Dearborn in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Rock Garden Masterpiece

Photographed By Joel Seewald, May 2, 2022

1. Rock Garden Masterpiece Marker

This new marker, with the same text and images as the original, was placed in 2022.

Inscription. In 1915, landscape designer Jens Jensen created a picturesque rock garden masterpiece for Henry and Clara Ford. His design was engineered to work with nature and be relatively maintenance-free.

(Left Photo Caption)
In the early 1920's, Mrs. Ford turned her focus to non-native garden designs and chose to rearrange the horizontally layered stones into an alpine rock garden, with flowers requiring full-time attention of one of the estate's 26 gardeners.

(Right Photo Caption)
Rocks and walkways of the garden are generally still arranged as they were in Mrs. Ford's alpine garden. Restoration efforts are focused on returning to the original plan of landscape designer Jens Jensen.

Erected by Fair Lane and MotorCities National Heritage Area.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Jens Jensen, and the MotorCities National Heritage Area series lists.

Location. 42° 18.866′ N, 83° 14.002′ W. Marker is in Dearborn, Michigan, in Wayne County. Marker can be reached from Fair Lane Drive, 0.3 miles west of Evergreen Road. This marker is found on the grounds of the Henry Ford Estate,

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Fair Lane, about 100 feet northwest of the Ford residence. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Fair Lane Drive, Dearborn MI 48128, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Path of the Setting Sun (within shouting distance of this marker); On the River (within shouting distance of this marker); A Trail Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Preserving Fair Lane — An Iconic American Estate (within shouting distance of this marker); Giving Nature a Hand (within shouting distance of this marker); From Farmland to Great Estate (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Preserving Fair Lane — An Iconic American Estate (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fair Lane (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dearborn.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, September 2, 2015

2. Rock Garden Masterpiece Marker

The original marker was placed by the Henry Ford Estate and MotorCities National Heritage Area.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, October 5, 2015

3. Rock Garden Masterpiece Marker

Photographed By Joel Seewald, September 2, 2015

4. Rock Garden Masterpiece Marker

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 11, 2022

5. Rock Garden Masterpiece Marker

New marker, seen from above.

Rock Garden Masterpiece and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, September 2, 2015

6. Rock Garden Masterpiece and Marker

The marker is to the right of the tree on the left side of the picture. From this angle, the back of the marker is showing.

Rock Garden Masterpiece image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, September 2, 2015

7. Rock Garden Masterpiece

Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 360 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 1, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 5, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 5. submitted on March 1, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 6, 7. submitted on October 5, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.