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