Since 1847 Lansing has been home to Michigan's state government. In 1879 the state completed and dedicated its present Capitol, designed by Elijah E. Myers. The Renaissance Revival-inspired statehouse is still the most distinctive attraction of Lansing's downtown area.

In 1989 the spectacular Michigan Library and Historical Center joined the Capitol as a popular tour destination. Located two blocks southwest of the Capitol, the 312,000-square-foot building boasts 5-story glass atriums, a live 75-foot-tall Michigan white pine surrounded by a copper-clad outdoor courtyard and a limestone exterior. The Library and Historical Center houses the Library of Michigan and the Michigan Historical Center, which includes the Michigan Historical Museum and the Archives of Michigan.

The Capitol, Library of Michigan, Michigan Historical Museum and Archives of Michigan all are accessible to people with disabilities. We invite you to visit and share our pride in our capital city.

There is no charge to tour the Capitol or the Michigan Library and Historical Center. To arrange visits or tours for groups of 10 or more, please call the Capitol Tour and Information Service at (517) 373-2353. All hours are subject to change.

Getting To the Lansing area - Maps and directions.

Dedicated in 1879 and restored from 1989 to 1992, the Michigan State Capitol is open for tours five days a week by the Capitol Tour and Information Service.

Guides readily answer questions about the restored Capitol and state government. Tours encompass the building's public areas and include visits to the House and Senate galleries. Guides provide historical and contemporary information about the building and the legislative process.

Guided tours are offered every half-hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Capitol is closed on Saturday, Sunday and official holidays.

Groups of ten or more must schedule their tours in advance with the Capitol Tour and Information Service.

Please telephone (517) 373-2353 for more information or to schedule tours. Tours of the Capitol, Michigan Historical Museum and Hall of Justice Learning Center are scheduled up to a year in advance.
View the list of Capitol events or find information about planning a Capitol event on the Events and Scheduling Information page.

The Library of Michigan has served the state government and people of Michigan since 1828, when it was a territorial library that housed 131 titles.

Today, over 3.2 million items on 27 miles of shelving reside in the nation's second largest state library building. Included in the Library's impressive holdings is one of the ten largest genealogical collections in the United States, a unique Michigan Collection, legal materials dating back several centuries and the Michigan's Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Library. For more information call: (517) 373-1580.

Library hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The Library of Michigan is closed on Sunday and official holidays. Please call (517) 373-1300 for information and reference assistance, or (517) 373-2353 to schedule tours.

Getting To the Library
Maps to help you find Lansing and the Library of Michigan.

Getting Around the Library
Maps to help you find your way around the Library of Michigan.

About the Library
Introduction to our collections and services.

Travel through Michigan history from prehistoric times to the late twentieth century at the Michigan Historical Museum. Major exhibit environments include a three-story relief map of Michigan, walk-through Upper Peninsula copper mine, one-room schoolhouse, 1920s street scene, 1957 Detroit Auto Show and a diorama of lakes and lands complete with a rustic cabin and lighthouse. Explore all 26 permanent galleries on four levels. Don't miss the changing exhibit gallery on the first floor. Stop by the Museum Store to purchase unique gift items.

The Michigan Historical Museum is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Michigan Historical Museum is closed on official holidays. For general information, please visit the Museum's Web site or call the Museum Office at (517) 373-3559.

With documents dating back to 1797, the Archives of Michigan houses much of Michigan's recorded heritage. Established in 1913, the Archives of Michigan holds more than 100 million state and local government records and private papers, 330,000 photographs and 500,000 maps, plus films and audio tapes that are available for public research in a state-of-the-art facility.

The Archives hours:
Mondays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
For more information, visit the Archives of Michigan Web site. For general information or to schedule research, please call (517) 373-1408.

Updated 8/14/2009

Department of History, Arts and Libraries
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