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Interesting Facts
- Civil rights activist Malcolm X (née Malcolm Little) moved to Lansing in 1928 with his mother (Louise), father (Earl), and three siblings. In 1929, their home burned to the ground, and Earl, an outspoken preacher, moved the family to East Lansing. In 1931, Earl died after being run over by a streetcar, and eight years later Louise was committed to the Michigan State Mental Hospital in Kalamazoo. For the next four years, young Malcolm bounced from foster home to foster home. Today, a historical marker at Vincent Court (off Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard) recognizes where the Little family's first home once stood.
- "The Car Capital of North America," Lansing produces more cars (400,000 per year) than any other city in the country. Notable products include the GM Pontiac Grand Am, Chevy Malibu, and Oldsmobile Alero.
- A little Lansing "magic"? One of Lansing's most famous sons, and one of the world's most recognizable celebrities, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. was born in Lansing in the summer of 1959. Johnson led MSU's Spartans to the NCAA championship in 1979 and moved on to the NBA, where he helped guide the Los Angeles Lakers to championship titles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. His 11-plus seasons did not lack for individual superlatives, either – he retired in 1991 as the league's all-time assist leader, garnered 3 MVP trophies, played in 12 all-star games, and won an Olympic Gold Medal with the first Dream Team.
- Lansing was not incorporated as a city until 1859, 22 years after Michigan achieved statehood. The original state capital was in Detroit; however, due to Detroit's close proximity to Canada (then a province of Great Britain), the Michigan legislature wanted to move all governmental offices to a location in the center of the state. Their choice, of course, was Lansing Township, which boasted only eight registered voters at the time.
- "Go Lugnuts!" is a cheer that can be heard at Lansing's beautiful Oldsmobile Park each spring and summer. The Lugnuts, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and a Class A team, enjoy near-rabid support from locals, and you can expect the stadium to be packed with 10,000 or more screaming fans at each home game.
- The grandfather of Lansing's car industry, Ransom Eli Olds, built his very first Oldsmobile in 1897. From these humble beginnings, he launched what would become one of the most successful auto-manufacturing companies in the world. Guests to Lansing can learn about the man and his early inventions at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum downtown.
- Founded in 1909, Lansing City Market allows shoppers a taste of the best Michigan has to offer with bountiful selections of fruits and vegetables, jams, specialty teas, hand roasted coffee beans, peanuts, and fresh baked goods.
- The Old Town Historic District, site of Lansing's original commercial district, is home to a bevy of neat little antique shops, artist galleries, performance venues, and eateries, most of which are located in beautifully restored, turn-of-the-century buildings. One of the district's more noteworthy restaurants, Café Cubano, allows diners to sample homemade portions of exotic Cuban cuisine.
- Lansing is located in the middle of the Wolverine State in Eaton County, which was founded in 1837 and named after Major John H. Eaton, Andrew Jackson's Secretary of War. An interesting footnote: Eaton accepted an appointment as governor of Florida after resigning his Cabinet post in the wake of the infamous Peggy Eaton Scandal, which involved his wife and her inability to "fit in" to Washington high society.
- One of the country's largest and most prestigious research universities, Michigan State University was founded in 1855. Boasting a versatile curriculum offering degrees in everything from osteopathic medicine and human ecology to law and agriculture and natural resources, MSU is home to more than 40,000 students. Championship-caliber sports teams, a world-class art museum, and stunning experimental gardens make the campus a place that's in season every season.
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