Michigan’s first 2 capitols went up in flames: The wild, forgotten history you didn’t know

Michiganhashadthreecapitolssinceitbecameastate,butonlyoneremainsstandingtodayafterfiresinthelate1880sdestroyedthefirsttwo. Nothingcanfullyreplicatetheexperienceofvisitingphysicalsiteswherehistorywasmade,saidJackDempsey,theformerpresidentoftheMichiganHistoricalCommissionandauthorof“CapitolPark:HistoricHeartofDetroit.”“Theyconnectsopowerfully—morepowerfully—thanjusttryingtouseyourimagination,”saidDempsey. WhenMichigan’searlycapitolswentupinflames,Michiganlostatangiblepieceofitshistory.Today,historicalmarkersstandonthosesites. AskanyMichiganderwhattheyloveaboutthepresent-daycapitolandarangeofanswersfollows,fromthegrandSenateAppropriationsCommittee’smeetingroomthatonceservedastheMichiganSupremeCourt’schambertothebuilding’scastirondome.ButbeforeDempseytalkedabouttheinterestingarchitecturaldetailsoftheMichiganCapitol,hebeganwithapracticalresponsewhentalkingab