The Ford Center and Forest began in 1936 as a Henry Ford sawmill community. Unique among Ford’s vast Northern Michigan Operations the entire village of Alberta was purpose built to showcase a work/life balance revolving around the sawmill. Plans for its expansion never materialized beyond the 12 homes, 2 school houses, and the mill when a world war changed how automobiles were made.
In 1954 the Ford Motor Company donated the entire village and acreage to Michigan Technological Institute. It has expanded and run as a learning and research facility ever since. Today the dormitory can house up to 60 students taking one of the semester long onsite course loads. Several of the houses are available to researches and outside user groups as well. Its 3700 acres serve as the classroom and living laboratory for both education and research.
- Year Founded
- 1954
- Year Joined OBFS
- 2017
- Size of Field Station (hectares)
- 1001-2500
- FSML Web Address
- https://www.mtu.edu/forest/fordcenter/
- Private nonprofit organization?
- No
- Universities affiliated / Parent Organization
- Michigan Technological Institute
- Federal, state, or local governmental partners?
-
No
- Member of the Virtual Field
- No