Lansing Downtown Historic District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lansing Downtown Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	N. and S. Washington, Grand, N. and S. Capitol, Michigan Ave., Allegan, Washtenaw, Kalamazoo, Lenawee, and Townsend, Lansing, Michigan
Area	40 acres (16 ha)
Architectural style	Late Victorian, Classical Revival
MPS	Downtown Lansing MRA
NRHP reference No.	09000551
Added to NRHP	July 22, 2009

The Lansing Downtown Historic District is a special area in downtown Lansing, Michigan. It's filled with old buildings that were once busy shops and offices. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. That means it's an important place worth protecting!

History of Downtown Lansing

Lansing began in 1847. A large area was set aside for the Michigan State Capitol building. Government buildings were built near Capitol Avenue. The town grew very fast, reaching 3,000 people by 1859.

By the late 1860s, Washington Avenue was full of shops. Most buildings were one or two stories tall. Over time, the business area grew. Older wooden buildings were replaced with stronger brick ones. Capitol Avenue, just one block away, had homes and churches. In the late 1800s, bigger buildings, five or six stories high, started to appear.

Changes in the Early 1900s

The downtown area changed a lot in the 1910s and 1920s. Many old buildings were replaced with new ones. Banks and office buildings were built. This building boom spread to Capitol Avenue. Homes there became shops and offices. When the Great Depression hit, building slowed down. But some buildings were updated in the late 1930s.

Downtown After World War II

After World War II, the business district grew south and east. Many buildings were made more modern. However, in the 1960s and 1970s, shopping malls became popular. This caused downtown shopping to decline. Stores closed, and offices took their place. Some historic buildings were even torn down for parking lots.

A New Beginning for Downtown

By the mid-2000s, downtown Lansing started to get a fresh start. The The Arbaugh building was fixed up. It became a place with both homes and businesses. Other buildings followed, and downtown Lansing has been coming back to life ever since.

What You'll See in the District

The Lansing Downtown Historic District is the heart of Lansing's business area. It includes parts of Washington and Capitol Avenues. There are 88 buildings in the district. About 75 of them are considered historic. Most buildings were built between the 1880s and 1930s. Some are even older, from the 1860s.

Buildings on Washington Avenue are usually smaller. They are often two or three stories tall. They have one storefront. Capitol Avenue is different. It has large office buildings, hotels, and government buildings. Some are as tall as 16 stories! Around Reutter Park, you'll find more government buildings and large apartment buildings.

The buildings show many different styles of architecture. These include Italianate, Neoclassical, Art Deco, and others.

Famous Buildings in the District

The district has many important buildings, such as:

• Boji Tower: This is Lansing's tallest building. It has 22 stories and was built in 1929-31.
• Christman Building: Built in 1927-28, it was first called the Mutual Building.
• Masonic Temple Building: This grand building was constructed between 1923 and 1927.
• George W. Romney Building: Built in 1925-26, it was originally the Olds Hotel.
• Lansing Woman's Club Building: This historic building dates back to 1890.
• Michigan Millers Mutual Fire Insurance Company Building: Another building from 1890.
• Comerica Bank Building: Built in 1931-32, it was first the Bank of Lansing Building.
• The Arbaugh: Built in 1905, it was a large department store.
• J.W. Knapp Company Building: This building was constructed in 1937-38.