When visiting Michigan’s Capitol, it is easy to reflect on the state’s history when touring the Capitol building.  You’re surrounded by portraits of governors, flags dating back to the Civil War, chandeliers that were once gas lit and even fossils captured in the floor tiles.  But, the trees on the Capitol grounds also represent significant points in state and national history as well.

There are trees on the Capitol square that commemorate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., honor Rosa Park’s courage and recognize the sacrifice that Michigan’s service women and men have made to our state and country.  A ginkgo tree was planted by Elenore Roosevelt in 1934 in admiration of the Michigan Pioneers for Women’s Suffrage.  There is also an Earth Day Tree recognizing Earth Day and celebrating Michigan’s incredible natural resources.  Near the Earth Day Tree is the Hope Tree which serves to remember those that have fought cancer and those that continue to work to find its cure.

One of the most uniquely named trees is the Moon Tree.  This weeping beech tree got its name because it derived from a seed that went to the moon on an Apollo mission trip.  A sapling from the seed was ultimately planted in the state Capitol grounds in 1976 by Governor George Romney honoring the bicentennial of the United States.

There are many more memorial trees and monuments on the Capitol Square that you can explore when visiting the state’s Capitol.  They offer a unique perspective on the state’s history and commemorate important moments in time that have moved our state forward.

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