A truly Behind the Scenes look at Hecker House (now Tierney Alumni House), which is not currently open to the public for tours and events!
In 1889, at age 26, German-born architect Louis Kamper’s first major commission at the Scott & Scott architecture firm was the Col. Frank J. Hecker House. This French chateau-like structure at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Ferry Street has forty-nine rooms on three floors and features exquisite fireplaces and ornate wood carvings.
Hecker House subsequently became a boarding house, followed by the headquarters for Smiley Music Company. The Mansion was then owned by Charfoos & Christensen, P.C., who restored it in the 1990s. It is now part of Wayne State University and has been rechristened the Tierney Alumni House.
The building is home to the extensive art collection of Andronike Tsaragas and John Hilberry, who relocated dozens of works produced by Detroit-based artists in the 1960s, '70s and '80s.
$25 members, $35 general public. Members, please log in; discount will be reflected at checkout.
Not yet a member? There are so many reasons to join and free admission is just the beginning. Learn more at detroithistorical.org/membership.