The History of The Dearborn Inn
The Dearborn Inn, an iconic landmark and jewel of Ford’s Dearborn campus, is set to reopen on March 19 after an extensive two-year renovation.
Available for booking soon, the Inn is within walking distance of the main Ford campus and will soon offer travelers some new dining and hospitality options.
Opened in 1931, the Albert Kahn-designed hotel became one of the nation’s first airport hotels, offering modern amenities for travelers at the adjacent Ford Airport on Oakwood Boulevard, as well as visitors to Ford’s campus.
Built in a Georgian architectural style, the hotel was modeled after the New England inns of that era, which Henry Ford and Edsel Ford preferred. A village-like setting of five reproductions of notable Americans’ homes, including those of U.S. founding father Patrick Henry, and author Edgar Allan Poe, were added in 1937 and are set to welcome guests later this year.
While Ford Motor Company’s early ambitions in the aviation industry led to the construction of the hotel, those hopes were dashed by the Great Depression. The airport was later converted for use as Ford’s Dearborn proving grounds, but the hotel remained intact. Today, the inn is operated by Marriott, Ford’s partner in managing the hotel since 1989. The Dearborn Inn will reopen as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, offering a boutique guest experience.
The Dearborn Inn has undergone multiple renovations in its history, most recently in 2007. However, this is the most significant from a building infrastructure and guest experience perspective.
What's New
Renovation of the 290,000-square-foot historic hotel includes guest rooms, public spaces, replica homes, and the building’s infrastructure — restoring the exterior and updating the heating/cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems — all of which will make the Dearborn Inn more accessible and inviting, and offer a better guest experience.
“We have lightened and brightened the rooms and emphasized our windows,” said Jennifer Kolstad, Ford’s global design and brand director. “You’ll feel the difference and the rooms feel enormous — they feel palatial and extremely luxurious.”
Honoring Ford Heritage
Kolstad oversees architectural and interior design projects across the enterprise. She led the coordination of multiple teams throughout the Dearborn Inn project, ensuring that the original design vision was realized. She also thanked Ford Land’s many design and construction partners for their efforts in helping the company expedite the renovation.
“Other projects are meant to propel us forward, but the Dearborn Inn is a magical opportunity to remind us where we came from as well," said Jennifer Kolstad, Ford global design and brand director . "We would be remiss in not acknowledging the history of Ford Motor Company. It doesn’t mean we’re stuck there."
“The Dearborn Inn is a magical opportunity to remind us where we came from.”Jennifer Kolstad, Ford global design and brand director
The Ford Land team prioritized the preservation of Ford’s significant aviation heritage — the company also manufactured some 200 early Ford Tri-Motor Airplanes — which incorporated input from Ford family members, including Executive Chair Bill Ford, former longtime Ford board member Edsel B. Ford II, and Chief Dealer Engagement Officer Elena Ford. Their input is reflected in various design elements and the preservation of items such as the original black and white marble lobby floor, an original clock, and the greenstone fireplace.
The new hotel bar is also a callback to Henry Ford’s past. Called The Four Vagabonds, it is a nod to his camping troupe of the 1910s and ‘20s, which included Thomas Edison, among other notable figures. Clara’s Table, the new restaurant, honors the legacy of Henry’s wife, Clara Ford, and her love of gardening through a nature-inspired color palette, a creative menu, and local ingredients — some of which will soon be planted in a garden on site.
“We were careful to curate important artwork and artifacts from the decades...”Jennifer Kolstad, Ford global design and brand director
Historical elements of the Dearborn Inn were also preserved and enhanced, Kolstad said, including the use of Art Deco detailing, curated furniture, and artwork intended to represent innovation. The original marble floor and crown molding in the lobby have been preserved, and custom woodwork reminiscent of the past was added. Historic windows in the main lobby and the Inn’s historic homes have been carefully restored in accordance with standards for the National Registry for Historic Properties.
“We were careful to curate important artwork and artifacts from the decades to create a collection that represents innovation rather than a place in time,”Kolstad said.
She noted a Platner chair in the lobby, a sign of machine industrialism, alongside an Art Deco-detailed reception desk.
Fresh and Authentic
Pieces from regional artists and furniture makers have also been incorporated to create a cohesive and authentic design. The design team referenced Michigan’s rich legacy of makers through the creation of new feature elements like the corridor carpet pattern inspired by Loja Saarinen, who founded the weaving department at Cranbrook Academy of Art. Kolstad said the team sought to retain the gravitas of the hotel, while also updating it for modern use.
“The goal was to create a fresh yet authentic solution that felt like it had always been part of the building,” she said, adding that the Dearborn Inn is a critical piece of Ford’s Dearborn campus. “It serves as a reminder of Ford’s innovative past while fitting into the company’s future vision.”
Kolstad said that, like other recent and ongoing Ford Land projects on the Dearborn campus, such as the nearby Ford Experience Center and the Central Campus Building, these projects propel Ford forward. Each project uses the lens of hospitality and employee experience to guide decisions. Now, the Dearborn Inn will welcome Ford employees and guests and provide an exceptional experience.
