Turner-Dodge House facts for kids
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Dodge Mansion
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The Turner-Dodge House in July 2014
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 106 E. North St., Lansing, Michigan |
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| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
| Built | Construction began in 1855; completed in 1858. Renovations began around 1900 and were finished by 1903. |
| Architect | Darius B. Moon |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Georgian Revival, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000621 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 14, 1972 |
The Turner-Dodge House, also known as the Dodge Mansion, is a very old and important house in Lansing, Michigan. It was first built in 1855. This special house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This list helps protect important historical places in the United States.
Today, the Turner-Dodge House is a museum. It is also a historical center. It teaches people about the early settlers of Lansing. The house was built for James and Marion Turner. Later, their daughter Abigail Turner-Dodge and her husband Frank Dodge made it even bigger.
Contents
History of the House
Building a Home in Lansing
In 1847, the state government of Michigan chose Lansing as its new capital city. At that time, Lansing was mostly unsettled land. A merchant named James Turner moved there from Mason. He picked this spot to build his home.
In the 1850s, James Turner started building a large house on his land. He lived there until he passed away in 1869. After his death, his wife continued to live in the house.
New Owners and Big Changes
Later, the house went to James Turner's son, James Munroe Turner. He lived there for some time. After he passed away, his sister, Abbey, bought the house with her husband, Frank Dodge. Abbey and Frank lived in the house with their children.
Around 1900, the Dodge family wanted to make the house more modern. They hired an architect from Lansing named Darius B. Moon. The work was finished by 1903. The house looked very different after these changes. The original design was almost completely gone.
Frank Dodge passed away in 1929. His daughter, Josephine (Dodge) MacLean, then lived in the house. In 1958, a school called Great Lakes Bible College bought the house. They used it until 1972.
A Museum for Everyone
In 1974, the city of Lansing bought the property. In the 1990s and 2000s, a lot of work was done to fix up the house. Today, the Turner-Dodge House is open to the public. It is a historical site and a heritage center. Many special events are also held there.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Turner-Dodge House is a big brick house. It is built in the Georgian Revival style. This style often looks grand and balanced. The house has a tall, three-story middle part. On each side, there are two-and-a-half-story wings.
At the front, there is a large porch with two stories. It has tall, fancy columns. The house sits on a strong stone foundation. A big wooden trim goes all around the top of the house. At the back, there is a covered area where carriages or cars could pull up. This is called a porte cochere.
Inside, the house has large, classic-looking doorways. There are also many fireplaces. The windows have special beveled and leaded glass. This makes the light shine in interesting ways.
See also
- Smith–Turner House, another historic house in Lansing
