Edsel and Eleanor Ford House
Museum Historic Gilded Age estate and house museum in Michigan
Ford family estate on Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Shores; guided tours show period interiors, formal gardens and artefacts that trace the Ford family’s role in early 20th‑century Detroit.
The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is a historic house museum in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, built as the lakeside estate of Edsel and Eleanor Ford in the late 1920s. It is preserved to display the family’s domestic architecture and collections.
Designed by architect Albert Kahn, the residence contains period interiors and original furnishings; interpretation focuses on the house, family life and design. The estate’s landscape was laid out by landscape designers associated with the project and provides formal lakefront gardens and native plantings.
The house was commissioned by Edsel Ford and completed in the late 1920s, remaining in Ford family stewardship before opening to the public as a historic house museum.
The estate occupies a shoreline site on Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, northeast of downtown Detroit.
- Tours: Public guided tours typically cover the principal rooms of the house and selected areas of the grounds; seasonal schedules and ticketing apply.
What to See #
- The House: The main residence designed by architect Albert Kahn, retaining period interiors and original furnishings from the Ford family era and interpreted on guided tours.
- The Grounds: Shoreline gardens and landscape designed with native plantings and lakefront terraces, originally created as the estate grounds and open in part to visitors.
How to Get to Edsel and Eleanor Ford House #
The Ford House sits on Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, about a 15-20 minute drive northeast from downtown Detroit. From I-94, take the Jefferson Avenue exit (US-25/Jefferson) east and follow local roads toward Grosse Pointe; signage along Lake Shore Road will direct to the estate. Limited parking is on-site.
Tips for Visiting Edsel and Eleanor Ford House #
- Buy timed tickets in advance for holiday weekends - the house limits numbers and often sells out.
- Arrive late afternoon for softer light on the lakeside terrace; the gardens take on surprising hues.
- Ask the docent about the original Wurlitzer organ and the scarred dining-room parquet - small, human details reveal the Fords' tastes.
Best Time to Visit Edsel and Eleanor Ford House #
Best visited late spring through early fall for gardens and exterior access; weekdays avoid crowds.
Weather & Climate near Edsel and Eleanor Ford House #
Edsel and Eleanor Ford House's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -8°C to 28°C. Moderate rainfall (850 mm/year).
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 0°C and lows of -8°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm).
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February
February is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -7°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm).
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March
March is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm).
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April
April is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm).
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May
May is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (76 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 14°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 28°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm).
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August
August is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).
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September
September is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 13°C. The wettest month with 86 mm of rain.
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October
October is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm).
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December
December is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm).
