[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S45]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE CITY OF LANSING

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I 
recognize an important milestone for the city of Lansing, the 150th 
anniversary of its founding. This is a moment worthy of celebration, 
and I am delighted to have this opportunity to share the pride of the 
residents of Lansing with my colleagues. The city and its citizens have 
been an integral part of Michigan's rich history, contributing much to 
the progress of the State and to its citizens. In the past 150 years, 
the city of Lansing has grown into a thriving community, and it is 
affectionately referred to by its residents as ``the small city with 
the big city feel.''
  The city of Lansing had a rather humble beginning. In fact, Lansing's 
tenure as the capital of Michigan exceeds its history as a city. 
Lansing has served as Michigan's capital since 1847, when it was moved 
from Detroit. Chosen largely for its central location and its equal 
distance from some of Michigan's larger cities, the small township with 
fewer than 100 residents located 40 miles from the nearest railroad was 
designated the capital of Michigan. On February 15, 1859, the town of 
Lansing officially became a city. In the 1870s, Elijah E. Myers began 
to design the capitol structure that has endured as Michigan's center 
of government. The capitol building was completed in 1879.
  Events in Lansing's early history helped to shape the city's rich 
culture and heritage. Transportation vastly improved in 1865 when 
Lansing was connected to the State railroad system. With this advance 
in infrastructure, business and industry in Lansing grew steadily 
throughout the 1870s. In 1887, R.E. Olds produced the first horseless 
carriage in Lansing, and in 1903, Olds Motor Works was the first car 
company to use an assembly line and interchangeable parts in the 
production of automobiles. A thriving business community attracted many 
new residents to Lansing, which included a major migration of African 
Americans and other workers from the South, as well as returning 
soldiers from WWI and WWII. This hardworking and diverse population 
helped to shape Lansing's distinct character.
  Lansing also is home to many nationally recognized institutions. 
Among them is the Ingham Medical Center, which opened its doors in 1980 
as the world's first arthroscopic surgery center. Just next door, in 
East Lansing, is home to one of our country's leading universities, 
Michigan State University. Originally named the Michigan Agricultural 
College, MSU has educated many throughout the State and from across the 
Nation since 1855. In 1969, Dr. Clifton R. Wharton, Jr., became the 
first African American to head a major research university when he was 
appointed president of Michigan State University. Another impressive 
landmark is the Michigan Library and Historical Center, which is just a 
short walk from the Michigan State capitol. It opened on March 6, 1989, 
and became the second largest State library in the Nation.
  The city has endured its share of challenges through the years, from 
natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, to epidemics and 
economic downturns. We once again find ourselves in a defining moment 
in our State's history, as we continue to navigate one of the deepest 
economic recessions in decades. It will be in Lansing where our 
Governor and State legislators will work to craft policies that will 
steer Michigan toward a more prosperous future.
  I am proud to recognize Lansing's history and to honor all who have 
made significant contributions over the years. It is Lansing's legacy 
of policymaking and its rich history that has created a diverse and 
thriving community, one that will continue to grow and prosper for 
generations.

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