BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR FEE
$35 per person
Tours meet at the Cranbrook Greek Theatre
Highlights of the Tour:
- Learn about the artistic legacy of ancient and Renaissance Italy
- View historic artworks from the collection never previously exhibited for tours
- Enjoy an array of Italian treats in the Oak Room at Cranbrook House
Join us to discover Cranbrook House and Garden's Italianate side in a special summer tour featuring new discoveries, hitherto unseen artworks from the collection, and an assortment of Italian treats to savor. Our tour takes its inspiration from the tradition of the Grand Tour, a coming-of-age journey to Italy undertaken by young English gentlemen in the 18th and 19th centuries. On our own "Grand Tour" of Cranbrook House, we will explore both the house and grounds with eyes attuned to the Italian elements of the estate, discovering the surprisingly central role ancient Rome and the Italian Renaissance played in shaping the Booths' Arts and Crafts home.
This special Cranbrook Grand Tour will begin in the Greek Theatre, where we will explore the influence of Greek culture on Roman and Italian art and design, continue in the gardens around the Booths' manor home, stopping at important sculptures and fountains such as a 1st-century CE Hellenistic Venus, before moving inside Cranbrook House where a highlight will be the newly installed Pompeiian Fisherman sculpture, as well as the Still Room, with its Pompeii-inspired low relief ceiling painted by the Booths' oldest son James. The tour will conclude in the Oak Room where guests will sample Italian treats while watching clips from classic Italian movies.
PARKING AND ARRIVAL
There is free parking at the Cranbrook House parking lot, located at 380 Lone Pine Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 48304. Overflow parking is located along the Lone Pine Road service drive, directly across from Cranbrook House and St. Dunstan's Theatre on the south side of Lone Pine Road. Guest check-in will take place in the Greek Theatre where your tour will begin. The tour will conclude in Cranbrook House.
To reach the Greek Theatre from Cranbrook House, take the gravel path at the northwest/upper left corner of the parking lot, which will lead you gently uphill through a grove of trees to the Greek Theatre.
You do not need to print your ticket. You will be asked to provide your name to a Center staff member to verify your ticket.
EVENT LENGTH
Each tour will last approximately one hour. Guests are welcome to remain in Cranbrook House to enjoy refreshments after their tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please see our Tour Information page for additional details about the tour, including accessibility and restrooms.
By registering for this event, you agree to our photography, refund, and other policies.
PHOTO CREDITS
Header Image: Still Room ceiling at Cranbrook House, 2016. Photography by Colton Graub, Courtesy of Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research
Menelaus, 2016. Photography by P.D. Rearick, Courtesy of Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research
Detail of Frederick MacMonnies' Pan of Rohallion, in Cranbrook House, 2024. Photography by Sophie Russell-Jeffries, Courtesy of Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research