McFaddin-Ward House Museum to Present Lecture Featuring The Henry Ford Museum and a Rare and Classic Automobile Display May 8
Beaumont, TX; April 22, 2025 – On Thursday, May 8, the McFaddin-Ward House Museum invites the community to a special lecture series event featuring a Rare and Classic Automobile Display from 4:30 – 6 p.m. and the free public lecture “Wheels of Progress: How Detroit and Ford Motor Company Put the World on Wheels” at 6:30 p.m. at the museum’s Visitor Center (1906 Calder Avenue, Beaumont).
Lecture presenter Matt Anderson, curator of transportation at The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, Michigan, will provide an engaging overview of the automobile industry in Detroit, highlighting the significant and transformative role of the Ford Motor Company. His presentation will include exclusive photos from The Henry Ford’s vast collection.
“We’re going to take a look at how the automobile industry was born and developed in the United States,” Anderson said. “[The automobile] may have been invented in Germany, but we took it to a level here in the U.S. that no one else could match. We’ll look at how Detroit became the Motor City and the center of the industry, and the role of Henry Ford and the Model T.”
In conjunction with the lecture, a Rare and Classic Automobile Display featuring a striking collection of noteworthy cars, including several iconic Ford models, will be held in the Visitor Center parking area for public viewing and enjoyment.
“Attendees are invited to take a glimpse inside these rolling pieces of history and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow enthusiasts,” said Jeffrey Richardson, executive director of the McFaddin-Ward House Museum. “Following this exceptional presentation of automobile history and innovation, Matt Anderson of The Henry Ford will deliver a dynamic lecture that offers a deeper look into the evolution of the American automobile industry and how it came to produce such remarkable vehicles.”
Anderson has served as The Henry Ford’s John and Horace Dodge Curator of Transportation since 2012. In his role at the museum, Anderson oversees the development, care, and interpretation of The Henry Ford’s collection of nearly 300 motor vehicles, as well as the collection’s horse-drawn carriages, railroad locomotives, and rolling stock and aircraft.
“Most people come [to The Henry Ford] expecting to see some cars, and they’re not disappointed,” Anderson said. “I think a lot of visitors [to The Henry Ford] are surprised to see how much more we have.”
Anderson is also a past president of the National Association of Automobile Museums and a member of the board of directors for the Society of Automotive Historians. His previous roles include the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland; the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana; and the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul, Minnesota.
McFaddin-Ward House Museum lectures are free and open to the public, but space is limited. Doors open at 6 p.m., and lectures begin at 6:30 p.m. For those unable to attend, the full lecture will be available for viewing on the museum’s YouTube Channel (youtube.com/@mcfaddinwardhouse) and website (mcfaddin-ward.org/about/videos) after the event.
Built in 1905-1906 in the distinctive Beaux-Arts Colonial style, the McFaddin-Ward House reflects the lifestyle of the prominent family that lived in the house for 75 years. The museum features admission-free tours, educational programming, year-round events, a carriage house exhibit, and gardens.
This program is supported by Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
For more information, call 409-832-2134 or visit mcfaddin-ward.org.