DEARBORN, Mich. – It is one of Metro Detroit’s major attractions, a life sized open air history museum.
We’re talking about Greenfield Village where you can get up close and personal buildings where American history was made.
Here is how one building there just received an upgrade that was years in the making.
If you’re familiar with this building you would not notice the major change they have made to the structure. Restoration was just completed to signage at the top of the Wright Brothers Cycle Shop.
“This is the birthplace of aviation,” said Jim Johnson of Greenfield Village.
Related: Civil War Remembrance at Greenfield Village to remember those who fought, died in battle
There is a photo of the original Wright Brothers Cycle Shop where it stood in Dayton, Ohio. Watch the video player above and you will see what it used to look like after being moved to Greenfield Village.
“This is where they set up shop basically to build their own bicycles,” said Johnson.
Then eventually planes in the early 1900s. For Johnson there was one detail missing from the building’s structure.
It was a project Greenfield Village wanted to take on to make sure the shop was as authentic as it was back then.
“What went missing on the building in 1919 when all these changes took place was this beautiful crest at the top of the building that declared this the Charles Webbert block,” said Johnson.
But these photos show its original state. The detail might seem small but recreating it was three years in the making. It cost several thousand dollars in materials, designing and installation time. The end result sits atop of the building today.
“It’s really gratifying to see its long-life up there,” said Johnson.
And if you’d like to see it in person for yourself, Greenfield Village is open Thursday through Sunday. No appointment is required.
READ MORE: Headlines on history in Michigan and across the country