Gerald R. Ford Museum - 2010  

Updated: 07/11/11

The Ford Museum opened to the public in September, 1981. It is part of the Presidential libraries system of the National Archives and Records Administration. Unlike other Presidential libraries, the museum component is geographically separated from the library/archives. The Library is in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The museum staff organizes and hosts special events - everything from a 1940's fashion show to activities from school children. The Museum also host naturalization ceremonies for new citizens and opens the grounds to the community festivities and fireworks on the Fourth of July.

The permanent exhibits are the core of the Museum's program. In addition to the permanent exhibits, a succession of temporary exhibits from the entire Presidential libraries system, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Archives and others add to the experience.

This sculpture was the first thing you saw upon leaving the parking lot. If you don't recognize the uniform, it is the uniform of the University of Michigan. President Ford played the position of center.

Gerald Ford was a Boy Scout and supporter of the Boy Scouts his entire life. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

We will discuss the piece of art later.
It is a very interesting story that we read as we left the museum.

     
The Presidential Seal was on the entry door and on the wall in the lobby.

A piece of the Berlin Wall was on display in the lobby.

A wolverine in bronze . . . the mascot of the University of Michigan.

Visiting a Presidential Museum is a visit into history. Filled with articles and photographs, you could spend many hours absorbing all the information.

Don't miss the video program in the auditorium.

The museum is set up in 'life order' so we will let a lot of the story be told using the exhibits.

These panels showed an American flag from one angle and historical scenes from the another angle.

Many exhibits ran newsreels of events from that era.

Education for Life . . .

Paint - The family business . . .                                                      An autographed game ball . . .

The 1948 Election . . .

Life as a Congressman . . .

You forget what a tremendous impact Watergate had on our nation.

The Watergate exhibit immerses the visitor in one of the most critical constitutional crises in the nation's history.  The story of the bungled burglary at the Watergate apartments in Washington, D.C. in 1972  that eventually forced Richard Nixon to resign as President and elevated Gerald R Ford to the nations highest office in 1974.

Presidential gifts are displayed.

University of Michigan football helmet . . .

A Permanent Exhibit of Leadership of Diplomacy . . .

Each president selects the decor of his Oval Office.

The Oval Office replica has been updated and expanded with overhead lighting synchronized to a narration detailing activities in this famous room. Recorded voices of actors portraying Ford, Rockefeller, Kissinger and others describe a typical day in this most atypical of work spaces.

This exhibit showed the members of the Ford Administration.

This replica of the Cabinet Room decorated as it was during the Ford Administration, is used to introduce students ad visitors to the issues faced by President Ford and his Cabinet. Visitors are invited to sit at the table while videos highlighting three major events are presented: The pardon of Richard Nixon, the seizure of the USS Mayaguez, and the New York City financial crisis.

One display was a Kaleidoscope of various images . . . faces, people, signs and etc.

Part of a politician's life is campaigning.

The Fords had a good reputation and were respected.

"Decent people always leave a touch of class!"

A traveling exhibit at the Ford Museum when we visited . . .

The Betty Ford Garden is located in front of the museum.

You walk by it to reach President Ford's burial site. 

         Betty died in July, 2011. 

As we returned to our vehicle, we paused to appreciate The Image Mill. It is a very interesting piece of art. When you visit the museum, spend some time enjoying it.

BE SURE TO READ THIS POSTER.   (Click on it, to enlarge it.)

As the wheel turns, the images become visible.

Wear causal clothes and comfortable footwear . . .
        Times and Fees in 2010

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