Westland in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Nankin Mills
The Power of Water
Henry Ford wasn't the first to come here.
Early Native Americans gathered along the Rouge River for hunting and fishing. European settlers valued Rouge River waterpower, and the building you see here today was built as a gristmill in the mid-1800s. Henry Ford visited Nankin Mills as a child with his father to grind family grain. His fascination with waterpower led him to later purchase the mill to produce screws and dies for one of his Village Industries. Today Nankin Mills houses the Wayne County Parks offices and Interpretive Center.
You Auto Know
As a Ford plant, the hydroelectric generator here produced excess power that was donated to the village across Ann Arbor Trail known as Pikes Peak.
Erected by Motorcities National Heritage Area, National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 42° 20.881′ N, 83° 22.238′ W. Marker is in Westland, Michigan, in Wayne County. Marker is on Edward N Hines Drive, 0.2 miles south of Ann Arbor Trail, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33175 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland MI 48185, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Nankin Millers House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Nankin Mills (about 400 feet away); "Learning by Doing" (approx. ¼ mile away); Chief Tonquish Burial Site (approx. 0.8 miles away); Perrinsville School (approx. one mile away); Perrinsville (approx. 1.1 miles away); A Nankin Pioneer (approx. 1½ miles away); History of the Straight Farmhouse (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Westland.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 690 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 18, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 6. submitted on August 19, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 7. submitted on October 26, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.