Lansing, MI
Capital of Michigan
Overview
Lansing is the capital city of Michigan, located in the Midwest region of the United States. Founded in 1835, the city has grown to a population of approximately 112,644 residents within a state of 10,037,261 people. As the seat of Michigan's state government, Lansing serves as the political and administrative center of the state.
The city is home to the Michigan State Capitol, a Neoclassical structure that has been a landmark since its completion in 1879. Designed by Elijah E. Myers, the capitol building stands as a testament to the state's history and governance, attracting visitors from across the country and around the world.
Lansing has served as the capital of Michigan since 1847. Before Lansing, the state's capital was located in Detroit.
Michigan State Capitol
The Michigan State Capitol in Lansing was the first state capitol designed by architect Elijah E. Myers, who would go on to design capitols in Texas and Colorado. The building was one of the first to feature a cast-iron dome and was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1992. A meticulous restoration completed in 1992 returned the building's decorative painting and glass to its original splendor.
U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Notable Features
- One of the first state capitols with a cast-iron dome
- National Historic Landmark since 1992
- Decorative painted ceilings and walls restored to original designs
- Nine acres of hand-painted surfaces
- Tiffany-style glass floor in the rotunda
- Civil War battle flags displayed in the rotunda
Media Gallery
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Fun Facts & Trivia
- ★The Michigan State Capitol was the first state capitol designed by Elijah E. Myers, who later designed the Texas and Colorado capitols.
- ★Lansing was chosen as the state capital in 1847 partly because it was an obscure, centrally located village -- a compromise between Detroit and other rival cities.
- ★The building features nine acres of hand-painted decorative surfaces, meticulously restored in the 1990s.
- ★A rare glass floor in the rotunda allows light to filter between levels of the building.
- ★Michigan's capitol was designated a National Historic Landmark on the same day its restoration was completed in 1992.
- ★Lansing is one of the few state capitals that is not the largest city in its state -- Detroit holds that distinction.