The Ford Rotunda was built for the 1934 World's Fair "A Century of Progress International Exposition" in Chicago. After the Expo was closed the Rotunda was dismantled and rebuilt in Dearborn, serving as the visitor center for what was then the equivalent of Ford Motor Company's "World Headquarters". The ultra-modern building was very popular. It was used for elaborate automotive shows & spectacular Christmas displays. The Rotunda burnt to the ground on Friday, November 9, 1962. A roofing crew sounded the alarm at 1:12 pm. The entire building collapsed at 1:55 pm with no loss of life among the 600 employees.