Already one of the top tourist draws in Michigan, the expansive historical museum and outdoor facility attracts more than 1.5 million people each year. Its peak attendance was in the bicentennial year of 1976 when 1.8 million visited.

With gas at $3.50-plus a gallon and the bumpy economy being what it is, Wendy Metros, spokeswoman for the Henry Ford, is convinced more folks will be inclined to stay closer to home during their summer travels. As a result, museum directors are doing more promotion of the facility than in years past in the close-in drive area of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

The long-term forecast for a warm, drier-than-normal summer is another factor that could help attendance.

"Particularly at the Village," she says, adding some patrons wait to see what the weather is like before buying their tickets. Even if Mother Nature isn't kind, however, visitors always have the option of going to the IMAX Theatre and museum parts of the complex.

Another factor Metros says will increase traffic is the 100th anniversary celebration of Ford's Model T car.

The Henry Ford is offering rides in a Model T ($4 per person), and you can assemble a model of the Model T inside the museum.

But the biggest attraction officials there are talking about is chocolate.

From rainforest treasure to luscious treat, you can explore the relationship between human culture and chocolate as the Henry Ford presents Chocolate: The Exhibition, a traveling exhibit on display May 31 through Sept. 7 at the museum.

Metros says the exhibit will explain the history and American innovations of this delectable delicacy, from the Mayans' discovery of the uses for the cacao seed to the American development and marketing of the tasty treat. The exhibition blends interactive displays, artifacts and familiar pop culture icons to examine the plant, the products, the history and the culture of chocolate through the lenses of botany and ecology, anthropology and economics, conservation and popular culture.

"Although it is not grown here, America's contributions to the history and impact of chocolate have been quite significant, and it is this combined history that we explore," says Christian Overland, vice president of museums and collections for the Henry Ford. "When you tour this exhibit at Henry Ford Museum, you will learn not only about how chocolate was discovered and how it has been enjoyed in centuries past, but you will also see how America's own unique innovations took chocolate from an elite luxury to a delicious treat that can be enjoyed by all."

The Henry Ford was founded in 1929 by Henry Ford. This historical destination includes Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, the Henry Ford IMAX Theatre, the Benson Ford Research Center and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour.

For more information, go to www.thehenryford.org.