Alden B. Dow Home and Studio

06/01/2026

Do you know an apprentice architect, dabbling designer, or abecedarian artist in 7th-9th grade?

Secure their spot in either (or both) Alden B. Dow Home and Studio Summer Design Camps!

Our Design Camps feature exploration of not only the Home and Studio, but another Mid-Century Modern Midland structure, examination of artists like Andy Goldsworthy, Louise Nevelson, Jackson Po***ck, and Yayoi Kusama, copicous creative construction - clothing, dioramas, mobiles, and more! - as well as bowling in our rarely revealed tunnels and canoeing on the pond that surrounds what Architectural Digest called "one of the two most beautiful contemporary homes in America."

Design I does not have to be taken before Design II and each camp has openings so your camper can attend BOTH this summer if they would like.

Each camp is $190 per four-day session, which run Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 4 PM on their respective weeks.

Design I: June 22-June 25
To book now, please visit https://fareharbor.com/abdow/items/691155/availability/1945607701/book/

Design II: July 13-July 16
To book now, please visit https://fareharbor.com/abdow/items/691156/availability/1945621490/book/

For more information on this year's Design I and Design II camps, please contact Gerianna Lake at [email protected].

05/15/2026

"Mid-Century Modern Midland" co-authors Craig McDonald, Alden B. Dow Home and Studio Executive Director, and Carol Neff stopped by WNEMTV5news this week, speaking with Christine Winter about their upcoming book signing on Saturday, which precedes an earlier lecture focused on - You guessed it! - Mid-Century Modern (MCM) architecture in the Midwest.

Join Erin Hawkins, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications at Visit Columbus, on Saturday, May 16 for her talk, "Different by Design: How Columbus, Indiana Became an Architectural Destination" at 11 AM at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library auditorium. If you haven't yet registered for this FREE and fascinating discussion, please do so at https://bit.ly/42ioCK4

A bit later in the day, stop by Barnes & Noble Midland, 6800 Eastman Avenue, from 3-5 PM to continue your Mid-Century Modern Saturday here in the City of Modern Explorers. Books will be available for purchase at the book store, but will not be sold at the library.

If you missed our hometown authors on WNEM, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Zgg0OqfMk to watch the interview.

05/14/2026

Alden B. Dow Home and Studio Executive Director Craig McDonald sat down with "Good Morning Mid-Michigan" host Matt Barbour to discuss a full day of Mid-Century Architecture, coming up this Saturday, May 16 here in Midland.

In addition to chatting about the lecture, "Different by Design," from Visit Columbus Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications Erin Hawkins, happening at 11 AM at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, and the book signing for "Mid-Century Modern Midland" from 3-5 PM at the Barnes & Noble Midland, 6800 Eastman Avenue, Craig provided a brief overview of Mr. Dow's architectural legacy as well as the educational programs offered to students at the Home and Studio.

If you didn't have a chance to see the segment live on , please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuNULbEYVtA

We are grateful to Matt, Darren, and the rest of the "Good Morning Mid-Michigan" team for spending a bit of their AM with us. Thank you from the Home and Studio.

If you haven't yet signed up for Saturday's lecture, there's still time! Please visit https://bit.ly/42ioCK4

Craig McDonald is co-author of 'Mid-Century Modern Midland'

05/13/2026

Earlier this month, students from the Central Michigan University Museum Studies program toured the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio with our Executive Director Craig McDonald as well as recent CMU graduate Campbell Geary, a Museum Studies alum, who will soon be heading up our Archives.

Many thanks to Rebecca from the CMU Museum and Museum Studies Group for this wonderful photo and calling the Home and Studio "so cool and inspiring," while noting its close proximity to Mount Pleasant, making it easy for her followes to "go visit!"

Congratulations to all those graduating this spring. May your future endeavors, in the words of Rebecca, be cool and inspiring.

05/08/2026

Thanks to Ember St. Amour of the Midland Daily News for coverage of the upcoming book signing for "Mid-Century Modern Midland" at Barnes & Noble Midland on Saturday, May 16 from 3-5 PM.

Looking forward to seeing familiar as well as new faces there and at the earlier lecture, "Different by Design" by Erin Hawkins of Visit Columbus at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library at 11 AM.

Craig McDonald and Carol Neff's book, “Mid-Century Modern Midland,” will be highlighted with two events on Saturday, May 16.
Click the link in the comments 👇️

05/06/2026

Give your student a summer of creativity and discovery with our Architecture and Design Camps!

Through hands-on activities, campers will engage in design, architectural, and visual art activities while fostering new friendships along the way.

Each camp includes:
▪️ A mix of indoor and outdoor activities
▪️ A tour of the Home and Studio as well as a visit to another Mid-Century Modern structure
▪️ Canoeing on the pond surrounding the Home and Studio (Weather permitting)
▪️ An open house at the end of the week for family and friends

All camps are four days long and cost $190. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE!
Additionally, Camp I & Camp II can be taken in any order--no prerequisites required.

Our Architecture Camps are for 4th-6th grade. This experience allows campers to build their own miniature structures, discover how architecture shapes our communities and the world around us, and learn about Alden B. Dow and Midland's history.
📅 Architecture I
Session 1: June 8-11 | Session 2: July 20-23
📅 Architecture II
Session 1: June 15-18 | Session 2: July 27-30

Our Design Camps are for 7th-9th grade. Campers will learn about design principles such as color, texture, and shape, have hands-on art and design projects in various mediums, learn about different historic and contemporary artists, and explore Mr. Dow's creative philosophy as expressed through his original 16mm films and other artistic endeavors.
📅 Design I
Session 1: June 22-25 | Session 2: July 6-9
📅 Design II
One Session Only: July 13-16

Many spots have filled, but the following sessions have the best avaiilability:
📅 Architecture II
Session 2: July 27-30

📅 Design I
Session 1: June 22-25
📅 Design II
Session II: July 13-16

Remember, a camper may take Camp II in either Architecture of Design without having taken Camp I and SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE!

Secure your student's place today at abdow.org.

03/31/2026

April brings not only showers, but the conclusion – at least until the end of 2026, when these return in the fall - of both the Home and Studio Tunnel Tours and Tours with a Movie.

Why wait until November for something as satisfying as seeing the world through Alden B. Dow’s camera when you can experience a Tour with a Movie this weekend?

Join us on Saturday, April 4 from 1-3 PM for not only a fascinating walk through an iconic Michigan structure, but also a deeply enhanced tour experience as you view Mr. Dow’s footage of Midland Architecture, this month’s movie theme.

Those who attend will see images of nature, including the pond and landscape of the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, as well as private residences, a selection of churches, and the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, all in the City of Modern Explorers.

After seeing Mr. Dow’s work here in the city, pick up a copy of the recently released “Mid-Century Modern Midland,” available in our gift shop for a discounted price of $50, to learn even more about what you’ve seen.

Tours, Tunnel or with a Movie, are by reservation only for those ages 8 and above. Tickets for a Tour with a Movie are $25 for attendees. To make your reservation, please visit https://www.abdow.org/tours/

02/02/2026

We are excited to announce the release of our new book, “Mid-Century Modern Midland.” The stunning coffee table book chronicles Midland, Michigan’s unprecedented architectural legacy and celebrates the architects and designers who defined an era of simplicity, utility and modernism.

The book is on sale now but is not available to ship until after February 26. Learn more or get your book today at https://www.abdow.org/product/mid-century-modern-midland-hardcover/.

01/22/2026

Return to the Alden B. Dow Home & Studio in February with our first ever Tour with a Movie! This new tour series will be held on the first Saturday of February, March, April, November, and December, each with a different theme.

February’s tour will feature Mr. Dow’s films of the construction of his Home & Studio. This tour will run from 1-3pm on February 7th. Register online at abdow.org/tours or by calling 989-839-2744. We hope to see you there!

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01/01/2026

Thank you for supporting the Home & Studio throughout 2025! From the excitement of the Dorothy Dow Arbury Residence tour, to our exhibition, A New Vision: The Graphic Art of Tim Lewis, and to Mid-Century Modern Midland's Renovation Tour, it was an eventful year--and we could not have done it without the support, enthusiasm, and curiosity of our visitors.

We will be closed in January for our annual maintenance, and we look forward to welcoming you back in February for Tunnel Tours and new tour series, "Tour with a Movie".

Tours will resume on their regular schedule after February 1st.

Happy new year from the Home & Studio, see you in 2026!