Grosse Pointe Academy

Grosse Pointe Academy is an educational complex in Grosse Pointe Farms with Renaissance Revival architecture that spans a long strip between Grosse Pointe Boulevard and Lake Shore Drive. The campus includes seven buildings, with five of them recognized as contributing historic structures.

The Society of the Sacred Heart acquired the property in 1867 and transformed a French ribbon farm into an educational institution for young women. This change marked the beginning of over 150 years of school use at the location.

The institution began as a girls' school run by cloistered nuns and now serves boys and girls from preschool through middle school. The campus layout reflects how the place has adapted to serve a broader community over time.

The complex is positioned between two main roads and offers various vantage points for viewing the buildings and grounds. Keep in mind that portions of the property may not be freely accessible since it remains an active school.

The grounds operated as a self-sustaining farm until the 1940s, combining agricultural work with classroom education. This dual purpose was uncommon for schools and reflects the self-sufficient nature of the early institution.