University of Michigan-Dearborn to Transfer Ownership of the Henry Ford Estate to the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House

DEARBORN, Mich., April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Michigan-Dearborn and the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich., have reached an agreement to unite the Henry Ford Estate and Ford House in what will become a national model of sustainability and 21st century interpretation of our nation's heritage.

At its April 15 meeting, the University of Michigan Board of Regents approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which over the next 15 months will lead to the formal transfer of ownership of the Henry Ford Estate (Estate) to Edsel & Eleanor Ford House (Ford House) on July 1, 2011.  The Board of Trustees of Ford House approved the MOU in late March.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-Dearborn) and Ford House share a vision for the Estate that calls for a high level of professional standards in operation and stewardship and that positions the Estate to serve as an even greater educational and cultural resource for the community.

Historic restoration architectural firm Chambers, Murphy, Burge have completed a comprehensive analysis of the Estate. Over the next 15 months, Ford House, with museum and preservation specialists, will detail the work that will be undertaken for both restoration and reinterpretation.

The Estate will close prior to the July 1, 2011 transfer to allow for restoration work on its buildings and grounds to begin.  Ford House anticipates the Estate will reopen in phases to celebrate milestones in Ford Family history: Henry Ford's 150th birthday in 2013, the Estate's 100th anniversary in 2015, and Clara Ford's 150th birthday in 2017.  

A national historic landmark nestled on the UM-Dearborn campus and home to the automotive pioneer Henry Ford and his wife, Clara for more than 30 years, the Estate has been owned and operated by the university for 53 years.

The transfer of the Estate to Ford House assures that the legacy of Henry and Clara Ford will be professionally preserved and interpreted.  This, in turn, will allow UM-Dearborn to focus on its mission of providing cutting edge academic programs in the sciences, humanities and professional disciplines.  

The relationship between Ford House and the University is anticipated to lead to new opportunities for faculty and students through research initiatives, fellowships, internships and volunteer opportunities.    

"UM-Dearborn is committed to preserving the legacy of Henry Ford, which is a story of innovation and experimentation that serves as inspiration for the entire region," said UM-Dearborn Chancellor Daniel Little.  "This transfer will help the Henry Ford Estate achieve its full potential as a first-rate historic attraction and allow the university to remain committed to its core academic mission. We have a cultural gem on our campus and we look forward to many collaborative opportunities with Ford House."  

"For Ford House, bringing the Estate into its management and interpretive operation reflects a key vision in Ford House's 2010-2015 strategic plan -- increasing accessibility to the Ford Family story through preservation of the Family's historic resources, as well as the Family legacy itself," said Kathleen Mullins, president of Ford House.  

The capstone of our plan is to bring to life the story of this great American family," Mullins added.  "Bringing together the estates of Henry Ford and his only child, Edsel offers a multitude of new opportunities. This is the family that put the world on wheels and dedicated itself to the community; it is a story of innovation and design, inspiration and reflection, philanthropy and responsibility; it is a story that will be more effectively shared with a national and international audience with the coming together of these important properties."

Bringing these two great estates together under one governance and operational structure is of great interest to the nation's preservation and museum communities.

"Together, the Ford estates have a unique opportunity to become a testing ground for bold ideas, innovative approaches and new ways of thinking about how we preserve and present historic sites," said Richard Moe, president of The National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Moe continued, "We applaud the University of Michigan and the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House for having the foresight to bring these two estates together as one. The National Trust looks forward to learning from this venture as innovative methods are tested and a new model for sustainability is explored."

The innovative stewardship model is also being hailed by the American Association of Museums (AAM).

"Museums across the country are looking for novel ways to realize new efficiencies while still meeting their mandate of public service," said AAM President and CEO Ford Bell. "This amalgamation between Ford House and the Henry Ford Estate is indicative of this kind of progressive thinking, and will undoubtedly result in synergies that can serve as a template for other historic sites, as well as museums."

To ensure a successful and smooth transition, UM-Dearborn and Ford House will form a transition task force to guide the process over the next 15 months.

About the University of Michigan-Dearborn

The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master's, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future. 

About Edsel & Eleanor Ford House

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House is located at 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores.  Since 1978, Ford House has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to share in Eleanor Ford's vision of preserving the estate for future generations to enjoy through interpretive tours, family activities, lectures, exhibits and gardens and grounds events.  For more information, visit www.fordhouse.org or call 313.884.4222.

SOURCE Edsel & Eleanor Ford House