The First New Building in 40 Years Lands at Greenfield Village
A Selma home that served as a meeting place for civil rights activists is joining the historical collection
Dearborn — Most visitors to Greenfield Village are familiar with Edison's laboratory, the Wright Brothers' bicycle shop, Henry Ford's childhood home, and the dozens of other historic buildings that have helped tell America's story for decades.
But for the first time in more than 40 years, Greenfield Village has a new historic home.
The Henry Ford will officially open the Dr. Sullivan and Mrs. Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson Home to the public on June 12, adding an important piece of Civil Rights history to the outdoor museum. For now, the exhibit is only available to members through special preview tours, and I was lucky enough to get an early look inside.
Unlike any other home in Greenfield Village, the Jackson Home exhibit begins with a small museum connected to the home that provides visitors with historical context before they step inside the house itself.
Originally located in Selma, Alabama, the Jackson Home served as both a family residence and a gathering place for leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. During the 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stayed there while helping organize the Selma-to-Montgomery marches and push for voting-rights legislation.
The home belonged to Dr. Sullivan Jackson, a local dentist, and his wife Richie Jean Jackson, a teacher and activist. They opened their doors to movement leaders, organizers, and supporters during one of the most pivotal periods in American history.
King frequently stayed there while in Selma, and the house became a place where activists could meet, strategize, and rest during the campaign for voting rights.
Many of the home's original furnishings have been preserved and are now part of the exhibit.
Among them is the armchair where King watched President Lyndon Johnson deliver his famous "We Shall Overcome" speech in March 1965, announcing plans for voting rights legislation. The chair remains positioned exactly as it appeared in the historic photograph taken that day.
The home itself made quite a journey before arriving in Dearborn.
After being acquired by The Henry Ford in 2023, the 100-year-old structure was carefully disassembled in Alabama and transported more than 1,000 miles to Michigan. Crews reconstructed the home inside Greenfield Village and restored it to its 1965 appearance, allowing visitors to experience the space much as it looked during the height of the Selma movement.
The Jackson Home officially opens on June 12 as part of a three-day block party celebration running through June 14.
The weekend will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and also feature live music, panel discussions, and Southern-inspired food. Jawana Jackson, the daughter of Sullivan and Richie Jean Jackson who grew up in the home, is also expected to attend.
Of course, there's plenty to do at The Henry Ford year-round, and this summer is no exception.
In addition to the Jackson Home opening, visitors can also experience special exhibits, events, and educational programs tied to America's upcoming 250th anniversary.
But the Jackson Home will be the biggest addition.
For the first time in more than 40 years, Greenfield Village has a new historic home ready to welcome a new generation of visitors, bringing an important piece of civil rights history to Michigan.
