Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant

Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant is a factory in Richmond that extends along the waterfront and is characterized by generous window surfaces that bring daylight deep into the production halls. Today, a section of the facility, the Craneway Pavilion, functions as a venue for visitors.

The factory was designed as an automobile assembly plant but underwent fundamental transformation during World War II, converting to an armaments facility for the US military. It played a key role in the war effort and processed thousands of vehicles for combat operations in the Pacific.

The building displays a form of industrial design that was innovative for its era, with expansive windows flooding the workshop floors with daylight and creating an open feeling rather than dark factory halls. This design shapes how visitors perceive and move through the site today.

The site is easily accessible right on the waterfront and offers parking near the Visitor Education Center for those interested in exploring the grounds. The event space is open to the public, especially when programs are scheduled, so visiting during these times is worthwhile.

During the war, this facility was one of only three centers in the country specifically equipped to process and prepare tanks and armored vehicles for combat. This specialized function made the plant a critical hub in American war production.