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- Gilkie Tent Trailer, circa 1927 - Campers who wanted to get close to nature -- but not too close -- loved fold-out tent trailers. These two-wheelers folded down for easy towing by day and then mushroomed into miniature homes at night. Story has it that Warren and Ray Gilkison designed and built their first tent trailer in their father's machine shop for a family camping trip.

- circa 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Gilkie Tent Trailer, circa 1927
Campers who wanted to get close to nature -- but not too close -- loved fold-out tent trailers. These two-wheelers folded down for easy towing by day and then mushroomed into miniature homes at night. Story has it that Warren and Ray Gilkison designed and built their first tent trailer in their father's machine shop for a family camping trip.
- "In Nature's Laboratory : Commemorating Our Vacation Trip of 1916, August 28th to September 9th" - The Vagabonds -- Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs -- enjoyed their annual camping trips taken from 1916 to 1924. Burroughs chronicled the group's 1916 journey in the elaborate scrapbook <em>In Nature's Laboratory</em>. Burroughs, Edison, and Firestone traveled through the Adirondack Mountains and Vermont. Ford couldn't make the trip that year.

- 28 August 1916-09 September 1916
- Collections - Artifact
"In Nature's Laboratory : Commemorating Our Vacation Trip of 1916, August 28th to September 9th"
The Vagabonds -- Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs -- enjoyed their annual camping trips taken from 1916 to 1924. Burroughs chronicled the group's 1916 journey in the elaborate scrapbook In Nature's Laboratory. Burroughs, Edison, and Firestone traveled through the Adirondack Mountains and Vermont. Ford couldn't make the trip that year.
- Auto Campers with Ford Model T Touring Car and Tent, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, circa 1919 - During the late teens and 1920s, hordes of middle-class motorists were answering the call of the open road. But overnight lodgings were hard to find, so many people packed a tent, cots, and food, and enjoyed the freedom of autocamping. Setting up camp for the night provided the opportunity to make much-needed repairs before heading out the next day.

- circa 1919
- Collections - Artifact
Auto Campers with Ford Model T Touring Car and Tent, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, circa 1919
During the late teens and 1920s, hordes of middle-class motorists were answering the call of the open road. But overnight lodgings were hard to find, so many people packed a tent, cots, and food, and enjoyed the freedom of autocamping. Setting up camp for the night provided the opportunity to make much-needed repairs before heading out the next day.
- World War I Veterans Demonstrate Use of Their Artificial Limbs to World War II Veterans at Camp Legion, July 1944 - Henry Ford opened Camp Legion, near Dearborn, Michigan, in 1938 for sons of dead or disabled World War I veterans. The young men earned steady wages working there seasonally from April-November. The camp's mission was modified in 1944 to include rehabilitation of World War II veterans with disabilities. Veterans learned new skills to help them reenter the workforce.

- July 18, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
World War I Veterans Demonstrate Use of Their Artificial Limbs to World War II Veterans at Camp Legion, July 1944
Henry Ford opened Camp Legion, near Dearborn, Michigan, in 1938 for sons of dead or disabled World War I veterans. The young men earned steady wages working there seasonally from April-November. The camp's mission was modified in 1944 to include rehabilitation of World War II veterans with disabilities. Veterans learned new skills to help them reenter the workforce.
- Disabled Veteran in Class at Camp Legion Vocational School, August 1944 - Henry Ford opened Camp Legion, near Dearborn, Michigan, in 1938 for sons of dead or disabled World War I veterans. The young men earned steady wages working there seasonally from April-November. The camp's mission was modified in 1944 to include rehabilitation of World War II veterans with disabilities. Veterans learned new skills to help them reenter the workforce.

- August 12, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
Disabled Veteran in Class at Camp Legion Vocational School, August 1944
Henry Ford opened Camp Legion, near Dearborn, Michigan, in 1938 for sons of dead or disabled World War I veterans. The young men earned steady wages working there seasonally from April-November. The camp's mission was modified in 1944 to include rehabilitation of World War II veterans with disabilities. Veterans learned new skills to help them reenter the workforce.
- Thomas Edison and Mina Edison on a "Vagabonds" Camping Trip, 1921 - Between 1916 and 1924, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone and naturalist John Burroughs embarked on a series of camping trips. They called themselves the Vagabonds, but they camped in style. These Vagabonds enjoyed retreating from the fast-paced world to explore nature and the pre-industrial countryside -- or just to relax and nap under a tree.

- 1921
- Collections - Artifact
Thomas Edison and Mina Edison on a "Vagabonds" Camping Trip, 1921
Between 1916 and 1924, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone and naturalist John Burroughs embarked on a series of camping trips. They called themselves the Vagabonds, but they camped in style. These Vagabonds enjoyed retreating from the fast-paced world to explore nature and the pre-industrial countryside -- or just to relax and nap under a tree.
- Disabled Veteran Learning Precision Casting Work, Camp Legion Vocational School, November 1944 - Henry Ford opened Camp Legion, near Dearborn, Michigan, in 1938 for sons of dead or disabled World War I veterans. The young men earned steady wages working there seasonally from April-November. The camp's mission was modified in 1944 to include rehabilitation of World War II veterans with disabilities. Veterans learned new skills to help them reenter the workforce.

- November 28, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
Disabled Veteran Learning Precision Casting Work, Camp Legion Vocational School, November 1944
Henry Ford opened Camp Legion, near Dearborn, Michigan, in 1938 for sons of dead or disabled World War I veterans. The young men earned steady wages working there seasonally from April-November. The camp's mission was modified in 1944 to include rehabilitation of World War II veterans with disabilities. Veterans learned new skills to help them reenter the workforce.
- Student in the Machine Shop at Camp Legion School of Vocational Guidance, Dearborn, Michigan, October 11, 1944 - Henry Ford opened Camp Legion, near Dearborn, Michigan, in 1938 for sons of dead or disabled World War I veterans. The young men earned steady wages working there seasonally from April-November. The camp's mission was modified in 1944 to include rehabilitation of World War II veterans with disabilities. Veterans learned new skills to help them reenter the workforce.

- October 11, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
Student in the Machine Shop at Camp Legion School of Vocational Guidance, Dearborn, Michigan, October 11, 1944
Henry Ford opened Camp Legion, near Dearborn, Michigan, in 1938 for sons of dead or disabled World War I veterans. The young men earned steady wages working there seasonally from April-November. The camp's mission was modified in 1944 to include rehabilitation of World War II veterans with disabilities. Veterans learned new skills to help them reenter the workforce.
- Enamelware Cup Used on Henry Ford's "Vagabonds" Camping Trips, 1920-1930 - This white enameled cup was used during one of the yearly camping trips taken by the Vagabonds in the early 1920s. The self-named group consisted of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and naturalist John Burroughs. The Vagabonds brought along all needed equipment and utensils, as well as support staff to cook, serve, and maintain the camp.

- 1920-1930
- Collections - Artifact
Enamelware Cup Used on Henry Ford's "Vagabonds" Camping Trips, 1920-1930
This white enameled cup was used during one of the yearly camping trips taken by the Vagabonds in the early 1920s. The self-named group consisted of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and naturalist John Burroughs. The Vagabonds brought along all needed equipment and utensils, as well as support staff to cook, serve, and maintain the camp.
- Ford Motor Company Lumbering Operations at Keating Spur, L'Anse, Michigan, 1926 - In 1919, Henry Ford began buying vast amounts of forestland in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. These prime hardwood forests supplied the lumber used to create vehicle bodies and parts. Other products such as railroad ties, shipping containers and chemical byproducts were also made -- all to support Ford's automobile operations and his goal of manufacturing self-sufficiency.

- February 16, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Motor Company Lumbering Operations at Keating Spur, L'Anse, Michigan, 1926
In 1919, Henry Ford began buying vast amounts of forestland in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. These prime hardwood forests supplied the lumber used to create vehicle bodies and parts. Other products such as railroad ties, shipping containers and chemical byproducts were also made -- all to support Ford's automobile operations and his goal of manufacturing self-sufficiency.