

for school groups. Dedicated 
to “
American innovation,
” 
The Henry Ford’s sprawling 
educational complex is the site 
of workshops featuring the 
achievements of Thomas Edison 
and the Wright Brothers, as well 

as exhibits about American 
industry and innovation. The 
Henry Ford, a nonprofit cor-
poration, was established in 
1929, beginning as a museum 
for Ford’s personal collec-
tions.
But one local innovator — 
Albert Kahn — has not been 
a part of The Henry Ford, 
even though he was Detroit’s 
leading architect in the first 
half of the 20th century 
and Ford’s chief industrial 
designer. 
Kahn, a German Jew, 
immigrated with his family, 
including seven siblings, 
to Detroit in 1883. He left 
school in the seventh grade 

to help support the family. 
However, beginning with an 
office boy’s job at Mason and 
Rice, a Detroit architectural 
firm, Kahn developed excep-
tional design and business 
expertise and eventually 
opened his own architectural 
firm. 
His brother Louis Kahn, 
a civil engineer, joined him, 
and the firm Kahn and Kahn 
was the first in Detroit to 
offer both engineering and 
architectural services.
Kahn became Henry Ford’s 
foremost architect, creating 
factories that were much 
more efficient than previous 
structures and that provid-

After many years, iconic architect 
gets recognition he deserves.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

OUR COMMUNITY

 The
Henry Ford 
 
 
Recognizes

The exterior of Stand 44 
at Greenfield Village was 
modeled after the Ford 
Highland Park Plant.

Stand 44 restaurant, 
with architectural 
features modeled 
after Kahn’s factory 
design.

ALBERT KAHN LEGACY FOUNDATION

ALBERT KAHN LEGACY FOUNDATION

