Commandant's Quarters of the Dearborn Historical Museum, Detroit

The Commandant's Quarters, located on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, is a historic U.S. military structure and the oldest building in Dearborn still on its original site. Built in 1834 as part of the Dearborn Arsenal, the structure is considered one of Michigan's most significant buildings. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1956 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

The Commandant's Quarters is part of the Dearborn Historical Museum, which also includes the 1832 Richard Gardner House and the McFadden-Ross House. This building played a key role in the early 19th-century military efforts, serving as a supply depot for the U.S. Army. Its construction was prompted by safety concerns in Detroit, where the growing population and proximity to stored explosives necessitated relocating the arsenal to the then-rural village of Dearbornville.

Architecturally, the Commandant's Quarters reflects a blend of Federal-style design on the exterior and Greek Revival elements on the interior. The two-story, square red-brick structure features a piano nobile, low-pitched hipped slate roof, gabled dormers, and a balustrade. A two-story verandah with square columns wraps around the rear and sides, faithfully recreated in the 1970s to match the original design. The building’s handmade wrought iron railing near the front entrance remains original.

Inside, the Commandant's Quarters follow a center hall plan, with a staircase running front to back. The first floor houses a formal parlor and dining room, separated by restored sliding doors. Upstairs, there are four bedrooms off the central hall and a large attic once used as servants’ quarters. The basement housed the kitchens, and the home boasts ten fireplaces throughout.

Restorations have returned much of the interior to its 19th-century look, with reinstalled partitions, repaired plaster, and historically accurate colors. The parlor and dining room reflect the 1840s, while other rooms are being transformed into a museum showcasing Dearborn's history. The site preserves its military heritage and highlights early Dearborn's architectural and cultural past.