State Capitols – Lansing, Michigan, Part 1

Michigan Capitol in Lansing (9 April 2008)

Constructed: 1872-1878

Architect: Elijah E. Myers

State Admitted to Union: January 26, 1837 (26th)

State Population (2010): 9,883,640 (8th)

When we introduced the state capitol series, I wisely avoided any commitment to a set schedule but said that new posts might appear when a state or its capitol was in the news. Well, the Great State of Michigan has generated some attention lately with its water supply SNAFU’s in Flint. When the news showed residents protesting inside the capitol, it was a sign to get this one posted.

2008 was a big year for me. The Dead Presidents Quest was completed and the State Capitol Odyssey, which began in earnest the year before, got its biggest bump of visits. But before that 24-day, 4900-mile road trip in June, there was a quick visit to Michigan. Beck had a job in St. Joseph and I went along, retired, chaser of images that I am. While she ran a workshop, I drove to Grand Rapids to pay my respects to # 38, Gerald Ford AND visit the state capitol in Lansing. A cool, cloudy day made stellar by adding to both collections.

Michigan House of Representatives (9 April 2008)

The House of Representatives is the largest room

in the building and seats 110 members. 

The area that became Michigan was first explored and settled by French-Canadian missionaries and fur traders in the 1600’s. They established Fort Detroit in 1701. The U.S. acquired the land as part of the settlement of our revolution of independence and Congress designated it as the Northwest Territory in 1787. After Ohio became a state in 1803, the Territory was remapped and the Michigan Territory was created. It became the 26th state in 1837.

Michigan Senate (9 April 2008)

The 38 Senators serve 4-year terms. The Senate and House 

members still use the original, solid walnut desks designed by 

Elijah Myers. They cost the princely sum of $13.65 each.

The current capitol was designed by Elijah Myers, renowned as the architect of three state houses (also Texas and Colorado). Completed for $1.4 million, the edifice is a remarkable example of elegance on the cheap. The interior ‘marble’ columns are cast iron, the ‘marble’ pilasters are plaster and the ‘walnut’ wainscoting is pine…all faux-painted to look like what they are not.

Grand Staircase, Michigan Capitol, Lansing (9 April 2008)

The cast iron stairs are complemented by some of the finest 

examples of Victorian decorative painting. Three years 

of restoration on the building were completed in 1992.

Michigan Capitol, Lansing (9 April 2008)

The style of the architecture has been called ‘Renaissance Revival’ or Neoclassical. Like many state houses that went up after the nation’s capitol was finished in Washington, they followed the pattern of balanced wings adjacent a lofty central dome. Since Myers was self-taught, he wasn’t immersed in the popular style of the day. This building is a stew of Greek, Roman and other influences. You will find Doric, Ionic and Corinthian capitals on columns here.

April 9 might have been a spring day in some parts of our land but it was still late winter in the North Country. Since the Lansing capitol grounds do not have as much in the way of monuments and commemorative artwork, it was better (and more comfortable) to wander the inside spaces in search of images.

Please return for Part 2 of this visit and see more of the captivating interior.