Tours of Bloomfield Hills’ Cranbrook House and Gardens can now be taken from the comfort of home with a new free app that offers garden tours with audio and videos, along with an interactive map and visitor information.
The app offers three different tours of the garden: an outing for general visitors; one for arts and culture enthusiasts that’s focused on sculptures and other iconic elements; and one with information on the garden’s plants. The tours have video, audio, text, and photos.
A web version of the app and a separate audio tour are also available. Other features of the app include a “favorites” section to bookmark frequently visited pages and push notifications for upcoming events.
Admission to the Cranbrook Gardens, located at 380 Lone Pine Rd., is free through October.
The Cranbrook House is among the oldest manor houses in southeast Michigan. Cranbrook’s founders, Ellen and George Booth, purchased the 174-acre property in 1904 and built the house in 1908. The house was designed by Detroit architect Albert Kahn, who also designed the Belle Isle Aquarium and Conservancy, the Fisher Building, and the Packard Plant. The Booth’s also put in lakes, farmhouses, and roads on the property. The garden spans more than 40 acres.
The free app is available for both iOS and Android devices.
