The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is the grand Detroit-area house that most visitors do not know to look for. It stands on Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, on the shore of Lake St. Clair about a half hour east of downtown, and it was the home of Edsel Ford, the only son of Henry and Clara Ford, who became president of the Ford Motor Company in 1919 at age 25. The 60-room house was designed by the Detroit architect Albert Kahn and completed in 1929, and it reflects the family's interest in art, architecture and design, with a collection of art and antiques in its rooms. A guided tour takes visitors through the same rooms the Ford family lived in, and the grounds and gardens are open to explore, with views of the lake and room to bring a picnic. The estate's naturalistic landscape, together with the house, helped win it designation as a National Historic Landmark. It is a gentle, elegant half day, and the perfect counterweight to the industrial side of the Motor City story.
Hours and tickets
The house is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the grounds from 8 a.m. to sunset, although hours vary by day and season, so check the day you plan to go. Tickets are required for the house and grounds, with a reduced grounds-only option available, and children five and under are free. Parking on the estate is free.
What to do
Take a guided tour of the house to see the rooms, the paneling, the art and the way a leading family lived in the 1930s, then walk the lawns toward the water. The shoreline is the focus of a habitat restoration project, the Ford Cove Project, run with the Great Lakes Commission and federal partners, and in spring visitors are asked to give nesting geese plenty of space.
A playhouse built for the Ford children and other outbuildings are part of the estate. The estate also runs family programs, tours and trivia nights, so check its calendar.
Planning
Grosse Pointe Shores is a quiet, leafy suburb, and a car is by far the easiest way to get there. Allow two to three hours for the tour and grounds. Couples, garden lovers and architecture fans will get the most from it, and the nearby Grosse Pointe villages have cafes for lunch.
It pairs naturally with Belle Isle or the Detroit RiverWalk on the same side of the city, and with the Detroit Institute of Arts, where Diego Rivera's murals were commissioned by Edsel Ford. Dress for the weather, because the best views are outdoors.
What to expect
The experience
A guided tour of a 60-room lakeside mansion plus a self-guided walk through landscaped grounds on Lake St. Clair.
Best time
A dry daytime visit in spring, summer or fall when the grounds are at their best; the house is also open outside peak season.
How long
Two to three hours for the tour and grounds.
Tips
Check the hours for your day, arrange tickets before you go and bring a picnic if the weather suits.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Couples, garden and architecture lovers, and anyone curious about the Ford family.
- Families
- Fine for older children; younger ones may prefer the grounds.
- Couples
- A tour followed by a lakeside walk and a quiet lunch.
- Pair with
- The Detroit Institute of Arts, for the Rivera murals Edsel Ford commissioned.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
Where is the Ford House?+
At 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, on Lake St. Clair, about a half hour east of downtown Detroit.
Who designed the house?+
Albert Kahn, the Detroit architect, designed the 60-room house, which was completed in 1929.
Can I just walk the grounds?+
Yes. Grounds-only tickets are available at a reduced price, and the grounds are open until sunset.
Is there parking?+
Yes, parking at the estate is free.
Can I bring a picnic?+
Yes, visitors are welcome to picnic on the grounds with views of Lake St. Clair.
