Looking to have some fun while broadening your intellectual horizons on the cheap this summer? Then consider visiting a General Motors assembly plant. For most first-timers, a visit to an automotive manufacturing facility is a memorable experience — to say the least, since watching a vehicle go from a a heap of parts and rolled metal to being completely assembled is nothing short of impressive.
Here are a few visitor-friendly locations to consider:
Tonawanda Engine Plant, Buffalo, N.Y.
- Admission: free
- If Niagara Falls is in your vacation plans, take this side trip to see how the engines of some of the best-selling GM vehicles are made.
Baltimore Transmission Plant, Baltimore, Md.
- Admission: free
- The Baltimore Transmission Plant has some of the most modern technology in engine building and is among GM’s most environmentally-friendly plants. Other nearby attractions include the Baltimore National Harbor, as well as the nation’s capital.
National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, Ky.
- Admission: $10 adult, $5 child age 6-16
- Located across I-65 from the Bowling Green Assembly Plant that produces all Corvettes, the museum is a tour de force of all things Corvette. And it is just 66 miles south of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn.
Fairfax Assembly & Stamping Plant, Kansas City, Kan.
- Admission: free
- One of the only GM plants where you can see the full assembly process — from the first rolls of metal stamped into body panels, through the body shop, paint shop and into general assembly, where the car is started for the very first time. On the east side of the Mississippi is the “other” Kansas City, famous for BBQ, including Oklahoma Joe’s. While in Missouri, visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
General Motors Renaissance Center, Detroit
- Admission: free
- The General Motors Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center features displays of GM’s latest vehicles, occasional special vehicle displays and many shops and restaurants. The American League Champion Detroit Tigers play at Comerica Park and the famed Detroit Institute of Arts is enjoying a rebirth following a major renovation.
Are you planning on visiting a GM facility this summer, perhaps with a friend or family member who may not be in tune with the role General Motors is playing in America’s manufacturing recovery? If so, where are you planning on going? Sound off in the comments!
Comments
If I lived close enough this might be kind of fun as I enjoy the videos you post of the assembly process. If I went to K.C. I’d probably not be able to control my mouth though and get in trouble.
Why, what would you say?
Bowling Green, KY is north of Nashville, not south.
what about the Ingersol CAMI plant?
Sure, CAMI and Oshawa… if you’re in that part of the continent 🙂
I would love to see how the Nox/Terrain built haha
I was born in Detroit, but my parents moved me out of there and to Lincoln, NE back in 1993 ( I was four years old). But, having gone back to visit numerous times throughout my life, I can attest that the Ren Cen is pretty neat to visit and Detroit, even with all of its issues, is still a pretty nice downtown with lots of things to do around the area. I’ve only been inside one auto plant – the Rouge Ford Plant, but I’ve driven by the Fairfax plant (was closed to visitors when I was there, kind of disappointed), the Lake Orion Plant, the Flint plant, the Fort Wayne Plant, the Ford Claycomo plant, the Jefferson Assembly and the Hamtramck plant. None of my Nebraskan friends understand why I would want to drive by an assembly plant, and even though I try, I can’t seem to explain it in terms they can understand…Probably because it doesn’t have to do with cattle or corn (haha, kidding! – the Lincoln/Omaha area is pretty urban and developed). But oh well, I’m from Detroit, whatcha gonna do? 😀
The Gm plant in Northern Ohio is the Plant I would like to visit, but don’t see it on the list.
My husband wants to visit the corvette plant in Boiling Green. Could you let me know when in the fall of 2013 will it reopen for tours. Thanks, Kristie
I am very interested in touring the Tonawanda engine plant in Buffalo NY, but i don’t know how to make it happen. can anyone help by telling me how to go on a tour of the plant ?
No details when the Tonowanda plant tours start or how long they last for . Any details would be great
Why are there no plant tours in MIchigan ? I’m sure the Ren Cen is a cool place to visit but half of my family has worked in one of the Lansing plants . But I don’t see any of them listed or is there a different way to find a schedule for them .. I worked at the Fisher Body plant for 38 years . I know it’s closed but I have a 10 year old grand son that would like to see the kind of work I did. I know that the way the older employees work has changed but it sure would be great to take him into a GM plant in Lansing