Diversity Under the Dome: Stories of the Very Different People Brought Together by the Capitol - 1835-1956

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Capitol buildings are, by their very nature, places where different people come together. These people come to work in the building as legislators, governors, zecretaries, clerks,librarians, and pages. They’re from Detroit, L’Anse, Adrian, Sault Sainte Marie, Harbor Beach, and Battle Creek. They’ve been coming to Michigan’s capitols (and capitals) since our state was founded, in 1835. Through nearly two centuries they’ve consciously made the choice to go to the seat of government, the symbolic center of our state, in the belief that they had service to offer, and could make life in the peninsular state better. 

Some of these people – like early reformers, came for a day or two to speak about pressing problems and to call for change. Others, spent most of their careers in the Capitol, where their very presence spoke volumes. Many came after being elected to public office. Yet others came from across the globe and around the country to build and beautify our Capitol.They were – and are – all different.  Yet, different as they seem, they all held two important things in common. First, they all believed that they had important contributions to make and service to give. Second, they all did it under the dome, in Michigan’s capitols. 

Learn their stories and celebrate their contributions in this program by Capitol Historian & Curator, Valerie Marvin. Join us in person or via zoom by registering HERE.

Bio of Presenter
Valerie Marvin is honored to serve as the Historian & Curator of the Michigan State Capitol, a National Historic Landmark. A graduate of the University of Michigan (Bachelor of Arts in Russian Studies, 2005) and Eastern Michigan (Masters of Science in Historic Preservation, 2009), she lives with her husband David in a 1906 home in downtown Lansing.