Story of the Week

Remembering the General Motors Class of 1956 

by Robert Tate, Award-Winning Automotive Historian and Researcher 

The year was 1956 and, if you were a teenager at the time or a young adult, you were probably listening to Elvis Presley or perhaps watching “Father Knows Best” on your black and white television. In 1956, General Motors was riding high with strong sales, maintaining its status as the largest automaker in the world. 

1956 was also a good year for GM employees with more people working and making a great living. A stock purchase program was made available to salaried employes in the United States to enable them to increase their stake in GM’s progress. Alfred P, Sloan Jr., was Chairman of the Board, and Harlow H. Curtice was the President of GM in 1956. 

In 1956, the greatest news for GM was the opening and dedication of their Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, which became the new home for the company’s research, styling and advanced engineering. Harley J. Earl remained in charge of styling, having started in 1927. New leadership came to Chevrolet in 1956 with the appointment of E.N. Cole as general manager of the division.  

To learn more about GM's class of 1956 and to see more images, click below.

This Week's Story

Now, You Can "Share Your Story" for America's 250 Birthday on Our Website! 

MotorCities, with funding from the National Park Foundation, launched its Share Your Story Project in 2024 to collect and archive unique personal stories of the people, places, and spaces that put the world on wheels through oral history interviews. 

During the first stage of the project, MotorCities contracted with ThinkTank Detroit to target special events and partner attractions around the National Heritage Area to collect oral histories. Now, as we celebrate 250 years of our nation's history, you can add your own stories using your own device through a newly-installed interactive platform on our website. 

Developed with Chicago-based video software company Gather Voices, the new platform allows you to record up to five minutes of your story in the automotive industry or within the labor movement. Whether using your phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer, if you have a camera, you can share your story! Just click to get started, view the introductory video for tips on how to do it, follow the prompts and you're ready to go. 

The platform is now live on our website here and will continue to collect stories throughout the nation's 250th birthday celebration year in 2026.

This Week in Auto Heritage 

On September 25, 1924, President and Chairman Alfred Sloan officially opened the General Motors Proving Grounds in Milford, MI. It was the world’s first dedicated automotive testing facility, and was comprised of two buildings and 5.5 miles of test roads on 1,125 undeveloped acres about 40 miles west of Detroit. The Proving Grounds were the brainchild of Sloan, an MIT electrical engineering graduate who understood the value of product testing and saw the need for a dedicated place to do it. Previously, the norm for auto companies was testing on public roads. 

The Milford property was selected due to its varied terrain features. The Proving Grounds have been in constant use and evolution ever since. Today, the site includes over 4,000 acres and employs more than 4,500 people.

If you enjoy our historical content and would like to see it more regularly than weekly, please like MotorCities National Heritage Area on Facebook or follow us on X or Instagram at @motorcities. 

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Did You Know? 

The MotorCities National Heritage Area's current Strategic Plan is available to read on our website here.

Hey Kids!  Become a MotorCities Junior Ranger! Click here for details!

Events Coming to the MotorCities 

Friday & Saturday: Cadillac Fall Festival at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners 

On both Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Gilmore Car Museum campus in Hickory Corners hosts its annual Cadillac Fall Festival. 

This all GM show celebrates Cadillac’s commitment to innovation, performance, and design for more than a century. Each year, the event brings together Cadillacs from its beginning in 1903 to the present day at the Cadillac Museum on the Gilmore campus. Every year there are new features and opportunities to enjoy your love of Cadillacs. This year’s featured marque is the Cadillac V Series. All GM brands are invited to join in the fun. Trophies and awards in 12 classes! 

For more information, click here.

Saturday: Vintage Fest Car Show at Camp Dearborn in Milford 

On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Vintage Fest Car Show takes place at Camp Dearborn in Milford. 

Make sure to polish off those rides. Bring those barn finds, hidden gems, show stopping classics, hot rods, rat rods, classic queens, original classics and exotic classics. Awards for participants include Best in Show, Judges' Choice, Furthest Driven and People's Choice. 

For more information, click here.

Sunday: The Annual Model T Birthday Party at the Ford Piquette Plant Museum in Detroit 

This Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., join the Ford Piquette Plant Museum for their annual Model T Birthday Party. 

Celebrate the day in 1908 when the first Model T was produced at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant. Enjoy free Model T rides and vintage vehicles on display. Eat and shop with local vendors and enjoy kids’ activities in the Piquette Assembly Room on the first floor of the museum. Model T rides are first-come, first-serve until 3 p.m. Free birthday cake is served at Noon while supplies last. Admission prices are $10 to $20 for museum entry and guided tours. 

Click here for more information.