Fourth Time Was A Charm

Marking another of the “19 Things for Visitors to do in Lansing” off the list: The Capitol Building. Well, the THIRD Capitol Building in Michigan.  

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When the Capitol was moved from the bustling metropolis of Detroit—population: 9,102—to the “howling wilderness” of Lansing—population: maybe 100, possibly closer to 20, depending on who you ask—in 1847, the building for the legislature to decide the fate of the 12-year-old State of Michigan was a “...hastily erected wooden structure.” Citizens and government officials alike knew the building was inadequate, but the priority of the Civil War and the precariousness it carried meant that construction of a suitable seat of government would have to wait. With an architectural plan designed by Elijah E. Myers and a budget—$1.2 million, or $34.8 million in today’s money—in place, construction of the third and current entity of the Capitol Building began in 1872.  

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Michigan’s State Capitol has always been at the forefront of innovation. From its gas lamp lighting (state of the art in 1872) to the eco-friendly geothermal heating/cooling system installed in 2022, the caretakers of the Capitol are determined to preserve it to the best of their ability. At the time of my visit, the 685 glass floor tiles beneath the rotunda are being replaced. The technologies being used by Lucid Glass Studio of Providence, RI will not only recreate the original tiles but improve upon them.   

The Lansing Capitol Building is beautiful—overwhelmingly so. I’m still dealing with the crick in my neck from staring up at the almost 40-ton cast iron dome (one of the first ever constructed, and a feat of engineering for the time). Views of the muses will forever inspire me. Thank you, Michiganders, for another glimpse at your concerted effort to preserve your beautiful history while also reaching into the future.