Michigan State Capitol Building Lansing, Michigan, USA The Michigan State Capitol building is a National Historic Landmark, and has served as the seat of Michigan's state government since the building was completed in 1878 at a cost of $1.2 million. The building was designed by Elijah E. Myers, and its successful completion established his reputation as the leading capitol-builder in the post-Civil War era and one of the country's most renowned architects of public facilities. Myers was one of the first architects to model his designs on the national capitol in Washington, D.C. His "Neoclassical Renaissance'' - or "Italianate'' - design for the Michigan Capitol set the standard for state capitols for decades. The name of his design is Tuebor, which translates to "I will defend.'' The design also provided the inspiration for a national trend after the Civil War to fireproof buildings. The Capitol was contructed to not only house a state government that was growing in both complexity and size, but also to serve as a memento of the war itself. Read more: http://www.city-data.com/articles/Michigan-State-Capitol-Lansing-Michigan.html#ixzz33mjqc383