Are you considering taking a short road trip this Fall or perhaps getting away for the weekend before the Fall colors appear? This month we explore some of the more unique and historical buildings located in Western Michigan that reinforce MAF’s mission of “Advancing awareness of how architecture enriches life.”
Most of the buildings featured are in Grand Rapids but we have also included several in Muskegon. We have also included a few of our favorites published in previous road trips. If you are planning a trip to the west side of the State, please consider some of the following options to learn more about Michigan Architecture:
Cathedral of Saint Andrew: 215 Sheldon Blvd SE, Grand Rapids
Completed in 1876, the Cathedral building is nearing its 150th anniversary. In 1882, Pope Leo XIII established the new diocese of Grand Rapids, and the bishop selected Saint Andrew church as the Cathedral. Following a devastating fire in 1901, the cathedral was restored, expanded, and then re-dedicated and consecrated during celebrations on July 4, 1903. In 2009, the front entrance of the Cathedral was redone, and the current Piazza Secchia was laid. The piazza is patterned after the Michelangelo-designed piazza on the Capitoline Hill in Rome.
About the Cathedral – Cathedral of Saint Andrew (grcathedral.org)
Cathedral History – Cathedral of Saint Andrew (grcathedral.org)
St. Andrew’s Catholic Cathedral | SAH ARCHIPEDIA (sah-archipedia.org)
St. Cecilia Music Center: 24 Ransom Ave NE, Grand Rapids
In 1883, nine musically talented women led by Ella Matthews Pierce formed a society to advance the musical arts in Grand Rapids. Over the coming months, they chose to name their new organization after St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music. Completed in 1894, the building was designed by the prominent Chicago architect, Henry Ives Cobb. Cobb had studied with Dankmar Adler who had designed the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago and had also been an acoustical consultant for New York’s Carnegie Hall. The building is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features a Tiffany’s-stained glass window picturing St. Cecilia seated at the organ and protected by two guardian angels.
About Us – St. Cecilia Music Center (scmcgr.org)
A History of Music – St. Cecilia Music Center (scmcgr.org)
St. Cecilia Music Center | SAH ARCHIPEDIA (sah-archipedia.org)
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre: 30 Division Ave N, Grand Rapids
Established in 1926, the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and School of Theatre Arts is one of the oldest and largest community theatres in the nation. The Theatre today is comprised of four historic buildings, the Wenham Building (1878), the Hull Building (1890), the Botsford Building (1892), and the Meijer Majestic Theatre (1903). In 2004, local business leader Fred Meijer approached Grand Action about renovating the dated facility. The renovation, completed in September 2006, culminated with honoring the lead gift by renaming the theatre “Meijer Majestic Theatre.”
About Grand Rapids Civic Theatre & School of Arts (grct.org)
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre – Wikipedia
Old Federal Building (Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University): 17 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids
The Old Federal Building, completed in 1909, started as a courthouse and post office. After extensive renovations, the building is now known as the Woodbridge N. Ferris Building and houses classrooms and offices for the Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University. The building is a three-story U-shaped building and is an outstanding example of the Beaux-Arts classical style. In its grand and noble character, the building symbolized the federal presence in Grand Rapids.
Woodbridge N. Ferris Building – Wikipedia
Meyer May House: 450 Madison Ave SE, Grand Rapids
Completed in 1909, this residence was Frank Lloyd Wright’s first major commission in Michigan, and it remains an outstanding example of his Prairie style. The house’s appearance stands in stark contrast to the Victorian houses typical of the period and the surrounding historic Heritage Hill neighborhood. The house features all of Wright’s signature motifs, from the shallow hipped roof to the broad overhangs and the skillful use of terraces and gardens. The home was purchased by the Steelcase furniture company in the 1980’s and underwent one of the most precise and complete restorations of a Wright home anywhere. Today, the home is open for tours and is a “must see” of any trip to Grand Rapids. (the Meyer May House was also featured in a MAF ‘Must See Michigan Architecture’ article in 2023; read it here: Prairie (Style) Pioneer: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Meyer May House : Michigan Architectural Foundation)
Meyer May House – Frank Lloyd Wright in Grand Rapids (steelcase.com)
The Meyer May House | History Grand Rapids
Meyer May House | Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
Hackley Public Library: 316 W Webster Ave, Muskegon
The Muskegon community was gifted this sturdy stone structure by Charles Hackley, one of the wealthiest men in America. The deep-cut arched entrance, the octagonal tower, and the large gable on the upper level all contribute to the Richardsonian Romanesque style building. The building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was completed in 1890 and was designed by Patton and Fisher of Chicago. Compare this structure to the Grand Rapids Public Library. Both are examples of millionaires’ gifts that took different stylistic paths to the same end of public-spirited generosity. Also see the library as the MAF ‘Must See Michigan Architecture’ feature in this month’s newsletter: https://michiganarchitecturalfoundation.org/an-enduring-gift-to-the-community-hackley-public-library/
History of the Library – Hackley Public Library (hackleylibrary.org)
Hackley Public Library | SAH ARCHIPEDIA (sah-archipedia.org)
Hackley House: 484 W Webster Ave, Muskegon
Millionaire lumber baron Charles Hackley built this house in 1889 for himself and his wife. The Queen Anne style mansion, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was designed by David S. Hopkins and is a picturesque blending of asymmetrical massing, polychromatic exteriors and a wealth of gables, chimneys, porches and bays. The wood carvings are exquisite and the leaded glass windows are exceptional. The Muskegon County Museum has restored the house and operates it today, offering its many visitors a glimpse of life during Michigan’s Gilded Age.
Charles H. Hackley House – Wikipedia
Hackley & Hume – Lakeshore Museum Center