Town and City Scenes--Lansing

Black and white photograph from circa 1915-1925 of the northwest corner of Washington Avenue and Washtenaw Street in Lansing, Michigan.

Black and white aerial photograph from 1968 showing a view south of the Capitol Complex in Lansing, Michigan. On the left is the capitol building, with state office buildings to the west of it.

Black and white photograph on cardboard backing showing a scene along the Grand River in Lansing, Michigan.

Black and white photograph on cardboard backing from 1887 taken from water stand pipe, showing a bird's-eye view of Lansing, including Michigan Avenue on the right leading up to the state capitol.

Color postcard from circa 1907-1909 showing a street scene on Franklin Street (now Grand River Avenue) in Lansing, Michigan.

Black and white photograph from 1898 showing the view southeast from the roof of the state capitol building in Lansing, Michigan. The First Presbyterian Church spire is in the foreground, opposite the capitol grounds.

Black and white aerial photograph from 1949 showing the construction of the Main Street bridge (now I-496 bridge) over the Grand River in Lansing, Michigan, with downtown in the background.

Black and white copy print of a bird's-eye map view of Lansing, Michigan from 1866. The map identifies several landmarks, as well as major roads.

Black and white photograph from circa 1860-1870 showing "Half-Way Rock" in Lansing, Michigan. The rock was a visual marker for the approximate half-way point between the Capitol and Michigan State University (then Michigan State College) along Michigan Avenue. Supposedly, a passer-by placed a cherry pit in a crack in the rock and it grew into a tree, splitting the rock (which was then also known as "Split Rock"). The rock and tree were removed in 1925 to allow for widening of the road. A portion of the rock now stands near the Michigan State University Union building.

Color postcard from circa 1907-1910 showing the view up Washington Avenue, looking north, in Lansing, Michigan. On the right is Arbaugh's Department Store, built 1905. The retail store operated until the mid-1970s. The first white building on the left is the Hotel Butler, built in 1872.

Color postcard from circa 1907-1909 showing the view east down Michigan Avenue from the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. On the left is the old post office, which was eventually annexed by the neighboring city hall.

Black and white photograph from 1956 of storefronts along Washington Avenue in Lansing, Michigan. The Gladmer Theatre is down the block in this image.

Black and white undated photograph showing Washington Avenue in Lansing, Michigan.

Black and white aerial photograph from approximately 1955 showing downtown Lansing, Michigan, the State Capitol and the Grand River, looking west.

Color postcard from 1945 showing lanscaping and flower beds in Potter Park, Lansing, Michigan. Part of "Souvenir Folder of Lansing, Michigan" - a postcard booklet featuring images from Lansing and East Lansing.

Color postcard from circa 1910-1914 showing the Lansing City Hall (on the left, built 1896) and the post office (on the right) in downtown Lansing, Michigan. The post office would become the City Hall Annex in later years.

Black and white photograph from 1928 of a view of the Lansing, Michigan skyline from underneath one of the arches of the then new Kalamazoo Street bridge.

Color postcard from 1916 showing the view east down Michigan Avenue from the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. On the left is the old post office, which was eventually annexed by the neighboring city hall.

Color postcard from 1904 showing the view east down Michigan Avenue from the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. On the left is the old post office, which was eventually annexed by the neighboring city hall.

black and white photograph from circa 1895-1905 of men and women, along with the Lansing Carpet Cleaning Works, posing outside a house in Lansing, Michigan.

Black and white photograph from 1906 of a city view of Lansing, Michigan, featuring the state capitol building, taken from the top of the Downey House hotel, located on Washington Avenue.

Black and white photograph from circa 1895-1905 of the Lansing Wheel Works factory along the Grand River in Lansing, Michigan. The company was established in 1887.

Black and white photograph taken August 4, 1933 of the view up Michigan Avenue towards the capitol building in Lansing, Michigan. The Bank of Lansing Building (now Comerica Bank Building) is on the right, and the Washington Square Building, with the Olds Hotel (now George W. Romney Building) behind it, is visible on the left.

Early black and white photograph of the Thoman Mill, with a neighboring house, on the corner of Grand Avenue and Ottawa Street in Lansing, Michigan. The mill was opened around 1869.

Black and white photograph of Capitol Avenue, looking north from Michigan Avenue in Lansing, Michigan. On the right are the old post office and Lansing City Hall.

Black and white photograph from circa 1950-1960 of cars on East Kalamazoo Street, looking west over the Grand River in Lansing, Michigan.

Black and white photograph on cardboard backing showing Washington Avenue, looking north in Lansing, Michigan.

Black and white photograph showing an aerial view of Michigan Avenue, looking west towards the State Capitol (dedicated 1879) in Lansing, Michigan. To the left of the capitol building is the Boji Tower (originally Olds Tower, built in 1931), the tallest building in Lansing.

Black and white photograph from circa 1910-1920 showing the view up Michigan Avenue towards the state capitol building from Washington Avenue in Lansing, Michigan. On the left is the Prudden Building (burned down in 1920), with the Bijou Theatre (which ran from 1910-1926) behind it.

Color postcard from approximately 1907 showing a view of Washington Avenue, looking north, in downtown Lansing, Michigan. The State Capitol is visible in the background, and the six story Hotel Downey is at the end of the block. The hotel was built in 1887, and expanded in 1907. In 1912 a devastating fire destroyed the building, but it was rebuilt and the hotel remained in service until 1939, when it was demolished to make room for Knapp's department store.

Black and white photograph of machinery used to set power poles in or around Lansing, Michigan.

Color postcard from 1944 showing a nighttime street scene on Washington Avenue in Lansing, Michigan. Included in the image are the Gladmer and Capitol Theaters, as well as the Bank of Lansing Building (built 1932, now Comerica Bank Building). The Capitol Theater was a second-run theater that operated from 1912-1955. The Gladmer Theater was originally an opera house which opened in 1873, and was remodeled several times. It closed in 1979 and was demolished to make room for a parking lot.

Color postcard from circa 1907-1911 showing East Side Park in Lansing, Michigan.

Black and white photograph on cardboard backing of the 100 block of E. Ottawa Street, in Lansing, Michigan. Photograph shows three men, a boy and a dog seated outside the Lansing Journal offices.

Newspaper clipping from 1939 with a photo from "Ye Olde Photograph Album" of Turner Street in 1917 in Lansing, Michigan. Article is from The State Journal.

Black and white photograph from 1888 of the 300 block of S. Washington Avenue in Lansing, Michigan. The building on the left is the Hudson House (hotel).

Color postcard from circa 1907-1915 showing the view east down Michigan Avenue from the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. On the left is the old post office, which was eventually annexed by the neighboring city hall.

Black and white photograph from circa 1910-1920 showing Washington Avenue, with the Vaudette and Orpheum Theaters on the left, in Lansing, Michigan.

Black and white postcard from circa 1870-1880 of the Mineral Well House, a hotel in Lansing, Michigan. The hotel was located on the east side of River Street on the south side of the Grand River. It was closer to a sanitarium than a traditional hotel, and frequented by people who came to experience the mineral water (which had been discovered while drilling for salt), which was known to treat various diseases.

Black and white photograph from 1899 of crowds of people enjoying the Elk's Carnival on Washington Avenue in Lansing, Michigan.

Black and white photograph from the spring of 1926 of Ionia Street, looking east from Washington Avenue in Lansing, Michigan.

Color postcard from circa 1907-1910 showing the Michigan Avenue bridge crossing the Grand River in Lansing, Michigan.

Color postcard from circa 1907-1909 showing the Grand River in Lansing, Michigan.

Black and white postcard showing "Prudden Corner" (as identified on the postcard) in Lansing, Michigan.