Ford in Central Iowa

A Century of Innovation and Community

Ford’s connection to Iowa is one of enterprise, perseverance, and local pride. For more than a century, Fords have rolled through the streets of Des Moines—some assembled right here, others serviced or sold by Iowans whose craftsmanship helped fuel the automotive age. This story isn’t just about machines; it’s about the people, places, and spirit that defined Ford’s presence in Central Iowa.

Ford Comes to Des Moines (1916–1920)

The story begins in 1916, when Ford Motor Company opened a modest parts and sales office on East 5th Avenue in Des Moines. About thirty employees worked there, managing shipments to local dealers and repair shops. It might have looked unremarkable from the street, but that office represented something bigger—the arrival of Ford’s industrial spirit in Iowa.

At the time, Iowa led the nation in car ownership per capita. Roughly half of the 146,000 vehicles on Iowa roads were Fords. Henry Ford saw opportunity in the heartland and soon looked to expand.

In 1917, construction began on a six-story brick factory at Grand Avenue and Fleur Drive. Des Moines residents watched with curiosity as steel and concrete rose along the skyline. Ford would ship parts west by rail, and workers in Iowa would assemble the finished cars locally. It was efficient, forward-thinking, and it brought the excitement of modern industry to Des Moines.

World War I delayed construction, and material shortages slowed progress. At one point, a partial collapse during building caused weeks of setbacks. Still, optimism carried through, and by the spring of 1920, the plant opened its doors. For a short time, it produced Fordson tractors before shifting fully to Model T automobiles. It quickly became one of the region’s busiest factories, employing hundreds and—at its peak—nearly 2,000 Iowans. The rumble of engines became part of the city’s daily soundtrack.

The Model A Era (1927–1931)

When the Model T era came to an end, Ford paused production nationwide to retool for something entirely new: the Model A. The Des Moines plant went silent for several months while equipment was updated, new machinery installed, and workers retrained. In 1928, that silence gave way to the rhythmic hum of progress once again.

The Model A was more than a new car—it was a statement of resilience. It featured improved brakes, a more powerful engine, and modern styling. Across Iowa, farmers, families, and young professionals flocked to dealerships to see the new car for themselves. For many, their first ride in a Model A was through downtown Des Moines, where the cars gleamed under bright streetlamps.

The factory and its dealerships became community anchors. Even during the economic hardships that followed, Ford’s operations offered steady work. Mechanics and salesmen knew their customers by name, and families took pride in owning something built or delivered by local hands.

Clyde Herring and the Des Moines Connection

No figure captures Ford’s Iowa connection better than Clyde L. Herring. As a young man, Herring met Henry Ford while working in a Detroit jewelry store. That chance encounter—two tinkerers chatting over watch parts—sparked a friendship that changed Iowa’s automotive landscape.

After moving to Iowa, Herring founded the Herring Motor Company in downtown Des Moines. It wasn’t just a dealership; it was a hub of excitement. Mechanics tuned engines on the sidewalk, and customers gathered to marvel at the latest Model T or Model A. At its height, Herring’s operation produced up to 32 cars a day.

When Henry Ford visited Des Moines in 1916, he met with Herring to discuss his plans for regional assembly plants. That meeting would help cement Des Moines as one of Ford’s key Midwestern hubs. Herring’s influence continued long after he left the showroom floor—he later became Iowa’s governor (1933–1937) and a U.S. Senator. His former dealership building still stands, its sturdy brick walls now home to the 10th Street Lofts, but its legacy as a birthplace of Iowa’s automotive industry remains strong.

Iowa and the Regional Ford Network

The Des Moines plant was part of a larger Ford ecosystem stretching across the Midwest. The Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul built cars and produced glass using sand mined from the bluffs of the Mississippi River. Some of that glass likely found its way into Model A’s assembled or sold in Iowa.

Further east, Dearborn’s Proving Grounds tested designs that would shape every car that followed. Henry Ford’s “village industries”—smaller hydro-powered factories like Northville, Phoenix Mill, and Nankin Mill—produced precision parts used in vehicles across the region. These plants kept rural communities employed year-round, offering farmers and their families off-season work. The valves in your Model A’s engine may very well have been crafted in one of these small Michigan mills.

Life Beyond the Assembly Line

Ford’s impact stretched far beyond its factories. It shaped how Americans lived, worked, and even celebrated. In Dearborn, the Ford Rotunda became one of the nation’s top tourist attractions—a 12-story, gear-shaped building that hosted the famous “Christmas Fantasy” exhibits. Families from across the Midwest traveled to see its dazzling lights and mechanical displays. Though the Rotunda was lost to fire in 1962, its joyful legacy remains a cherished part of Ford history.

Henry and Clara Ford lived their lives as symbols of balance between work and family. Their Dearborn estate, Fair Lane, blended industrial ingenuity with natural beauty. Clara’s gardens were legendary, and Henry’s workshop on the fourth floor of the powerhouse produced many of his experimental engine designs. Ford’s ventures even extended to aviation, yacht travel aboard the Sialia, and an eco-conscious charcoal operation that gave birth to Kingsford briquettes.

Ford Then & Now: Snapshots from a Broader Legacy

Edsel Ford: The Visionary Designer
When Henry was focused on function, Edsel Ford brought form and elegance. He championed the Model A’s styling, pushed for four-wheel brakes, and later influenced Lincoln’s luxury design language. His blend of artistry and practicality helped Ford stay ahead of changing times.

Clara Ford: Strength Behind the Legacy
Clara Jane Bryant Ford was a woman ahead of her time—an early advocate for women’s rights and a leader in Detroit’s suffrage movement. She preferred her quiet Baker Electric car to the noisy Model T and helped shape the charitable spirit that defined the Ford family.

Kingsford Briquettes: Innovation from Scraps
When Ford’s lumber mills in Michigan produced piles of leftover wood, he worked with Thomas Edison to create charcoal briquettes—turning waste into opportunity. Packaged and sold through Ford dealerships, “Ford Charcoal” soon became Kingsford, a name still synonymous with backyard cookouts today.

Village Industries and Rural Progress
By the 1930s, there were 19 “village factories” around Michigan, each serving as a small manufacturing hub powered by local rivers. Northville, Nankin, and Phoenix Mill supported nearby farms and communities while feeding the larger Ford network.

Fair Lane and The Henry Ford Museum
The Ford estate at Fair Lane and the adjacent Henry Ford Museum preserve America’s innovation story. From Model Ts and Wright Brothers exhibits to Edison’s Menlo Park lab, these landmarks capture the same pioneering spirit that once flowed through the Des Moines assembly lines.

Dearborn Country Club: A Social Experiment
Founded in 1925, Dearborn Country Club was a meeting place for Ford employees and families. Despite Henry’s strict “no alcohol” rule, it quickly became the social heart of Dearborn. Today, it remains a testament to Ford’s belief in community life.

The Rotunda’s Holiday Spirit
At Christmas, Ford’s Rotunda transformed into a winter wonderland with animated displays, a 37-foot tree, and dolls donated to children in need. Millions attended, making it one of the most beloved holiday events of the 20th century.

The Yacht Sialia
In 1917, Henry bought the 202-foot yacht Sialia, named after the bluebird. It served as both leisure and business transport, cruising between Dearborn, Florida, and the Great Lakes. The ship’s name—scientific for “bluebird”—reflected Ford’s fascination with nature.

The Pullman Car & Chicago Connection
Ford’s custom Pullman railcar, Fair Lane, took the family across the country in style. It often departed from Detroit’s Michigan Central Station and was later restored for display at The Henry Ford Museum.

Ford’s Legacy in Central Iowa

Even after production stopped in 1932, Ford remained part of Des Moines’ story. The Grand Avenue factory found new life during World War II as the Solar Aircraft plant, producing airplane components for the war effort. Later, it became Des Moines Technical High School and, today, Central Campus—a symbol of learning rising from a foundation of innovation.

Ford’s 1948 Walnut Street Parts Depot carried on the tradition, serving dealerships across the Midwest. The east-side facility near the State Fairgrounds—now EMCO—continued Ford’s industrial presence well into the modern era.

For Iowans, Ford’s story is more than history—it’s personal. It’s the sound of a Model A engine on parade, the memory of a grandfather’s Fordson tractor, the pride of craftsmanship that continues in every restoration project. Through the dedication of the Central Iowa Model A Ford Club, that heritage endures. The hum of innovation that began in 1916 still echoes through Iowa’s roads today.

Sources & References

Ford Then and Now – The Iowa Experience (Benson Ford Research Center, The Henry Ford Museum)
History of the Des Moines Branch (1941, Accession 429 Box 2, The Henry Ford Archives)
35th Anniversary and 1948 Open Parts Depot (1951, Accession 378 Box 1, The Henry Ford Archives)
Ford Then and Now Series by Curt Carlson, 2023–2025
Clyde Herring, Villages, Kingsford Briquettes, Rotunda, Proving Grounds, Dearborn Country Club, Sialia, Fair Lane, The Henry Ford, Twin Cities, Chicago, Piquette, Clara & Edsel Ford, Edison
Des Moines Register Archives (1916–1940)
Iowa Historical Society Collections
The Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village (Dearborn, Michigan)

Developed using research provided by CIMAFC member Curt Carlson, drawing from the “Ford Then and Now” series and the historical archives of Ford Motor Company and the State of Iowa.