Christian Weidemann served as the foreman of the Capitol painting project from 1885-1890 for the William Wright Company of Detroit. The Christian Weidemann Art Collection, donated by descendents of the artist, contains designs that can be found throughout the Capitol.
As the construction of the Capitol was nearing completion in 1878, notable Michigan landscape architect Adam Oliver was hired to plan out Capitol Square. Oliver’s design created a leafy, green setting for new building featuring open lawns on the east and west sides, crisscrossed with paved walkways. The sidewalks surrounding Capitol Square were lined with an allée of shade trees.
Today, a walk around Capitol Square is a wonderful way to enjoy the building’s architecture, historic monuments, and beautiful landscaping.
The Michigan State Capitol’s portrait collection contains paintings of former Michigan governors, justices, and legislators.
The Portrait Collection as a Timeline
Due to the chronological nature of our portraits, the collection serves as a record of both Michigan governmental history and the development of art styles and movements throughout the course of American art history. These changes often reflect the social, cultural, and political concerns that existed at the time of each portrait's creation.
Over time, portrait styles shift from classical to modern - brushstrokes become looser and more visible, poses become less stiff, and artworks begin to express more emotion.
The Michigan Capitol is home to an impressive collection of late 19th century furniture.
In this tour, you will take an up-close look at a few of the prominent furniture pieces in the building, examining intricate ornamental details and learning more about the history of American furniture styles.
Michigan's National Historic Landmark, the Michigan State Capitol, has played host to numerous historical figures, events, and moments in history. Photographs allow us to immerse ourselves in the history and to drop into a moment in time when a president addresses the Legislature, a rally makes its way inside, or for any other historic moment in history.
