Ford is turning one of Washington, D.C.’s busiest transit hubs into a showcase of American industry, innovation and horsepower for the nation’s 250th birthday.
The automaker has opened “Driving America Forward,” a free Union Station exhibit that traces Ford’s 123-year impact on American life — from the factory floor and World War II to farms, racetracks and pop culture.
The exhibit runs July 1 through July 14 as millions of visitors travel through the nation’s capital for Fourth of July celebrations.
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Ted Ryan, Ford’s heritage and brand manager, told FOX Business that Union Station was selected because of its constant crowds and dramatic architecture.
“Union Station was chosen because it’s so incredibly visited,” Ryan said. “… The setting is just spectacular — the marble floor, the vaulted ceiling. It’s a beautiful venue to display some absolutely amazing cars.”
The goal, Ryan said, is for visitors to leave with a better understanding of Ford’s role beyond the assembly line.
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“What we want people to walk away saying is, ‘Oh my gosh, I didn’t know Ford did that,’” Ryan said.
The exhibit features a range of vehicles, including the last Model T ever built. Ryan said the car, introduced in 1908, transformed transportation and at one point accounted for 57% of all cars in the world.
Other vehicles on display include a 1928 Model A Roadster, a 1934 Flatbed Ford V8 pickup loaned by Jay Leno, a 1941 Ford GP, a 1951 Ford tractor, a 1954 F-100, a 1964 Mustang used in the New York World’s Fair ride, a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, among others.
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Ryan said the lineup was chosen to show Ford’s reach beyond passenger cars — from farms and factories to battlefields and racetracks.
Archival displays also spotlight lesser-known Ford innovations, including early mail-sorting technology, barcode and ZIP code readers, and the company’s role in helping build Mission Control in Houston for the Apollo program.
“It’s free and open to the public,” Ryan said. “Come and enjoy the air conditioning at Union Station and enjoy looking at some absolutely stunning cars.”
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