The
Rouge Complex begins at the Dix Street Draw Bridge [tower
at right] which admits giant Great Lakes freighters bearing
coal and iron ore for the blast furnaces and coke ovens seen
in the middle. Further on, iron is transformed to steel, then
parts, then millions of cars.
Lying across the river whose name it bears, the mighty Ford
Rouge Complex came to symbolize mid century American industrial
might. The Rouge was Ford's attempt to extrapolate
the genius of his moving assembly lines, perfected at Highland
Park Model T plant, into a gigantic multi-industrial organization
that would provide all of the elements needed to produce
his cars.
