East Lansing in Ingham County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Harry J. Eustace Hall

Registered Michigan Historic Site

Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 19, 2017

1. Harry J. Eustace Hall Marker

Inscription. Famous horticulturist and educator, Liberty Hyde Bailey, designed this building as the first separate horticulture laboratory in America. Completed in 1888, the structure contained rooms for classes and botanical experiments. It exemplified Bailey's pioneering work in scientific investigation of plant life. Its present name commemorates Harry J. Eustace, former chairman of the Horticulture Department. The Honors College now occupies the structure.

Erected 1977 by Michigan History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number S327.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Horticulture & Forestry. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. 42° 43.958′ N, 84° 28.782′ W. Marker is in East Lansing, Michigan, in Ingham County. It is at the intersection of East Circle Drive and West Circle Drive, on the right when traveling east on East Circle Drive. Marker is on the campus of Michigan State University. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 468 East Circle Drive, Detroit MI 48224, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Mid-Michigan

and in Greater Lansing.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Nation's Pioneer Land-Grant University (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line);

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Women's Building (about 300 feet away); Saints' Rest / Saints' Rest Excavation (about 500 feet away); Justin S. Morrill Hall of Agriculture (about 600 feet away); Dora Hall Stockman (about 700 feet away); "That a Ladies Course be Organized" (about 700 feet away); Michigan State University (about 700 feet away); The Rededication of the Beaumont Tower Bells (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in East Lansing.

Also see . . .
1. Liberty Hyde Bailey. Wikipedia article (Submitted on August 12, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

2. Eustace Hall. Wikipedia article (Submitted on August 12, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

3. Eustace Hall. Eustace Hall (Horticultural Laboratory Building) was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. An excerpt from the Nomination Form:

This structure was the nation's first laboratory building, set up specifically for the study of horticulture. It was designed by Liberty Hyde Bailey, who was at the time a professor at Michigan Agricultural College....

Completed in the latter part of 1888, it
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 19, 2017

2. Harry J. Eustace Hall and Marker
consisted originally of a classroom, laboratory, seed-room, heeling-in cellar, photographic dark-room, and an operating room for grafting. There was also a greenhouse connected onto the building which has since been removed. At present the spiral staircase is a picture of elegance.

(Submitted on July 24, 2025, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 542 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 12, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.