Way Out (mid) West
AIA Spring trip  28th May - 6th June 2012
An opportunity to see the industrial archaeology of the mid-west and join the SIA conference in Cincinnati
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Art Deco Union Station Cincinnati
The Art Deco splendour of Union Station, Cincinnati
This trip offers the opportunity of meeting members of the Society for Industrial Archaeology in the United States at their conference in Cincinnati and to explore some of the industrial history in the mid-West. Before the conference we plan to make our way to the historic town of Madison, Indiana on the Ohio river where, to the background of steamboat whistles, we might see (amongst other attractions) the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad incline. Completed in 1841, ascending 413 feet in a distance of 7,012 feet it was the steepest grade of any line-haul railroad in the country. Next we will move to Columbus, Indiana where we will visit the Cummins engine plant and be given an architectural tour of the town. From there we plan to make our way back to Cincinnati with stops along the way including an historic hand-tool plant.
The Friday of the SIA Conference consists of visits to a variety of sites in and around Cincinnati including the Old River Station water works with its huge steam pumping engines. Saturday is the conference proper with papers covering a wide spectrum of topics and Sunday morning is a walking tour of the city. After that our group will depart northwards when we plan to take in a number of sites perhaps including the  USAF Museum at Dayton Ohio, the largest military air museum in the world. In Detroit we are privileged to be guided by Dr Charles Hyde, academic, author and historian of the automotive industry who will guide us through Motown and show us some of the former glory of this great industrial city. Finally we cannot leave without visiting the Henry Ford Museum.
Piquette Plant Detroit Model-T
Piquette Plant, Detroit where the Model-T was first produced
Non-AIA members are welcome.  Download full details and a booking form