Capitol Hill Walk - Yellow Dots .35 miles

If you drive to the location, you can park in front of Capitol Hill School or behind the Governor’s Mansion, then begin or end your Walking Tour with a tour of the museum.

A short history of how Marshall, Michigan nearly became the state capital.

1. Capital Square l Marshall was established in 1830 and Michigan became a state in 1837. By the early 1840s, the new Michigan government had a plan: place the most important State destinations along Territorial Road, a route that linked Detroit to Chicago. The State university would be built in Ann Arbor, Jackson would get the State prison, and the State capital would be in Marshall. At that time, Marshall had a significant number of businessmen and politicians as citizens, so this plan made a lot of sense.

Marshall was so sure of winning the vote that a large area of land was set aside on the south side of town and named Capitol Square. Lots in this section were sold at fantastic prices in anticipation of the decision.

The Constitution of 1835 stated that a permanent location for the capital needed to be found by 1847. Twelve towns submitted proposals that their towns be chosen: Ann Arbor, Albion, Battle Creek, Corunna, Byron, Detroit, Dexter, Eaton Rapids, Grand Blanc, Jackson, Lyons, and Marshall.

The House of Representatives took a first vote in which Lyons received 30 favorable votes and was declared the winner, Marshall was short by one, receiving only 29 favorable votes. However, at the next meeting the vote was reconsidered, and an unnamed tract of land in centrally located Ingham county was chosen by a vote of 35 to 27. Additional votes were taken but the lead only grew stronger.

Many names for the new Capital were considered, including Washington, Cass, LaFayette, Tyler, and others but in the end, Lansing was chosen.

The name honors Lansing, New York, the hometown of many of its original settlers. That town was named after John Lansing, Jr., a prominent American Revolutionary War figure.

2. 612 S Marshall Ave. Governor’s Mansion Museum, Greek Revival, 1839 l James Wright Gordon was an early Marshall settler who ran for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan in 1840. He won and when Governor Woodbridge left the Governors Office for the U.S. Senate in 1841, Gordon became acting Governor of Michigan.

Gordon purchased land across the street from the land proposed for the Capitol and built a large house intended as the official residence for the state’s executive. This house has been referred to as the “Governor’s Mansion” since erection in 1839.

The dwelling never actually housed a governor, but it is a remarkable example of Greek Revival architecture, complete with high ceilings, original woodwork, and period moldings. There are many hands-on opportunities for visitors to explore and touch artifacts from that period of American history. Guided tours provide insights into the mansion’s construction and the lives of those who once called it home, making it a fascinating stop for history buffs and curious travelers alike.

3. Capitol Hill School Museum 1860 l This two- room schoolhouse served the city for 101 years, from 1860 to 1961. Inside the school, one room has been set up as a 19th century classroom where visitors can ring the school bell and write on slate boards while sitting at a desk.

The second classroom educates visitors on Marshall’s history as the originators of the American public school system, Marshall school history (including colleges that were once in the city), Marshall’s founding brothers, and how Marshall almost became Michigan’s capital.

The cloakroom entrance has children’s toys from yesteryear including a big-wheel bicycle and a doll that was carved with a pocket knife. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Historic American Building Survey.

4. Houston School (pronounced "how-stun") dates to 1836 and was moved to the fairgrounds in 2006.

5. Floral Hall built in 1860, is the oldest fair building in the state. In 1860, Floral Hall was built and used during the Civil War as barracks by the First Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, “Abraham Lincoln’s Own”, while they awaited the call to go to war.

6. Calhoun County Fair Museum A large collection of fair-related artifacts is located inside the Calhoun County Fair Museum

Calhoun County Fairgrounds 1839 l The Calhoun County Fair was first held downtown in 1839 to educate farmers on the newest farming technology. In 1845, a fair was held on the “Capital Hill” siteCalhoun County Fairgrounds (720 Fair St.) Michigan’s olde st fair, the Calhoun County Fair, began in 1839.

7. Lockwood/Avery Granary built in 1853-1855

8. Old Maple Grove Church built south of Marshall in 1901 and was moved to the fairgrounds in 2006.

9. First Log Cabin Vernacular, 1830 l When George and Sidney Kethcum first came to Marshall, they knew the best land to develop was where the Kalamazoo River met Rice Creek, however the mosquitoes there were terrible. The brothers built the first log cabin in Marshall up here, a little distance from the river, about where the B.E. Henry Building stands today.