I often get asked what I like most about the Capitol building.  Since I had the honor of having offices in the building during my career, I spent a lot of time getting to know the nooks and crannies of the facility.  When you work in the equivalent of a living, functioning museum there are many special aspects of it you come to appreciate.

For me, some of those aspects include the incredible amount of detail the artisans put into the building.  For instance, not only do the door knobs contain an impression of the state’s coat of arms, but so do the door hinges.  When you look at the chandeliers throughout the Capitol, known as “Michigan chandeliers,” you’ll notice they have an elk and shield on them, which is also from the state’s coat of arm.  Those chandeliers were originally lit using gas but were thankfully modified for electric use so they can still be functional today.

The interior of the Capitol also has a very distinct, warm color scheme.  It has nine acres of hand-painted art, so you can discover something new about it every time you visit.  If you look up towards the dome, you’ll see the portraits of the Eight Muses representing law, justice, industry, agriculture, science, commerce, art and education.  If you view the underside of the rotunda balconies, you’ll see the “Green Man.”  Some of the rooms even have a distinct texture to the paint that is used on the walls.  The Harry T. Gast Appropriations Room is a great example of beautifully textured walls.

When you’re walking around the Capitol, you may notice that some of the black tiles seem to have fossils in them – and they do!  The tiles are limestone and some marine animals and snails became fossilized in them.  But, also be sure to look up at the ceilings.  The painted designs vary from room to room and are stunning.

The attention to detail isn’t limited to the inside of the Capitol, it extends to the outside as well.  In the spring time you may notice volunteers planting flowers in the front lawn.  When you look at the flowers from an aerial perspective, you’ll notice they are planted in a way to look like carpeting.  This dates back to the 1800’s, when “carpet beds” were very popular, which was when the Capitol was constructed.

Michigan’s state motto is, “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.”  Well, if you seek a beautiful Capitol, I encourage you to visit Michigan’s and spend some time to look about and really appreciate its warm beauty.

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.