The beginning chapter for the Ford Rotunda started on February 12, 1934, when Ford Motor Company announced a special display, a late entry in the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair. It was an exciting time in Ford Motor Company’s history. A massive plaster hall was developed and completed in just four months. After the completion of the World’s Fair event, the Rotunda was dismantled and shipped to Dearborn. Construction for the permanent installation of the Ford Rotunda was supervised by the talented Detroit architect, Albert Kahn, who was the most popular industrial architect of his time, noted for many projects in Detroit and around the world.
The Ford Rotunda was located along Schaefer Road in Dearborn, and opened its doors to the public in May, 1936. It was recorded at the time that over 61,000 visitors went through its doors in the first week, and 16 million guests from around the world visited over its 26-year history. Many historians have noted that the Rotunda was one of the five most popular United State tourist attractions during the 1950s.
