Connect the past to the present as you stroll through the gardens, or relax along the riverbank. Bring a friend. Follow the progress of the restoration, participate in a program, capture a memory through the lens of a camera.

For Clara and Henry Ford, Fair Lane was more than just a home. It was a place where they took simple ideas and turned them into actions that opened the highway to all mankind. More than 100 years later, the estate continues to be a place of discovery, exploration and inspiration.

For more information, please email adougherty@henryfordestate.org or download our membership brochure here.

You may donate online here or by check. Make checks payable to "Henry Ford Estate" and mail to: Fair Lane, 1 Fair Lane Drive, Dearborn, MI 48128 Attn. Aaron Dougherty.

Q: Why is Fair Lane raising money?
A: Our mission is to restore and re-imagine the estate. We have fixed leaky roofs and collapsing foundations, and shored up the riverbank to make the estate secure. We are now investing in restoring the rooms inside the estate to how they looked and felt in 1919, when Clara and Henry lived at Fair Lane. And then we can start inviting the public back to Fair Lane, to learn about the Ford family legacy and experience this inspiring place.

Q: Who owns the estate?
A: After the deaths of Henry and Clara, in 1947 and 1950 respectively, Ford Motor Company purchased the estate to use for offices and corporate functions. In 1957, Henry Ford II announced the gift of Fair Lane and its farmlands to develop the campus of the University of Michigan-Dearborn. In June 2014, the university transferred ownership of the estate to a newly established
501 (c) (3) entity. The Henry Ford Estate - Fair Lane Board of Trustees has launched a multi-year endeavor to bring the Ford family's story and enjoyment of Fair Lane to future generations.

Q: How will my donation be used?
A: The investment in Fair Lane will last beyond the work needed to restore the house. Ten cents of every dollar will go into an endowment, which will grow and be self-sustaining, allowing Fair Lane to be a place of discovery and inspiration.

Q: When will Fair Lane be open again?
A: For now, the Fair Lane home is closed to the public during restoration. Sign up our e-newsletter for updates, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. The grounds are open to the public on weekdays, and seasonally on weekends. Click here for hours and details.