Focusing in on Ford House

Part of the 'Day Out in Macomb County' series

At the very southeast point of Macomb County sits Grosse Pointe Shores. Extended from Wayne County, we only cover a small portion of the community, but luckily for us, the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is in Macomb County's portion!

The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is a National Historic Landmark that was built in 1928. The house was quickly turned into a home when the Ford's went on to raise four children, along with hosting many esteemed guests. Loving all things community and nature, Eleanor Ford insisted that the estate be preserved and continuously taken care of in hopes of sharing its beauty with the public. Following her passing, her wish was kept. Ford House is now beautiful as ever and a staple for visitors to explore and learn.

The estate stretches 87 acres and features the visitor center, main residence, grounds and gardens and much more. In order to maintain such a historic place, Ford House has adapted, with sustainability high on their priority list. They are taking all of the necessary precautions to ensure a lasting positive impact on the environment. While visiting, team members from the grounds crew shared that they are almost entirely electric when it comes to landscaping equipment. Making this mindful change is just one of the many initiatives they take on to be sustainable.

Walking around the grounds and gardens, you can experience these initiatives in action. From the installation of solar panels to an on-site greenhouse and herb garden, every detail is focused on preservation and sustainability. An initiative that is currently in progress is the Shoreline Restoration Project, which was made possible through many local partnerships, including Macomb County .

During our visit, we were given a breakdown of each piece of this project and what the benefits are. One of the first steps of this project was restoring the elevated wetlands boardwalk to ensure wildlife and nature could still flourish around it.

The next step is focused on the shoreline. Ford Cove, the sheltered inlet between Ford House and Bird Island, has maintained the same structure throughout the years. Originating as the location where Edsel Ford would launch his boats, it is now a sanctuary for wildlife. A key step to this restoration was the removal of concrete slab shoreline and addition of natural shoreline. The natural shoreline is equipped with thousands of native plants and habitats. Uprooted trees were transported into the Cove to act as natural habitats and so far, the turtles are loving them! Projected to be complete in late 2027, a pier, plantings, and boardwalks are still on the to do list.

While I am only able to give you a glimpse of Ford House, they are open year-round and offer ticketed tours, seasonal events, educational programs and scenic grounds walks. Pick a day and experience it all. Fully immerse yourself in the life of Edsel and Eleanor Ford and embrace their love of nature and community!