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The Dearborn Inn
The Dearborn Inn is a historic hotel in the suburban city of Dearborn, Michigan in Metro Detroit. It opened in 1931 and reopened on March 19, 2025 after over two years of renovation and refurbishment. It was conceived by Henry Ford, who saw a need for food and accommodations for visitors flying into the nearby Ford Airport, making it one of the first airport hotels. It is located at 20301 Oakwood Boulevard near the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and the world headquarters building of Ford Motor Company. Albert Kahn designed the Dearborn Inn in the Georgian architectural style. The Dearborn Inn is owned by Ford Motor Land Development Corporation and managed by Marriott International.
Inspired by a passion for Colonial Revival architecture, Henry Ford commissioned renowned architect Albert Kahn to design The Dearborn Inn, who in 1931 would create a Georgian inn to serve Ford's Dearborn airport. The Dearborn hotel is now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and features 231 rooms, including five Colonial guest homes, built in 1937. While thoughtful interior renovations have occurred over the Dearborn hotel's 82-year history, the exterior has remained the same as Ford's original vision. Additional features include Edison's, a fine dining restaurant; the Ten Eyck Tavern, a home-style dining establishment; a seasonal outdoor pool; and 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2) of meeting space including the Alexandria Ballroom, which Ford commissioned to satisfy his love of dancing.
In 1931, Henry Ford determined the need for lodging near his airport in Dearborn, Michigan, and he commissioned prominent architect Albert Kahn, who built many of Detroit's magnificent landmarks to design The Dearborn Inn. Characteristically, Ford took a very active part in the development of the hotel.
The Dearborn Inn was situated on a 23-acre (93,000 m2) site on Oakwood Boulevard across the street from Ford Airport. The Colonial Revival style of the Inn was in harmony with the nearby Edison Institute, and the Inn's décor was early American colonial, a style favored by Henry Ford. With great fanfare, The Dearborn Inn opened for business in July 1931; Henry Ford was the first person to sign the guestbook.
Though the Ford Airport closed in 1933, replaced by the Ford vehicle test track, The Dearborn Inn continued to offer accommodations and dining, as the hotel already had a reputation as one of the nation's premier inns.
In 1933, the Dormitory Building was added to house employees of The Dearborn Inn; however, in the 1960s, it was converted into changing rooms for The Dearborn Inn's Swim Club.
Five replica homes were constructed in 1937, creating a small Colonial Village and adding 31 guestrooms to the Inn. Guests today can still enjoy a stay in the reproduction homes of famous Americans: Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, Barbara Fritchie, Oliver Wolcott, and Patrick Henry. While the original plan called for 18 historic homes in the Colonial Village, World War II halted further expansion. During the war, pilots from the Detroit airport, just a few miles away, had special accommodations on the Inn's first floor, and today, one wing of the first floor is still known as “Pilot’s Row”.
The Dearborn Inn secured its place in hospitality history with many industry “firsts”. It was called the first airport hotel when it opened although the Oakland Airport Inn had, in fact, opened two years earlier. In 1937, it became the nation's first hotel to have air conditioning, and in 1961, it was the first hotel in Michigan to install a direct-dial telephone system for guests. The Dearborn hotel is also said to have influenced the evolution of destination resorts and is considered to be one of the industry's first such properties. The hotel offered families many popular activities of the era, such as horseback riding, tennis, badminton, ballroom dancing for adults, a playground for children, and even sightseeing trips over Detroit and Windsor, Ontario in a Ford Trimotor airplane.
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The Dearborn Inn
The Dearborn Inn is a historic hotel in the suburban city of Dearborn, Michigan in Metro Detroit. It opened in 1931 and reopened on March 19, 2025 after over two years of renovation and refurbishment. It was conceived by Henry Ford, who saw a need for food and accommodations for visitors flying into the nearby Ford Airport, making it one of the first airport hotels. It is located at 20301 Oakwood Boulevard near the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and the world headquarters building of Ford Motor Company. Albert Kahn designed the Dearborn Inn in the Georgian architectural style. The Dearborn Inn is owned by Ford Motor Land Development Corporation and managed by Marriott International.
Inspired by a passion for Colonial Revival architecture, Henry Ford commissioned renowned architect Albert Kahn to design The Dearborn Inn, who in 1931 would create a Georgian inn to serve Ford's Dearborn airport. The Dearborn hotel is now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and features 231 rooms, including five Colonial guest homes, built in 1937. While thoughtful interior renovations have occurred over the Dearborn hotel's 82-year history, the exterior has remained the same as Ford's original vision. Additional features include Edison's, a fine dining restaurant; the Ten Eyck Tavern, a home-style dining establishment; a seasonal outdoor pool; and 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2) of meeting space including the Alexandria Ballroom, which Ford commissioned to satisfy his love of dancing.
In 1931, Henry Ford determined the need for lodging near his airport in Dearborn, Michigan, and he commissioned prominent architect Albert Kahn, who built many of Detroit's magnificent landmarks to design The Dearborn Inn. Characteristically, Ford took a very active part in the development of the hotel.
The Dearborn Inn was situated on a 23-acre (93,000 m2) site on Oakwood Boulevard across the street from Ford Airport. The Colonial Revival style of the Inn was in harmony with the nearby Edison Institute, and the Inn's décor was early American colonial, a style favored by Henry Ford. With great fanfare, The Dearborn Inn opened for business in July 1931; Henry Ford was the first person to sign the guestbook.
Though the Ford Airport closed in 1933, replaced by the Ford vehicle test track, The Dearborn Inn continued to offer accommodations and dining, as the hotel already had a reputation as one of the nation's premier inns.
In 1933, the Dormitory Building was added to house employees of The Dearborn Inn; however, in the 1960s, it was converted into changing rooms for The Dearborn Inn's Swim Club.
Five replica homes were constructed in 1937, creating a small Colonial Village and adding 31 guestrooms to the Inn. Guests today can still enjoy a stay in the reproduction homes of famous Americans: Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, Barbara Fritchie, Oliver Wolcott, and Patrick Henry. While the original plan called for 18 historic homes in the Colonial Village, World War II halted further expansion. During the war, pilots from the Detroit airport, just a few miles away, had special accommodations on the Inn's first floor, and today, one wing of the first floor is still known as “Pilot’s Row”.
The Dearborn Inn secured its place in hospitality history with many industry “firsts”. It was called the first airport hotel when it opened although the Oakland Airport Inn had, in fact, opened two years earlier. In 1937, it became the nation's first hotel to have air conditioning, and in 1961, it was the first hotel in Michigan to install a direct-dial telephone system for guests. The Dearborn hotel is also said to have influenced the evolution of destination resorts and is considered to be one of the industry's first such properties. The hotel offered families many popular activities of the era, such as horseback riding, tennis, badminton, ballroom dancing for adults, a playground for children, and even sightseeing trips over Detroit and Windsor, Ontario in a Ford Trimotor airplane.