Downtown Detroit in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Michigan's First Capitol
⎯⎯⎯
Capitol Union School

Photographed by Joel S., December 2, 2015

1. Michigan's First Capitol/Capitol Union School Marker

Inscription.
Michigan's First Capitol At noon on September 22, 1823, citizens and dignitaries joined a Masonic procession to place the cornerstone for the capitol of the Michigan Territory on this site. The red brick building, designed by Obed Walt, had "a lofty Portico, consisting of six columns of the Ionic order" and a 140-foot tower. The Legislative Council opened its first session in the completed building on May 5, 1828. Here Michigan's leaders fought for statehood and drafted their first constitution. Though Michigan did not formally achieve statehood until January 26, 1837, it inaugurated Stevens T. Mason as its first state governor on November 3, 1835, and the building became Michigan's first state capitol.

Capitol Union School Michigan made Lansing its capital city in 1847. The next year the Detroit School Board turned the building on this site that had served as Michigan's first capitol into classrooms. The high school, which the city started with twenty-three male students in 1858, moved to the second floor of what was by then called Capitol Union School in 1863. In 1870, the board added four rooms onto the back of

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

the building. Part of the addition briefly housed the public library. In 1875, the front of the old capitol disappeared behind a three-story addition and a mansard roof. The board already had plans to build Central High School on Cass Avenue when before dawn on January 27, 1893, fire consumed Capitol Union School.

Erected 2010 by Michigan Historical Commission-Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number S074.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 26, 1837.

Location. 42° 19.964′ N, 83° 2.966′ W. Marker is in Detroit, Michigan, in Wayne County. It is in Downtown Detroit. It is at the intersection of State Street and Griswold Street, on the right when traveling west on State Street. Located in Capitol Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Detroit MI 48226, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally,

Photographed by Joel S., December 2, 2015

2. Michigan's First Capitol/Capitol Union School Marker

it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The First Capitol Building in Michigan (a few steps from this marker); Finney Barn / William Dolarson (a few steps from this marker); Detroit Plaindealer (within shouting distance of this marker); Detroit's Underground Railway Station (within shouting distance of this marker); The Kern Clock (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The War of 1812 in Detroit / War of 1812 Grave Site (about 500 feet away); Kresge Korner (about 500 feet away); Woodward Avenue Cultural Heritage Tour (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Detroit.

Michigan's First Capitol/Capitol Union School & Finney Barn Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel S., December 2, 2015

3. Michigan's First Capitol/Capitol Union School & Finney Barn Markers

Michigan's First Capitol/Capitol Union School marker is on the left; Finney Barn marker is on the right.

Model of Michigan's First Capitol image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel S., December 2, 2015

4. Model of Michigan's First Capitol

This scale model of Michigan's first capitol is a couple of steps east of the historical marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 1,275 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 16, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.

Michigan's First Capitol⎯⎯⎯Capitol Union School

Michigan's First Capitol
⎯⎯⎯
Capitol Union School