Ford's Rouge Factory: The Factory That Built America

It wasn't really a factory. It was basically its own city. This was industrial America at its absolute peak. Before global supply chains and sprawling industrial networks, Ford built one of the most ambitious manufacturing complexes the world had ever seen. Known simply as "The Rouge," Ford's River Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan transformed raw materials into finished automobiles within a single massive facility. The Rouge covered more than 1,000 acres, contained 93 buildings, employed over 100,000 workers, and operated its own power plant, railroad network, docks, and steel mill. It was not merely a factory—it was a self-contained city dedicated to manufacturing. Construction began in 1917, and when it was completed in 1928 it had become the largest integrated factory in the world. The Rouge measures 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide by 1 mile (1.6 km) long, including 93 buildings with nearly 16 million square feet (1.5 km²) of factory floor space. With its own docks in the dredged Rouge River, 100 miles (160 km) of interior railroad track, its own electricity plant, and integrated steel mill, the titanic Rouge was able to turn raw materials into running vehicles within this single complex, a prime example of vertical-integration production. This remarkable film offers a rare look inside one of the most important industrial achievements of the 20th century and the facility that helped define American manufacturing. Explore more rare automotive, industrial, and historical films from King Rose Archives. For availability and licensing inquiries, please contact: https://www.globalimageworks.com/contact Ref: S004 For availability and licensing inquiries, please contact: https://www.globalimageworks.com/contact Ref: S004