This is where the Fords' boathouse stood for
many years, jutting out over the cove. Edsel
enjoyed boating of all types, and he owned
an impressive collection of boats. An avid
sailor his entire life, Edsel raced speedboats
competitively as a . . . — — Map (db m206957) HM
Near Lake Shore Road, 0.2 miles north of Shorecrest Circle.
Edsel Ford, president of the Ford Motor Company for many years, and his wife, Eleanor Clay, completed this 87-acre estate in 1927. Architect Albert Kahn derived the design from precedents in Cotswold, England, and many of the building materials, . . . — — Map (db m143597) HM
Near Lakeshore Drive north of Fairlake Lane, on the right when traveling north.
Edsel requested Jens Jensen build a generous playground for the children-space for sports in the summer and ice skating in the winter. By the late 1930s, the Ford children had outgrown the need for the play space.
Eleanor and Edsel asked . . . — — Map (db m212257) HM
Near Lake Shore Road near Fairlake Lane, on the right when traveling north.
The Fords—especially Edsel—lived in the public spotlight. They considered security and privacy to be of the utmost importance. To enter the estate, you must pass through the guarded and gated opening in the monumental Gate Lodge building. . . . — — Map (db m212261) HM
Gaukler Pointe
The home of Edsel and Eleanor Ford has been designated a National Historic Landmark
The natural prairie-stye landscape of Gaukler Pointe is nationally significant as one of the fines examples of the mature work of the style's . . . — — Map (db m212247) HM
Near Lake Shore Road north of Fairlake Lane, on the right when traveling north.
Landscape architect Jens Jensen thought about how landscapes would look over time. He commented to Edsel. It takes years to get the real beauty out of a landscape planted… Its greatest beauty is in mature age."
Here, Jensen planned a gradual . . . — — Map (db m212253) HM
The Main Residence sits on the eastern
edge of the Gaukler Pointe taking advantage
of the views of Lake St. Clair and the
surrounding landscape created by Jens Jensen.
Architecturally, the Cotswold District in
England influenced architect . . . — — Map (db m206958) HM
Near Lake Shore Road north of Fairlake Lane, on the right when traveling north.
Eleanor's chauffeur Arthur Fauser and his family (wife Mary and three children Arthur Jr. Alice, and John) moved into the cottage in late 1928 or early 1929. They lived there until Fauser's death in 1954.
Many staff members, like Fauser, . . . — — Map (db m212263) HM
On Lakeshore Drive north of Fairlake Lane, on the right when traveling north.
The Playhouse was a gift to Josephine on her seventh birthday (1930) from her grandmother Clara Ford. Architect Robert O. Derrick designed it to complement the other buildings on the estate. In the roof gables, you can see decorative bas-relief . . . — — Map (db m212259) HM
The Power House contained all of the
machinery and equipment for operations
across the estate. The oil-fired boilers heated
the buildings and water for the swimming pool.
Pumps operated the vacuum cleaner system in
the house. Chlorinating . . . — — Map (db m206960) HM
Near Lake Shore Road north of Fairlake Lane, on the right when traveling north.
The Fords asked architect Albert Kahn to design a support building near the Pool for informal entertaining. The Recreation Building contains a large sitting room with original furniture and a large fireplace, a small kitchen, changing rooms, and . . . — — Map (db m212255) HM
Near Lake Shore Road north of Fairlake Lane, on the right when traveling north.
Landscape architect Jens Jensen tried to resist designing formal gardens, but Edsel told him Eleanor wanted a not-too-large, but definitely formal, garden. The result is a circular, wagon wheel like space featuring a lotus blossom fountain at its . . . — — Map (db m212256) HM
Side 1
The Village of Grosse Pointe Shores incorporated in 1911. After a few years of holding meetings in local homes, the village council purchased this property to build a village hall. Albert Kahn, who later designed the Fisher Building . . . — — Map (db m156356) HM
