It is hard to believe that it has been three years since we last visited Cranbrook House and Gardens. This location has been one that I have been trying to revisit, but there are so many other places that also demand our attention. It was only as our last few stops on our America the Beautiful summer vacation that we were able to explore this place once again.
Our first visit had us exploring only the gardens. During my research, as I planned a long weekend trip through the state of Michigan, I mistakenly read that the house would be open for tours on the day we would be visiting. Disappointed that we could not peruse the mansion, we explored the gardens. Quickly, our disappointment left. Cranbrook occupies a large piece of land, featuring various themed gardens. As we walked through these grounds, there was always something to find. There are several statues and fountains. Although not packed with flowers, which I love to see, the landscaping was well thought out and inviting. To see all the grounds had to offer did take us over an hour.
This summer, after properly booking and planning to visit the inside of Cranbrook, we were pleased to complete this attraction. I had us as part of the first group to tour the home. As we waited, I was reminded of my desire to be fabulously wealthy enough to build a house that would one day become a place where thousands would come to visit and be amazed. I am still working on this plan and consider these mansion visits as inspiration for our future home.
One thing we have noticed when we visit the abodes of those who have acquired great wealth is that the wealth never seems to last. So often the father of the family finds a way to get rich, but by the time the son, and especially the grandson, gets hold of the money, it is all gone. But at Cranbrook, there was some forethought in how the wealth was going to last.
George Booth was a wealthy Toronto resident and found himself married to a wealthy heiress to the Detroit News. Their combined wealth made them almost as wealthy as I want to be! Instead of wasting that wealth, it was used to invest, purchase and create even more wealth. But what to do with all this wealth? Build a home for the wife and kids, of course. Cranbrook was born from this desire.
The great thing about Cranbrook was that it was all handmade. The Booth family lived in an era when mechanization was taking over and making quality materials available at affordable prices. This revolution in the industrial process benefited the majority of society, allowing less-wealthy people to enjoy items that would have otherwise been out of their price range. The problem was that the craftsmen were out of a job. A skill set that had been passed down for generations was in danger of being lost because it would be easier to stamp, pour or print whatever product was needed. The need for sculptors, painters and carvers was quickly being lost. The Arts and Crafts Movement began to preserve this talent and stop it from vanishing forever. Cranbrook would be built using the principles of this movement.
After the home was built, the Booths wanted to do something meaningful with their money. Their efforts focused on founding and maintaining six institutions in the immediate area. Cranbrook included schools, a church, an art academy and an institute for science. The Cranbrook Foundation continues to operate today, nearly a century later, utilizing the wealth of the Booths to enhance the lives of all those who visit and attend Cranbrook. This is what wealth should be used for – a lasting legacy that continues long after and helps many people in the process.
We would also visit the Cranbrook Academy of Art and the Cranbrook Institute of Art, and try to tour Christ Church Cranbrook (tours were not offered on the day we were there) after visiting Cranbrook House and Gardens. It is good to see the money put to good use.
Cranbrook Academy of Art
During our visit to this art museum, we saw an interesting display of furnishings. Oddly, seeing these very dated ways of decorating a home impressed me. Odd, because who thought this was ever good-looking? And odd because I remember this decor, and it brought back feelings of nostalgia.
Cranbrook Institute of Science
This science-based museum was our final destination at Cranbrook. There was an extensive mineral collection, and displays showcased the local history that spanned thousands and millions of years.
- For us, visiting these Cranbrook attractions was free because we were members of NARM and AHS.
- It is best to take a guided tour of the home to learn about the family and their purpose in life before visiting the other Cranbrook locations. It does put everything into perspective.
- Check out the ‘All the Places We Have Been‘ map to see where these are located and all the other places we have visited.
