Bloomfield Hills: Cranbrook, Architecture and Nature

When planning a stay in Bloomfield Hills, you can focus on different interests: art and design, historic architecture, or nature. Cranbrook is located at 39221 Woodward Avenue in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. If you’re looking for a hotel in Bloomfield Hills, it helps to first consider which of these topics interest you most.

Art and Architecture at Cranbrook

The Cranbrook Educational Community was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. The Cranbrook Art Museum presents changing exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and design throughout the year. You can see more works of art on tours of the Collections Wing, where nearly 6,000 works of art are displayed. Since tour availability may change, check the current schedule if you’d like to plan a tour.

Events, programs, and tours are also among the ways the Cranbrook Community welcomes the public. Volunteer opportunities are also available. The specific offerings may change, so plan around the relevant dates.

Cranbrook House is the oldest surviving mansion in the greater Detroit area and offers public guided tours. Two other houses are also of interest for their architecture: Saarinen House is an Art Deco architectural masterpiece by Eliel Saarinen. Smith House is considered an outstanding example of the Usonian ideal, which aimed to build high-quality homes for the American middle class. Together, these houses represent different architectural themes to consider when planning your stay.

Gardens, Landscapes, and Nature Trails

Cranbrook Gardens comprises more than 15 gardens on a 40-acre site around Cranbrook House. The natural and designed landscapes of the Cranbrook Educational Community are also part of the area’s character; they include one of the oldest Japanese gardens in the United States. The gardens offer everything from a variety of garden settings to a distinctive Japanese gardening tradition.

There are different options for nature trails. Admission tickets to the Cranbrook Institute of Science include access to the nature trails; access conditions may change. The Johnson Nature Center has about 2.0 miles of nature trails. You can also observe enclosures for orphaned deer and injured hawks and owls up close. If a particular offering matters to you, check the applicable admission and access conditions before your visit.

Another Look at Bloomfield Hills

The Bloomfield Historical Society offers a curated collection of photographs, documents, and stories about the people and events that have shaped Bloomfield Hills. This adds a distinct look at the city’s history to its art and architectural history. You can consider these themes separately when planning your trip: Cranbrook offers opportunities to explore art, architecture, and gardens; the Johnson Nature Center complements the nature theme with trails and wildlife to observe.

For guided tours and individual programs, timing is a practical consideration: before your trip, check whether the offering you’re interested in is available on your visit dates. This way, you can choose your visits based on the interests that are most important to you during your stay in Bloomfield Hills.

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