Ellen Warren nee Scripps (1863-1948) and George Booth (1864-1949) purchased what was then a run down 174 acre farm in 1904. The Booth family originated in the English town of Cranbrook and that was namesake of the property in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.

Starting in 1922, the Booths began to create several institutions on the grounds including Brookside School for Children, Christ Church Cranbrook, Cranbrook School for Boys, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Cranbrook Institute of Science and Kingswood School for Girls. In 1944, the property was transferred to the Cranbrook Foundation.

The gardens consist of about 40 acres surrounding Cranbrook House. There is a sunken garden, bog area, sculptures, fountains along with specimen sized trees and shrubs.