Michigan’s Most Unique Restoration Project: Henry Ford’s 1915 Mansion With 56 Rooms

Michigan (and the world) would not be what it is without Henry Ford. The creator of the automobile and the assembly line accumulated unimaginable wealth during his lifetime, and with it he used it to build his prized possession: his 56-bedroom estate in Dearborn known as Fair Lane.

Get our free mobile app

The home, a Historical Landmark, was a museum for many years after the death of the Ford’s until it closed to the public in 2010. Since then, a select few have been hard at work to complete the ambitious task of returning the home to how it looked in the 1940s, creating a living time capsule.

Getty Images

Fair Lane Estate

Fair Lane Estate was built in 1915 and was the home of Henry and Clara Ford until their deaths in 1945. The house was massive, with over 56 rooms, an experimental shower, a single-lane bowling alley, an indoor pool, a 12-car garage, and a powerhouse that generated all the home's power.

READ MORE: Do You Remember 'The Ford Simulator' For The Atari 2600?

Not to mention an expansive garden and trails spread all around the property. Between the architecture and the amenities that would make many today jealous, Fair Lane is one of a kind.

The Preservation Effort

This uniqueness has created a strong desire to restore and preserve the home. The estate has changed hands several times since the Ford’s deaths: first the Ford Motor Company, then the University of Michigan, which maintained it for over 50 years, then a non-profit, and today it functions independently as the Fair Lane Estate.

The Estate is extraordinary, and as more original furniture from the home is recovered and the estate is eventually reopened to the public, it and the land it is on could become one of Michigan’s most sought-after destinations. The best part is, you won't have to wait long; public tours could start as soon as next year.