By — Margaret Myers Margaret Myers Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/original-rosie-riveter-plant-saved-demolition Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Original Rosie the Riveter plant saved from demolition Nation May 1, 2014 6:56 PM EDT A Michigan factory building that was once the home of World War II-era “Rosie the riveters” is being saved from the wrecking ball. Organizers of a campaign to save the Willow Run plant announced Thursday that they had come within reach of their goal to raise $8 million needed to buy a 150,000-square-foot portion of the property, according to the Detroit Free Press. The plant, which churned out B-52 bombers during the war, was made famous by its employee Rose Will Monroe, who was spotted by Hollywood producers and cast as for the role of a “riveter” for a government film about the war effort at home. Monroe went on to star in the film and also in the government’s iconic “We Can Do It!” poster, showing Rosie the Riveter with her shirtsleeves rolled up. Organizers will continue raising the additional dollars needed to make the new Yankee Air Museum, which is located about 30 miles from Detroit, a reality. The exhibits will focus on the history of the plant, vintage aircraft and, of course, Rosie. By — Margaret Myers Margaret Myers Margaret Myers is the former Digital News Editor for PBS NewsHour. She is a former editor for ESPN.com. She also led the features department at the Amarillo Globe-News in west Texas. @margaretvm
A Michigan factory building that was once the home of World War II-era “Rosie the riveters” is being saved from the wrecking ball. Organizers of a campaign to save the Willow Run plant announced Thursday that they had come within reach of their goal to raise $8 million needed to buy a 150,000-square-foot portion of the property, according to the Detroit Free Press. The plant, which churned out B-52 bombers during the war, was made famous by its employee Rose Will Monroe, who was spotted by Hollywood producers and cast as for the role of a “riveter” for a government film about the war effort at home. Monroe went on to star in the film and also in the government’s iconic “We Can Do It!” poster, showing Rosie the Riveter with her shirtsleeves rolled up. Organizers will continue raising the additional dollars needed to make the new Yankee Air Museum, which is located about 30 miles from Detroit, a reality. The exhibits will focus on the history of the plant, vintage aircraft and, of course, Rosie.