Fair Lane- Home of Clara & Henry Ford
Fair Lane, the home of Clara and Henry Ford, is a beautiful estate that sits off the Rouge River in Dearborn, Michigan. Their 31,000-square foot residence was built on 1,300 acres of farmland. Finished in 1915, it was Clara and Henry’s 15th home and served as their dream home for 30 years until they passed away.
The estate was comprised of a hydro-electric powerhouse and dam, a greenhouse, a working farm, an indoor pool, skating house, staff cottages, bowling alley, a pony barn, and Henry’s garage and laboratory. Today, guests are still able to see some of these original structures, such as the garage and powerhouse. Unfortunately, the interiors of these historic structures are currently closed for restoration. The great news is that they are being brought back to life, as they were when Clara and Henry lived here!
My time spent here at the estate is always a treasured memory. Taking advantage of the self-guided outdoor walks, I imagine the Fords here and how they spent their leisure time with friends and family. I also get a feel for the kind of people Clara and Henry were. With multiple gardens throughout the grounds, I know that Clara had a passion for flowers. Seeing the size of Henry’s garage, I know he loved spending his personal time here doing research or tinkering with his automobiles. It’s incredible that modern people can experience a legendary person’s dream home.
Henry Ford was in large part responsible for the passage of the Migratory Bird Act of 1913, and saw to providing bird feeders, warm water in the winter, and 500 bird houses in the spring for the multitude of birds that roamed the grounds of Fair Lane. As if paying tribute to his contributions and passion for birds, a variety of bird species can still be observed while walking the grounds of Fair Lane: blue jay, cardinal, hawk, and grey heron to name a few.
It’s not uncommon to witness deer prancing through the grounds, birds nested among the trees, and to hear the whistle of a locomotive in the distance sounding from the Edison Institute a short distance from the estate. It’s an incredible feeling to set foot into the past, pulling inspiration and knowledge from the past and nature in unity. Such an experience and opportunity should be preserved, as we continue to learn from our past through our nation’s treasures. Let’s continue to support our national historic landmarks and Save MI History!
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