About Lansing Michigan
Lansing is the capital city of the state of Michigan. Its metropolitan area is well noted for being a key hub for education, culture, government, commerce and industry. Lansing is the sole United States city that is a capital city, but which isn’t a seat for any county. The first recorded European individual to arrive at the future site of the city was English fur trader Hugh Heward who reached here by canoeing on the Grand River. The parcel of land that ultimately became the City of Lansing was surveyed in the early 19th century. In 1835, 2 brothers from New York plotted the area on the southwards direction of the now downtown Lansing, and called it Biddle City. The brothers then traveled back to New York where they sold plots in the town, which were non-existent. 16 people purchased plots and when they eventually arrived to the area, they realized they had been conned.
Most of the group settled in the area that is now the Greater Metropolitan Lansing. They named the settlement Lansing Township in honor of their home town in New York. In 1847, the state of Michigan decided to move its capital from Detroit to a more centrally located and safe area in its interior. Detroit was deemed to be too close to British ruled Canada, which had previously captured Detroit. During the public session to pick a new location for the state capital, numerous potential cities lobbied to be chosen, but no clear consensus was made. To this end, the Michigan House of Representatives opted to pick Lansing, out of frustration. When this news was revealed most people laughed heartily at the thought that the then insignificant Lansing was chosen as the state capital.
However, shortly after this announcement, the diminutive town rapidly evolved into the seat of the state government. Individual settlements started developing along 3 main points on the Grand River. These were the lower town, the middle town and the upper town. By the mid 19th century, the settlements had a population of about 3,000, and covered around 7 square miles. Over the course of the following 2 decades, Lansing’s growth continued with the completion of the railroads passing through the city. This Michigan capital city ultimately evolved as an industrial powerhouse when the Olds Motor Vehicle Company was founded here in 1897. During this period of time, Lansing became a key United States hub for the manufacture of automobiles, and automobile parts, besides other industries. It as well grew in area, and by the 1960s, it had doubled its size to its current 33 square miles.
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Top attractions
The City of Lansing is highly renowned for hosting a good number of very popular festivals over the course of the year that draw visitors in droves. This includes the Michigan Pride Festival, which features a LGBT pride parade. There is also the African American Parade and Heritage Festival that is hosted by the Capital City African American Cultural Association. This particular parade showcases African American cultural heritage, and its significant influence in the state of Michigan. It as well publicly lauds people of African American descent and their various contributions to the City of Lansing. There is the Old Town Festival of the Moon and Sun too, which is a 2 day food and live music festival. Lansing as well hosts the Common Ground Festival that is well noted for attracting more than 90,000 participants during the course of the week it is held.
The City of Lansing also boasts of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, which has being entertaining residents ever since the early 20th century, 1929 to be more specific. As for theaters, this Michigan capital city is home to the Riverwalk Theatre that is located in the downtown area. These is the Peppermint Creek Theater Company too, which is an award winning theater company that is based in Lansing. Not to forget the Greater Lansing Ballet Company, which is let another locally based award winning ballet and dance company.
The City of Lansing also boasts of the Lansing Art Gallery that was established in the mid 20th century, and has the distinction of been the oldest art gallery in the city. The Lansing Art Gallery focuses on showcasing works of arts by Michigan based artists, and offers free admission to the general public. Lansing is as well home to several diminutive specialized museums. One of the most prominent of which is the Impression 5 Science Center that is essentially a kid’s science museum situated in a historic wagon works plant along the Grand River.
There is also the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame, which is devoted to commemorate and display the historic accomplishments of prominent ladies hailing from the state of Michigan. Lansing is as well home to the R.E Olds Transportation Museum that is yet another popular attraction in this region of Michigan. The R.E Olds Transportation Museum concentrates on educating visitors of the key role the City of Lansing played in the eventual development of the transportation industry, especially the country’s automobile sector. There is also the Turner Dodge House, which is a museum devoted to the city’s pioneers. The Turner Dodge House is located in a classical revival mansion that was constructed for James and Marion Turner in the mid 19th century.
Michigan State Capitol
The Michigan seat of government was designed by acclaimed architect, Elijah Myers, and was completed in 1879. The Michigan State Capitol has the distinction of been one of the very first capitols to have a cast iron dome in the nation. The structure underwent an extensive remodeling in the early 1990s, and was also put in the list of National Historic Landmarks. Around 115,000 visitors tour the Michigan State Capitol on an annual basis, which makes it one of the most popular attractions in the City of Lansing.
Michigan History Center
This Lansing museum boasts of a wide variety of distinctive exhibits that chronicle the state of Michigan’s rich and eventful history. The Michigan History Center comes complete with a special gallery that is dedicated to the early Europeans who explored, and later on established the state of Michigan. It also has as Civil War exhibit, which features all manner of mementos from the conflict. This particular exhibit as well narrates the state’s role in the Underground Railroad, and its anti-slavery movements. All of which are covered via a number of artifacts, painting and even writings.
Potter Park Zoo
The Potter Park Zoo is yet another top attraction in the City of Lansing, and is well noted for attracting visitors in large droves. This Lansing zoo is home to over 160 different species of wildlife, and is situated in the city’s downtown area. The Potter Park Zoo is sprawled on a 20 acre piece of land, and comes complete with a wide range of exhibits that are home to mammals, reptiles and even birds. This City of Lansing zoo is as well highly renowned for its dedication to the preservation of many endangered wildlife species from all over the globe. Some of the most prominent of these endangered species include amur tigers, red pandas, snow leopards, tamarin monkeys to name but a few. The Potter Park Zoo also has an impressive wildlife education program, which lets visitors discover more of wildlife via exciting events and even classes. This City of Lansin zoo as well hosts summer camps, overnight campouts and even field trips programs for the youth. As such, a visit to Lansing is never complete without exploring the Potter Park Zoo.