History
Lansing's Westside Historic Tour
Curious about the history of your neighborhood? Click here
for a PDF of the Lansing's Westside Neighborhood Historic
Tour and learn about the history of over two dozen west side
locations! The next historic tour will be of the Old Oakland
Neighborhood.
Saginaw Street Business District
The commercial district along Saginaw Street dates back to
the 1920’s and 1930’s. Many of the buildings along Saginaw
Street were originally built with art-deco elements popular
during that time.
912-914 W. Saginaw, circa
1956
Neighborhoods and Homes
Most of the neighborhoods on Lansing’s Westside were built
in the 1910’s and 1920’s, with some homes dating back as
early as 1870.
Some of the most substantial and unique are “Moon”
houses. Darius Moon, a poet, artist, and craftsman, built over
260 structures in Lansing and East Lansing between 1860
and 1920, including the Queen-Anne Style Olds Mansion,
and the Turner Dodge Mansion (remodel) in 1903.
In 1920, the Espanore and Westmoreland subdivisions were
created. Shortly after the Durant Motors factory on Verlinden
Avenue opened. (General Motors purchased the factory in
1935 as a home for the Fisher Body division, and then later
the Buick-Oldsmobile-Cadillac factory.)
Curious about the history of your neighborhood? Click here
for a PDF of the Lansing's Westside Neighborhood Historic
Tour and learn about the history of over two dozen west side
locations! The next historic tour will be of the Old Oakland
Neighborhood.
Saginaw Street Business District
The commercial district along Saginaw Street dates back to
the 1920’s and 1930’s. Many of the buildings along Saginaw
Street were originally built with art-deco elements popular
during that time.
- 909 W. Saginaw, circa
1968
913 W. Saginaw, circa
1936
912-914 W. Saginaw, circa
1956
Neighborhoods and Homes
Most of the neighborhoods on Lansing’s Westside were built
in the 1910’s and 1920’s, with some homes dating back as
early as 1870.
Some of the most substantial and unique are “Moon”
houses. Darius Moon, a poet, artist, and craftsman, built over
260 structures in Lansing and East Lansing between 1860
and 1920, including the Queen-Anne Style Olds Mansion,
and the Turner Dodge Mansion (remodel) in 1903.
In 1920, the Espanore and Westmoreland subdivisions were
created. Shortly after the Durant Motors factory on Verlinden
Avenue opened. (General Motors purchased the factory in
1935 as a home for the Fisher Body division, and then later
the Buick-Oldsmobile-Cadillac factory.)
| NorthWest Initiative - 1012 North Walnut, Lansing, MI 48906 - Phone: 517-999-2894 - Fax: 517-999-2897 |
| Westside Commercial Association Mission: To create enjoyable and prosperous business and residential areas on Lansing’s Westside. |
