Ford Freighter "Benson Ford" Departing the Ford Rouge Plant, circa 1948

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Artifact Overview

Henry Ford had two ore freighters built in 1924 and named them after his grandsons -- Henry Ford II and Benson Ford. The ships plied the Great Lakes, transporting raw materials and finished products to and from Ford's River Rouge manufacturing complex. The Benson Ford (seen here) was decommissioned in 1981. The Henry Ford II remained part of the Ford Motor Company fleet until 1989.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

circa 1948

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1660.P.O.12231

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8.25 in
Width: 10.25 in

Ford Freighter "Benson Ford" Departing the Ford Rouge Plant, circa 1948