Capitol Square

Pediment & Portico

The pediment above the Capitol’s east portico holds a sculpture titled “The Rise and Progress of Michigan” designed by Michigan artist Lewis Ives. The central figure holds a book and a globe representing education and modernity. The two other figures behind her are surrounded by symbols of Michigan’s late 19th century industries including agriculture, shipping, mining, and lumbering.

Loomis Battery Cannons

For many years, two Civil War cannons from the famous Loomis Battery of Coldwater, Michigan stood on the Capitol’s east lawn. These original cannons were removed during WWII when they were apparently donated to a scrap metal drive. These replica cannons were funded entirely by private donations and were installed on the original mounts in 2015.

Capitol Cornerstone

The Capitol’s granite cornerstone records the first and last years of the building’s construction, 1872 and 1878. Over 30,000 people gathered in Lansing to see the stone laid into place on October 2, 1873. A time capsule holding the building plans, documents, coins, and other significant items was placed inside. Unfortunately, by the time the cornerstone was opened in 1978, most of the contents had turned to ‘gunk.’ A new time capsule was installed in 1979 to be opened in 2079.

First Michigan Engineers Monument

This monument honoring the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Regiment was dedicated in 1912. This regiment served in the Civil War, building roads, bridges, railroads, and communication lines. In 1863 the First Michigan Engineers built a bridge 460 feet long and 60 feet high over the Elk River in Tennessee. Using timber cut from the surrounding forest the regiment finished the bridge in only eight days making it one of the greatest engineering feats of the entire war.

Veterans Memorial

Over 1,399,000 Michigan men and women served in WWI, WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. This monument dedicated to the veterans of these conflicts was unveiled on November 11, 1982, making it one of the first multi-war memorials in the country. The monument was gifted to the state by Michigan veterans organizations and constructed by Yunker Memorials of Lansing, Michigan.

Replica Lamp Posts

When the Capitol opened in 1879, the central walkway was framed by two magnificent gas-lit lamps The S.J. Creswell Company which provided much of the iron for the Capitol’s construction, built the ornate lamp posts. Around 1905, the gas lamps were removed and an M-shaped electric archway was mounted on the original posts, and by 1940, the posts had also disappeared. These replicas, based on historic photos of the original lights, were installed in 2016.

Austin Blair Monument

This statue of Governor Austin Blair is the only monument on Capitol Square dedicated to an individual. Blair led Michigan during the Civil War, 1861-1864. He was an outspoken abolitionist and dedicated supporter of Michigan’s soldiers. The back of the monument is inscribed with quotes from Blair’s speeches and his hand rests on one of Michigan’s regimental battle flags. This statue of Michigan’s ‘War Governor’ was unveiled on October 12, 1898.

Annual Flower Beds

While the original landscaping plans for Capitol Square did not include flowerbeds, 1890’s photos show two flower beds flanking the central walkway. The carpet beds that are planted here now are very appropriate for the late 19th century. Each spring, Capitol staff and volunteers plant about 10,000 annuals in a precise pattern to create colorful designs with the growing flowers. The patterns are usually inspired by the decorative art inside the Capitol.

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A living relic, the Northern Catalpa tree just south of the central walkway was planted sometime before construction of the Capitol began in 1872. The (much smaller) tree can be seen in the earliest photos of Capitol. While most catalpas live about 60 years, this one is probably about 150! Every year, the MSU Department of Forestry collects some of the tree’s seed pods for propagation. Eventually, one of the catalpa’s ‘daughter trees’ will take its place on Capitol

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Catalpa Tree

The Hiker Monument

This sculpture called ‘The Hiker,’ was designed by Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson, one of the first American women to become a famous sculptor. Dedicated to the soldiers of the 1898 Spanish-American War, The Hiker became so popular that at least 50 castings of the statue were made for locations all over the country. The United Spanish War Veterans of Michigan paid for this casting, dedicated on September 15, 1946.

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First Michigan Sharpshooters Monument

The First Michigan Volunteer Sharpshooters regiment was formed during the Civil War and included men from all over the state who passed a marksmanship test. Company K of the regiment was made up of Native American volunteers from the Upper Peninsula. In April 1865 the Sharpshooters became famous as the first Union troops to enter Petersburg and raise their flag over the city after a nine-month siege. Surviving members of the regiment raised money for this monument in 1915.

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Astronomical Post & Azimuth

While it was called the “mystery stone” for many years, this stone post was actually installed by the U.S. Lake Survey in 1875. Called an astronomical post, it served as a fixed reference point for surveyors mapping the interior of the state. A tool called a transit would be set up over cross hairs in the post’s surface to take measurements during mapping. A second stone called an azimuth (in the northeast quadrant of the lawn) allowed mapping without a transit.

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Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Boulder

This boulder is a memorial to the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization for Union veterans of the Civil War. The GAR provided assistance and advocacy for veterans and their families and played a significant role in U.S. politics in the late 19th century. The female auxiliary of the GAR, the Department of Michigan Women’s Relief Corps, erected this monument in 1924.

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Perennial Beds

The elliptical beds along the Capitol’s north and south wings were inspired by the work of Gertrude Jekyll, a famous English gardener whose designs were less formal than typical Victorian garden schemes. The Capitol Jekyll beds include plants that bloom throughout the growing season with warmer colors closer to the East entrance and cooler colors at the far ends of the building.

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Central Utility Plant (Subterranean)

Known to many simply as the CUP, the underground Central Utility Plant was constructed during the 2017-2019 Capitol Infrastructure Upgrade Project to house equipment for the new geothermal heating and cooling system.

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Geothermal Field (Subterranean)

The west side of Capitol Square is home to a state-of-the-art geothermal system that provides clean, renewable heating and cooling for the Capitol. Comprised of nearly 300 wells, bored 500 feet deep, it uses the earth’s constant 54-degree temperate as a heat source in the winter and a heat sink in the summer.

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West Steps & Walkway

Originally designed to mirror the east side, the west side of Capitol Square morphed into a large parking lot during the 20th century. Following the 2022 completion of Heritage Hall, the west grounds were restored and now feature a broad green lawn, curved walkways, and historically-inspired plantings. The completion of this project fulfills a major goal of the Capitol’s ongoing restoration and preservation.

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Capitol Complex

Developed starting in the 1950s, the Capitol Complex is home to state office buildings used by numerous departments, agencies, commissions, courts, and memorials. Several of the buildings are named for notable state leaders, including Governors Stevens T. Mason, Murray Van Wagoner, and G. Mennen “Soapy” Williams. The walkway connecting the buildings was rededicated in honor of Attorney General Frank J. Kelley (the nation’s longest serving attorney general to date) in 2012.

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Heritage Hall Skylights

A series of four skylights rise above Heritage Hall on the north side of the west grounds. Together they provide critical light to the underground structure, while simultaneously offering visitors striking views of the Capitol dome and exterior architecture.

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Heritage Hall

Officially dedicated on November 29, 2022, Heritage Hall is a project 35 years in the making. Intended to complement, but not overshadow our historical Capitol, Heritage Hall was designed by Quinn Evans Architects and The Christman Company managed its construction. This 40,000 square foot facility provides Capitol visitors, staff, and elected officials with much-needed space for education, events, and meetings.

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