Fordlandia: Henry Ford’s Lost City in the Amazon

In 1928, Henry Ford built an American town in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. He never visited it. Today it is often called a ghost town, but about 2,000 people still live there. This is the story of Fordlandia. In this video, we cover: • Why Ford wanted to grow his own rubber, and why he chose Brazil • The town he built on the Tapajós River: a hospital, a movie theater, a golf course • The rules he tried to impose on the workers, from the food to the alcohol ban • The Breaking Pans revolt of 1930 • Why the rubber trees kept failing • How the project ended in 1945, after Ford lost more than $20 million • What Fordlandia looks like today, and who lives there Go deeper: “Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford’s Forgotten Jungle City” by Greg Grandin A note on sources: the figures and events in this video come from historical accounts and news reports. Details about daily life in Fordlandia today, including the population and living conditions, are based on a 2024 report and may have changed. Sources sometimes differ on dates and distances, and this video uses the most commonly cited versions. Do you think Ford’s idea was doomed from the start, or could it have worked with a different approach? Tell me in the comments. 👍 Like the video if you enjoyed it 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the next ones 📤 Share it with someone who loves stories like this #Fordlandia #HenryFord #TrueStories