Portrait of Henry Ford as a Child, 1865-1866

Henry Ford began restoration of his Dearborn, Michigan, birthplace in 1919. He repaired or replaced the farm buildings and filled the small, white clapboard house with original or similar furnishings he remembered from his boyhood. He dedicated the restoration to the memory of his beloved mother, Mary Litogot Ford, who died in 1876. In 1944, the house and outbuildings were moved to Greenfield Village.

This was a pivotal time in Henry Ford's life. Ford, in his early 40s, urged his Ford Motor Company partners to support production of a "light, low-priced car," believing higher sales would increase profits. The introduction of the Model N in 1906 proved him right. It was more affordable than previous models and quickly became America's bestselling car.

The Quadricycle was Henry Ford's first attempt to build a gasoline-powered automobile. It utilized commonly available materials: angle iron for the frame, a leather belt and chain drive for the transmission, and a buggy seat. Ford had to devise his own ignition system. He sold his Quadricycle for $200, then used the money to build his second car.