Michigan State University
Search results
The Michigan Capitol is open to visitors year-round, Monday through Friday. The Capitol is closed on Michigan’s state holidays except for election day. Find a list of state holidays at https://www.michigan.gov/som/government/state-holidays.
Guided tours of the Capitol are provided Monday through Friday and begin at the top of every hour, with the first tour beginning at 9:00am and the final tour beginning at 4:00pm. Tours should be scheduled in advance for groups of between 10 and 45 people.
Did you know that Michigan has had two capital cities and three capitol buildings? Three Capitols Take a scenic trip through time and see the evolution of the Capitol Square’s 11 acres.
T he Michigan State Capitol opened on January 1, 1879, to great acclaim. Designed by architect Elijah E. Myers, Michigan’s Capitol holds a special place in American history as one of the first state capitols to be topped by a lofty cast iron dome.
Today, authentically and carefully restored, the Michigan State Capitol stands as a national treasure and one of America’s finest examples of Victorian decorative painting. Although its decorative arts alone qualified the Capitol for Historic Landmark status, there were additional reasons for this honor.
Read updates from the conservation lab and browse Michigan’s battle flag collection. Follow the research, discoveries, and developments from the Capitol’s Art Department and painting team. Interested in anything Capitol & Michigan history?
Designed by Elijah E. Myers, one of the foremost architects of public buildings during the Gilded Age (1865-1914), construction of the Capitol Building took six years and contains over nine acres of hand-painted surfaces. It was dedicated to the citizens of Michigan in 1879. Guided tours are offered from 9:00am - 4:00pm Monday through Friday.
