A series of all-new interactive activities and experiences will bring Meadow Brook Hall tours to life this summer. Guests of all ages are invited to check out special activations scattered throughout the estate, along with new Twilight Tours and the exclusive chance to explore the three children’s playhouses!
The Great Estate features 16 distinct gardens, each with their own aesthetic. Wander along the paths to see a wide variety of beautiful blossoms from the historic Rose Garden to the hardy Rock Garden, evergreen Knot Garden and the always lovely English Walled Garden, all bursting with summer blooms.
Fun for the Whole Family
Get up close to the estate’s historical vehicles collection in the Visitors Garage, which includes vintage cars owned by the Dodge and Wilson families. The garage will also feature a stunning 1938 Packard limo—it’s an incredible chance for car enthusiasts to view the automobiles of history at a National Historic Landmark.
The children’s playhouses are open once again for the summer! Take a look inside Danny’s Cabin, the childhood playhouse and later garage and tinkering space of Daniel Dodge. Venture into Knole Cottage, Frances Dodge’s beloved play house that was built to three-quarter scale and once described as “the World’s Finest Dollhouse.” The Wilson playhouse will bring new children’s activities for guests to enjoy, such as fun music, a sandbox, coloring sheets and crayons all summer long.
Children of all ages are invited to explore our woodland paths on a whimsical Gnome Scavenger Hunt and choose a prize. It will be great fun for kids all summer long as they explore the Great Estate.
New Ways to Engage
Inside, tours will come to life with an all-new collection of unique experiences and activations in the Living Room and Ballroom.
Listen to the lady of the house, Matilda Dodge Wilson, share family stories and engaging anecdotes in her own voice. Ambient period music and radio features will be heard throughout the house and immerse visitors in historic sounds of the period.
Stop in the Ballroom to see the Dodge and Wilson family animate the big screen in vintage home movies in the space where they used to watch the latest Hollywood films. Experience the Meadow Brook you know and love as the original family enjoyed it. Meadow Brook was a family home long before it was the touring and event space it is today.
Peer through binoculars to get a closer look at the beautiful details in the plaster ceiling above the Christopher Wren Dining Room. Can you see the eyelashes on the cherubs?
Tours All Summer Long
Meadow Brook’s new Twilight Tours invite guests to enjoy an evening of live music and cold drinks while touring the historic mansion and estate at magic hour. Enjoy light refreshments and a cash bar in a spectacular setting on Saturday, Aug. 5. Details and tickets are available at meadowbrookhall.org/twilighttours.
Guided House Tours take visitors on a journey through the three main living levels of the historic mansion with a knowledgeable docent guide. Learn the incredible story of the pioneering Dodge and Wilson families and marvel at the grand spaces and beautiful details that make Meadow Brook unique. Self-Guided House Tours give the opportunity for guests to wander the Great Estate at their own pace, with special insight from our Visitor Guide.
Guided Behind-the-Scenes tours are back! Visitors explore rarely-seen areas of Meadow Brook Hall, which includes staff wings, bathrooms, closets, playrooms and even the China Vault that features vintage liquor from the Prohibition-era. This guided tour provides special insight into what life was like for the Dodge and Wilson family and those who lived and worked at Meadow Brook Hall. Please note, some areas of the Behind-the-Scenes tour are not wheelchair or handicap accessible.
Book your tickets to explore the Great Estate at meadowbrookhall.org/tours.
Meadow Brook Hall is fully self-supporting, relying on touring and special events for the preservation and interpretation of this National Historic Landmark. For more information, call (248) 364-6200 or visit meadowbrookhall.org.
MEADOW BROOK HALL is the historic home built by one of the automotive aristocracy’s most remarkable women, Matilda Dodge Wilson, widow of auto pioneer John Dodge, and her second husband, Alfred Wilson. Constructed between 1926 and 1929, Meadow Brook Hall represents one of the finest examples of Tudor-revival style architecture in America, and is especially renowned for its superb craftsmanship, architectural detailing and grand scale of 88,000 square-feet. It was the center of a country estate that included 1,500 acres, numerous farm buildings, recreational facilities, several residences and formal gardens. Named a National Historic Landmark in 2012, MEADOW BROOK HALL strives to preserve and interpret its architecture, landscape, and fine and decorative art so that visitors may be entertained, educated and inspired by history. Meadow Brook Hall is located in Rochester, Mich. on the campus of Oakland University.
