Henry Ford Celebration driving tour

Known as the automotive capital of Canada, Windsor-Essex, Ontario is synonymous with cutting edge innovation and design – we are a culture of cars and distinctive automobile heritage, which harkens back to the early 1900s. Just as our neighbours to the north are deemed the Motor City of the U.S., we too take great pride in telling our story – a story which ties itself to Windsor, including the Ford City and Walkerville districts, and the County of Essex. It is time to rev up your engine and get ready to experience the sites and relive the stories responsible for igniting one of our country’s economic powerhouse industries. Each Canadian location of the Henry Ford Celebration Driving Tour plays an integral role in piecing together the birthplace of the Canadian automobile and the legacy the American pioneer, industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company had on our region.

U.S. paSSport bookU.S. paSSport cardenhanced driver’S licenSetrUSted traveler program cardSnexUS, Sentri, or faSt

For further information on passport applications, please visit Travel.State.Gov, crossingmadeeasy.com or call the National

Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.

The BirThplace of The canadian auTomoBile

c e l e B r a T i o n d r i v i n g T o u r

PENNSYLVANIA

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INDIANA 100 miles

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TorontoNiagara

FallsSarnia

Ottawa

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Buffalo

Cleveland

Columbus

Toledo

Pittsburgh

Cincinnati

Detroit

Chicago

Indianapolis

WINDSOR ESSEX

OHIOOHIOILLINOIS

Manager-Owner of Walkerville Wagon Works, Gordon McGregor believed that farmers would soon be driving automobiles. His teaming with Henry Ford made it possible for thousands to own one.

The thriving community that began its growth around the Ford Motor Company of Canada in 1904 is Windsor’s Walkerville and Ford City districts today, where remnants remain of its historical past.

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Walkerville Wagon Works

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Ford purchased Walkerville Wagon Works, which became Ford Motor Company of Canada. The Victoria Tavern is the site where the purchase agreement was signed.

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About tourism Windsor EssEx PElEE islAndTourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island is the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the regional tourism industry. We are a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting and selling Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island as a remarkable destination for tourists, convention goers and business travelers.

About motorcitiEsMotorCities is a non-profit 501(c)3 affiliated with the National Park Service dedicated to preserving, interpreting and promoting the automotive and labor heritage in Southeast Michigan.

motorcities.org

About hEnry ford hEritAgE AssociAtionThe Henry Ford Heritage Association’s mission is to foster interest in the life and accomplishments of Henry Ford, and to preserve and interpret the landmarks associated with his life.

hfha.org

If you are a United States (U.S.) citizen, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. You will need one of the following identification documents below to return to the U.S. by car.

Hiram Walker’s Town: An American grocer and distiller turned entrepreneur, industrial baron, town patriarch and benevolent dictator, Hiram Walker created Walkerville to serve many families.

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Walkerville’s historic shops and restaurants.

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Albert Kahn designed it for Mr. Walker’s son.

Willistead manor

Tour and tasting of Canada’s finest whiskey.

C.C. brand Centre

Artisinal craft brewery,est. 1885.

Walkerville breWery

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The early years were crowded with tourists. The cars have changed, but the expanding property is just as interesting and educational today.

Born in 1865, Jack Miner, or “ Wild Goose Jack” was a Canadian

conservationist referred to by some as the “father” of North American conservationism. Henry Ford too had a love and

sense of wonder about nature. Ford forged a relationship

with Miner which lasted for 30 years, until the passing of Miner in 1944. In 2010, Jack Miner was posthumously inducted into the “Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame” in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Jack Miner property and bird sanctuary invites visitors to feed the wild waterfowl and visit the grounds and museum.

Spend a day, Experience a Century! Discover a century of vintage automobiles in our “state-of-the-art” Transportation Museum and then stroll through our Historic 1800s Village. Drop in at the Windsor Wood Carving Museum located in the basement of our 1885 United Church or take a tour of our Emergency Medical Services Museum. So much to see! So much to do! Henry Ford would have felt right at home here at The Canadian Transportation Museum & Heritage Village. In fact, in addition to the numerous Model Fords currently on display in our Transportation Museum, we have a beautiful pump organ on display in our 1889 Miner homestead which was a gift from Thomas Edison and Henry Ford to Jack and Leona Miner. Henry Ford is said to have spent many Sunday breakfasts at the Miner Homestead. We serve many Sunday breakfasts in our 50s Diner and have unique items for sale in our gift shop. Whether you plan to make a day of it, or you are just passing through, the Canadian Transportation Museum is one of those hidden treasures you just can’t afford to miss!

The museum houses original and fully restored hallmark vehicles from the 19th and 20th century, from horse drawn wagons to a Dodge Viper; many vehicles that were made right here in Southwestern Ontario. Guided tours are available.

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The thriving community that grew around the plant was named Ford City in 1912. By the time the Model T passed the torch to the Model A in 1928, the town boasted 16,000 people of many nationalities.

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walkervilledistrict.com canadianclubwhisky.com

friendsofwillistead.com walkervillebrewery.com

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