ST. PAUL — The nearly century-long history of the Ford Motor Co. plant in St. Paul will soon be erased.

Demolition starts today and is expected to last into next year. Decommissioning has already been underway for some time, with equipment being shipped to other Ford sites or recycled.

Once the demolition work is done, the city will be left with a sprawling 150-acre site on the Mississippi to redevelop.

The St. Paul plant produced more than 6 million cars and trucks during its lifetime, including the Ranger pickup during the years leading up to its closure. The last truck rolled off the line in 2011.