There’s a major new addition coming to Greenfield Village — and it’s bringing an essential piece of American history to Dearborn. This June, The Henry Ford will officially open the historic Dr. Sullivan and Mrs. Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson Home, adding the story of the Civil Rights Movement to the living history experience inside Greenfield Village.
For generations, Greenfield Village has shared stories of innovation, perseverance, and American life through historic homes and landmarks. The arrival of the Jackson Home marks the first new historic structure added to the Village in more than 40 years and represents an important expansion of the stories being told on the grounds. The home connects visitors directly to the people, places, and conversations that shaped the Civil Rights Movement in America.
Originally located in Selma, Alabama, the Jackson Home belonged to Dr. Sullivan Jackson and his wife, Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson, a teacher and civil rights activist. During the 1950s and 1960s, their home became a safe meeting place and gathering space for leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists working to advance voting rights and racial equality in the South.
The Jackson family played a significant role in the movement in Selma. Richie Jean Jackson was known for opening her home to organizers, supporters, and friends fighting for change, while Dr. Jackson provided medical care and support to activists during a dangerous and pivotal time in American history. The house itself became a place where strategy, community, and courage intersected during the fight for civil rights…