Automotive Hall of Fame

The place to begin your automotive experience in southeast Michigan. Here you can celebrate the men and women whose automotive innovations changed the world and revolutionized our way of life.  It wasn't long ago that our lives played out in small circles, constricted by the limits of a horse or the schedule of a train. The automobile rendered the horse and buggy obsolete and gave us choices.  The contributions of automotive pioneers and innovators provided ordinary people unimagined freedom and opportunity for exploration. The automobile advanced personal mobility, creating and redefining life as we know it. Cars quickly became an integral part of our lives, changing the way we live, work and play. Hall of Honor  A spectacular, 11-foot-high and 65-foot-long mural painted with 90 images to celebrate the impact of the motor vehicle on the world's culture. It is believed the mural is the largest single piece of automotive fine art since the creation of Diego Rivera's "Detroit Industry" frescos at the Detroit Institute of Arts.  Individual images chronicle such stories as Alice Ramsey, who in 1909 became the first woman to drive across the country; a 1970s "NO GAS" sign, a reminder of the fuel crisis; the opening of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge in 1935; World War II soldiers in Jeeps admiring the Eiffel Tower in Paris; and, kids looking under the hood of a hot rod, a tribute to Corvette guru, Zora Arkus-Duntov.  Aeropede Pretend you are Leonardo da Vinci and operate a centuries-old vision of personal transportation designed by Pontiac, Michigan artist Klaus Berner.  Benz Patent Motorwagen A full-size replica of the world's first gasoline-powered automobile.  The revolutionary three-wheeler built by Carl Benz in 1886 ignited the spark that started the auto industry.  Walter Reuther's West Virginia Home  Walk into the dining room and learn how family conversations around the dining table shaped Reuther's choices.  Henry Ford II Discover the post-World War II accomplishments of Henry Ford II and the Whiz Kids.  Eiji Toyoda's work Experience a modern factory setting to learn about the effect of Mr. Toyoda's work that would help drive the company to unprecedented success.