Kempf House Museum

About this museum

Behind a modest facade on South Division Street in Ann Arbor, the Kempf House Museum preserves one of Michigan's finest surviving examples of Victorian domestic life - and the centerpiece is a magnificent Steinway grand piano that still anchors a parlor designed for evening musicales. The house was built in the 1890s and reflects the refined tastes of the family who called it home, from the carefully restored woodwork and period furnishings to the kitchen garden that blooms each season in the rear yard. What makes a visit here different from the typical house museum is the intimacy of the guided tour format: a knowledgeable docent walks you through each room, explaining not just what you are looking at but how people actually lived in it - how they kept warm, how they entertained, and how domestic fashions shifted with the turn of the century. The music room, with its Steinway as a focal point, invites visitors to imagine the concerts and social gatherings that once filled the space with sound. Outside, the restored garden provides a quiet moment of reflection, connecting the domestic interior to the seasonal rhythms of a Victorian household. Admission to the Kempf House Museum is free, making it one of Ann Arbor's most accessible historic treasures. The museum's website at kempfhousemuseum.org has current tour schedules and seasonal programming details. The house is located at 312 South Division Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Visitors should check the website for current open days, as hours vary by season. Whether you are a lover of American history, decorative arts, or simply curious about life in the Gilded Age, an afternoon at the Kempf House offers something genuinely transporting - all without spending a dime.