Storied Meadow Brook Hall Reopens for Self-Guided Touring

Cars and car history are an essential part of living in and understanding Metro Detroit, so a trip to the venerable Meadow Brook Hall is a necessity if you work for or support the automotive industry in Michigan or beyond.

That is why the reopening of this storied home and historical monument is noteworthy. As part of Michigan’s Safe Start Plan related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Meadow Brook Hall was scheduled to safely reopen its house and grounds on weekends for public touring beginning Saturday, Feb. 6.

“Meadow Brook Hall is excited to reopen our doors to the community. We look forward to welcoming guests to the Great Estate to experience the history and charm of our 110-room, 88,000-square-foot National Historic Landmark. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the historic mansion and estate at their own pace with self-guided tours, aided by our new touring app,” said Shannon O’Berski, Director of External Relations.

Located on the campus of Oakland University, the National Historic Landmark will be open to the public for visitation and touring on Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with last admittance at 3 p.m.

Meadow Brook Hall is the historic home built by one of the automotive aristocracy’s most remarkable women, Matilda Dodge Wilson, widow of auto pioneer John Dodge, and her second husband, Alfred Wilson. Constructed between 1926 and 1929, Meadow Brook Hall represents one of the finest examples of Tudor-revival style architecture in America, and is especially renowned for its superb craftsmanship, architectural detailing and grand scale of 88,000 square-feet.

It was the center of a country estate that included 1,500 acres, numerous farm buildings, recreational facilities, several residences and formal gardens. Named a National Historic Landmark in 2012, Meadow Brook Hall strives to preserve and interpret its architecture, landscape, and fine and decorative art so that visitors may be entertained, educated and inspired by history. Meadow Brook Hall is located in Rochester on the campus of Oakland University.

The Hall will offer self-guided touring throughout all three levels of the house with special insight from a new visitor app. Meadow Brook will monitor self-guided touring to ensure physical distancing is maintained. Outside, the grounds will offer scenic winter walks along our woodland pathways.

Admission is $10 per adult, $7 for seniors aged 62 and over, and $5 for children aged 6-12. Children 5 and under are free. Guest safety is Meadow Brook’s top priority. In order to protect the community, guests must wear a face covering in enclosed spaces and maintain physical distancing by staying 6 feet apart from others.

Meadow Brook Hall is closely monitoring emerging developments related to COVID-19 and is taking a range of measures to protect the safety and health of our community. For more information and updates about Meadow Brook’s response to COVID-19, visit meadowbrookhall.org/covid19.

Meadow Brook Hall is fully self-supporting, relying on touring and special events for the preservation and interpretation of this National Historic Landmark.