- Environmentalists protested outside of the Ford headquarters complex, inflating a nearly 12 story tall, fierce-looking Tyrannosaurus Rex with banners telling passersby that the automaker was not doing enough to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At times, however, there were only a dozen or so people in the official protest area, designated by the city of Dearborn, which was separated from Ford's property by the eight-lane Michigan Avenue boulevard.
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| Right out of a B-movie was a 12-story inflatable Tyrannosaurus Rex adorned with environmentalist slogans, setup by the few protesters on hand. (Photo: Joseph Cabadas, Canadian Auto Press) |
- Rains had soaked visitors during the first day of the festival-like atmosphere, June 12, but they had also doused the first of three music concerts scheduled throughout the weekend. Earth, Wind & Fire and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra were supposed to play that Friday, followed by a fireworks display, but the rainwater had soaking the grassy field where spectators were supposed to sit, forcing a cancellation.
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| Although the first of three scheduled concerts was rained out, Beyonce Knowles and Toby Keith's concerts went off without a hitch, each playing to crowds over 40,000. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
- The remaining two music concerts stayed on track with an estimated 41,000 people staying to see Beyonce Knowles of Destiny's Child launch her solo career in a pay-for-view concert on the grounds of the Glass House on June 13. Then, country star Toby Keith wowed the crowd of 55,000 the following night with several patriotic American tunes after which a fireworks display closed out Sunday's activities.
- The heightened concerns of terrorism since September 11, 2001, also impacted the goings on at the Ford Centennial. A no fly zone had been imposed over the Glass House's grounds, while a double security "fence" -- which was little more than two rows of a blue colored nylon cloth -- allowed security guards to zip around the perimeter of the event without bumping into people. Otherwise, the "fence" only served to discourage people from wandering onto Ford's grounds but wouldn't have stopped a determined wrongdoer (but fortunately nothing sinister took place). Still, people entering the event had to pass through metal detectors and those bringing their cars onto the grounds had to have them searched -- with guards using mirrors to check underneath for bombs.