The Henry Ford to Host Special Screening of "The Immortal Lincoln"

Documentary short explores an unexpected story of resilience, hope and human connection through one man's relationship with his Lincoln

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, Nov. 12, The Henry Ford's Giant Screen Experience will host a special screening of The Immortal Lincoln, a documentary short that tells the story of an Iowa newspaper publisher, his 2013 Lincoln MKS and how an unexpected connection to the people who built his car helped him through one of the most difficult periods of his life.

The one-night event begins at 7 p.m. and includes a live musical performance, a screening of the 23-minute documentary and a conversation with filmmakers, a mental health expert and The Henry Ford's curator of transportation.

Directed by C. John Anter and executive produced by automotive journalist and contributing car culture columnist for the Detroit News, Phoebe Wall Howard, The Immortal Lincoln was inspired by a story published by the Detroit Free Press and USA Today Network about Douglas Burns, an Iowa newspaper publisher who struggled with the loss of his family's fourth-generation newspaper business.

Facing grief, financial hardship and mental health challenges, Burns found an unexpected source of hope in his Lincoln. His story eventually led to connections with the Ford and Lincoln employees who designed and built the vehicle, showing how something as familiar as a car can take on a much deeper meaning.

The documentary features Ford CEO Jim Farley, Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford, factory employees, journalists and mental health experts who share perspectives on the importance of community, purpose and human connection.

The evening will begin with a live performance by songwriter and composer Jason Walsmith, who created the film's score. Following the screening, guests will hear from producer and editor Heidi Kraus, University of Michigan mental health expert Dr. Lindsay Bornheimer, and Matt Anderson, curator of transportation at The Henry Ford. The discussion will explore the film's themes of mental health, resilience and human connection, along with the role automobiles play in our personal and shared histories. A live audience Q&A will follow.

Presented in partnership with the filmmakers, the event offers guests an opportunity to explore a different side of automotive history, one that looks beyond the vehicles themselves to the people and stories connected to them.

Event Details

What: The Immortal Lincoln — Special Screening & Conversation
When: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; program begins at 7 p.m.
Where: Giant Screen Experience at The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
Tickets: $15 for the General Public; $12.75 for members

Viewer advisory: The documentary includes discussions of mental health challenges. While the film offers an ultimately hopeful message, some content may be emotionally difficult for viewers. Parental discretion is advised.

About The Henry Ford

Located in Dearborn, Michigan, The Henry Ford, a globally recognized destination, fosters inspiration and learning from hands-on encounters with artifacts that represent the most comprehensive collection anywhere focusing on innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness in America. Its unique venues include Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Benson Ford Research Center, The Giant Screen Experience, and Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school. Together with its online presence at thf.org and Invention Convention Worldwide, the growing affiliation of organizations fostering innovation, invention and entrepreneurship in K-12 students, The Henry Ford is a force for inspiring every individual to innovate, create and invent.

SOURCE Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation