Michigan’s 11 Oldest & Most Historic Mansions You Need to See at Least Once

The Architectural Heritage of Michigan

Michigan’s oldest mansions tell the state’s money story. Lumber cash built this one, auto wealth built that one, and somehow they all survived. Here are 11 places that give you a peek at the state’s powerhouse past.

Judge Dexter’s Greek Revival Estate Helped Freedom Seekers

In 1844, Judge Samuel Dexter built this Greek Revival mansion with its hexastyle Doric portico. Designed by Calvin T. Fillmore, Gordon Hall features six wooden Doric columns on

its facade and the central two-story section is flanked by one-and-a-half-story wings. Reports indicate it served as a station on the Underground Railroad, with a cellar and hidden passages that helped escaped slaves during the Civil War.

The Whitney Restaurant Was Once Detroit’s Most Expensive Home

In 1894, David Whitney Jr. used his lumber fortune to build this massive stone mansion which spans 21,000 square feet and includes 52 rooms and 20 fireplaces.

Whitney hired Tiffany’s studio to create the stained glass windows, one of which boasts musical elements and images of Saint Cecilia.

The exterior (constructed using pink jasper) has a distinctive rose hue. The Whitney was also the first residential home in Detroit to have a personal-use hydraulic elevator.

Muskegon’s Lumber Baron Built a House Showcasing Eight Types of Wood

Charles Hackley built the Hackley House in 1889 for $400,000. Designed by architect David S. Hopkins of Grand Rapids, you’ll see eight different kinds of wood, including African mahogany carved or trimmed by hand.

Hackley made sure his home had conveniences, like hot water heating and modern bathroom fixtures. A beautiful Victorian garden connects this mansion to the Hume House next door, and you can still see the original cast iron fountains and statues in the garden.

Auto Industry Widow Created One of America’s Largest Tudor Revival Homes

Meadow Brook Hall sits on 1,500 acres that include gardens, a golf course, and farm buildings. Car pioneer John Dodge’s wife Matilda and her second husband spent $4 million building this historic mansion.

They worked on it from 1926 to 1929, creating 110 rooms that showcase the grandeur of the Tudor Revival architecture, with 39 chimneys and 24 fireplaces. European craftsmen came over specially to carve the detailed Renaissance-style woodwork.

Traverse City’s Founder Combined Two Architectural Styles in His Home

Architect William G. Robinson built the Perry Hannah in 1891 using Queen Anne architecture. His 40-room home showcases intricate woodwork made from cherry, oak, walnut, and Brazilian mahogany.

You’ll find ten fireplaces adorned with handmade Venetian tiles, a distinctive round turret, and an expansive veranda. The house was modern, featuring gas-electric lights and one of Michigan’s first home telephones.

Today, it’s the Reynolds-Jonkhoff funeral home, but still preserves the original oak woodwork and special glass windows.

Grand Rapids Furniture Money Built This Remarkably Preserved Victorian Home

Inspired by the chateaux at Chenonceaux, France, Carl Voigt’s Victorian mansion from 1895 shows off a 7,000-square-foot home.

It features ceiling paintings by German artists, seven marble fireplaces, and detailed wood carvings by local craftsmen. What makes the Voigt House special is that 90% of the original items are still there, from family clothes to household goods.

You can see everything from the copper sink in the butler’s pantry to the mechanical music player in the ballroom.

A Banker’s Vision Survived Fire to Become Flint’s Historic House Museum

Originally constructed in the 1950s, Robert J. Whaley remodeled this two-story house from an Italianate structure to a Victorian style.

You’ll come across its curved-top windows and detailed wooden trimming, with 14 rooms containing furniture from the family’s time there during a tour.

In 2015, the mansion caught fire but was saved by a $500,000 restoration effort. The formal sitting room still has its original crystal chandelier and mirrors with gold frames, while the dining room features special Victorian-style wallpaper.

A Michigan Banker’s Home Featured the Latest Victorian Technology

Located in Brush Park, James Campbell packed his 1891 Queen Anne mansion with sliding pocket doors and hidden radiators behind decorative metal screens. The integration of speaking tubes in Campbell’s mansion demonstrates his commitment to modern conveniences.

From the 40-foot-high tower room, you can see for miles through diamond-shaped window panes. The house still has its original oak woodwork, nine different fireplace mantels, and beautiful stained glass windows made by John LaFarge.

History Collector’s Home Became Michigan’s Special Library

The design of the Clements Library was inspired by Vignola’s casino for the Villa Farnese in Caprarola, Italy. William L. Clements turned his love of American history into this Italian Renaissance mansion in 1923.

Made of limestone with hand-carved decorations, there’s a copper roof that has turned green over time. The main reading room has 40-foot ceilings with hand-painted designs and huge limestone fireplaces.

Even though it’s now a library, it still feels like a home with its original leather-covered elevator and marble-floored sunroom.