Our History In Pictures!

City Services in 1956  (full-size image) City employees with the East Lansing Department of Public Works have collected trash in community neighborhoods for decades. Back in 1956, the lack of automated trucks and a curbside pick-up system meant a great deal of manual labor for DPW employees. Employees would take bins from behind the homes of East Lansing residents, and physically dump trash into the backs of their vehicles.	A 1958 Traffic Study  (full-size image) Studying traffic along Haslett Street and Grand River Avenue, East Lansing's traffic consultant (left) Adolf May works with part-time assistant Paul Matlock and planning assistant William Barrons in the fall of 1958.
Putting on a Show  (full-size image) East Lansing High School's Band Follies of 1958 was an event for all in the community to come out and see. Built in 1952, following a move from the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, ELHS has turned out a number of notable graduates over its years in the community. Famous ELHS alumni include Larry Page, CEO and co-founder of Google, Inc.; Spencer Abraham, a former U.S. Senator and U.S. Secretary of Energy; and Ryan Miller, an NHL hockey player.	A 1966 Bike Ride to School  (full-size image) Similar to today, Michigan State University students in 1966 braved the bustling traffic along Grand River Avenue to make it to classes on time. In the background, the City's former Elias Brothers Big Boy and Campus Theater portray a time when a very different line of businesses drew in crowds in the East Lansing Central Business District.
The Campus Theater  (full-size image) Built in approximately 1950, Grand River Avenue's Campus Theater was a popular place for Michigan State students and East Lansing residents to go see the latest in movies for close to three decades. A victim of the ever-expanding number of mall cinemas in the greater Lansing area, the theater closed in 1987. Pictured here, in 1971, the Campus Theater advertises the showing of "Tora! Tora! Tora!," a co-production between an American studio and Japanese filmmakers who converged to tell the ultimate story of the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor.	City Leaders Converge  (full-size image) East Lansing's assistant city manager Art Carney, fire chief Merle Croy, police chief Charlie Pegg, city manager Jack Patriarche, city engineer Bob Bruce and assessor Merwyn Skamser talk business at a 1958 staff meeting.
John A. Hannah and Family  (full-size image) The name John A. Hannah is mentioned often when East Lansing residents discuss the history of their City. Hannah was Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, and in 1941 he was appointed president of Michigan State College. Aided by the G.I. Bill of Rights, Hannah began the largest expansion in the school's history by helping World War II veterans fund post-secondary educations. Michigan State transitioned from a regional college to a nationally-recognized research university under Hannah's leadership. Pictured here, Hannah sits for a family portrait with his wife, Sarah, and four children.	Crunching Numbers  (full-size image) The East Lansing Finance Department has been in charge of keeping the City's budget in line for decades. Pictured here, 1957 finance staff members go over the books.
Honoring Community Leaders  (full-size image) Since 1988 East Lansing has recognized influential, hard-working community leaders with The Crystal Awards. At the second annual ceremony in 1989, William Trevarthen, Alan Suits, Marianne Wiedemer, Dr. Wilbur Brookover and Albert White were honored for their commitment to community.	The College Hangout  (full-size image) "Hamburg-pickle-on-top. Makes your heart go flippity-flop." Kewpee's was a favorite Grand River Avenue hangout for MSU students in the 1950's. The original Kewpee's was opened by the Weston family in Lansing in 1923, back when hamburgers cost as little as a nickel. After several decades of successful business in Lansing, a franchise location targeting college students opened in East Lansing. Serving hungry customers for approximately 10 to 12 years, the East Lansing Kewpee's eventually closed down. It was later replaced by Jacobson's, which was later replaced by the present East Lansing Barnes & Noble Booksellers.
Dorm Life at M.A.C.  (full-size image) While MSU has had many different names over the years, from June 1909 to April 1925 the school was known as Michigan Agricultural College (M.A.C.). This photograph of a dormitory "ward" at M.A.C., taken sometime near the beginning of the 20th Century, gives a glimpse of student life in the early days of East Lansing. Much like today, students in the early 1900's studied to keep their grades up. Early course offerings included home economics, electrical engineering, forestry, horticulture, veterinary medicine, and of course, agriculture.	Baked Goods Galore  (full-size image) From 1922 to 1944 Hunt Food Shop served as a popular East Lansing dining institution, known for its 25 cent blue plate luncheons and extraordinary baked goods. Opened by sisters Ada (Whitehouse) Hunt and Clara Hunt in the early part of the 20th Century, Hunt Food Shop was first located across from the MSU Union building midway between Abbott Road and M.A.C. Avenue. As the business began to prosper, the restaurant was later relocated to a neighboring building in order to accommodate larger crowds.
A 1945 Drive Down Grand River Avenue  (full-size image) The main drag in downtown East Lansing had a very different look in the 1940's. The double row of elm trees along Grand River's median were wiped out by Dutch Elm Disease in the 1960's, and old businesses such as Linn Camera Shop, Hurd's, DeCamp's and Kroger have since been replaced with new businesses. The strip of new pavement running alongside the median in this photograph covers the old interurban line where streetcars used to run. The interurban line met its demise in 1929 with the rise of the state highway system.	Beal's Arboretum and Deer Park  (full-size image) In 1873, on vacant land where MSU's Union Building stands today, Beal's arboretum was established as an experimental showcase for natural growth. Twenty-five years later two acres of the land were fenced off to house deer and elk from Belle Isle Park in Detroit. The park remained at the edge of Grand River Avenue up until 1915.
East Lansing's Golden Anniversary  (full-size image) The City of East Lansing celebrated its Golden Anniversary on June 8, 1957. Beginning with a 10 a.m. class reunion, the festivities continued throughout the day with a Grand River Avenue Parade, a post office dedication, the annual Kiwanis Chicken Barbecue and an evening street dance. Standing (at center) in front of a billboard for the City's 50th birthday celebration is former East Lansing Mayor Max Strother (1953-1959).	A Community Tradition  (full-size image) Attending the Kiwanis Club of East Lansing's Community Chicken Barbecue has been an annual tradition for East Lansing residents since the early 1950's. Prior to Kiwanis' donation of a permanent barbecue pit in 1963, large cooking pits were set up at Patriarche Park (formerly Alton Park) each July to facilitate the massive crowd of residents who came out for the community event. At this 1957 barbecue, Kiwanis members cook a large number of chickens at a time in preparation for the gathering.
A Tree Grows in Split Rock  (full-size image) A well-known Michigan Avenue landmark, Split Rock served as the half-way point for students traveling the three-mile journey from MSU (then Michigan State College) to the Capitol. Split Rock was a peculiar sight for all who came across it, mainly because of the tree growing from its center. It is believed that a passerby placed a cherry pit in the crack of the "half-way" rock, and that over time a tree sprouted, splitting the rock in two. In 1925 the rock and tree were removed in order to widen Michigan Avenue. One half of the rock now stands as a marker just southwest of the MSU Union building.	Ground Breaking for Lot 3 Ramp  (full-size image) In 1969 the City broke ground on the Lot 3 Parking Ramp, which now sits fully constructed off of Charles street right behind Barnes & Noble Booksellers. Pictured here at the 1969 ground breaking, Robert Fisher, R.E. Olds Anderson, East Lansing Mayor Gordon Thomas (1961-1971) and James Marling stand on the vacant land where the parking ramp now sits.
Zoology in the Late 19th Century  (full-size image) Nineteenth Century zoology students at Michigan State College perform animal dissections in an agricultural laboratory.	Rough Riding on Michigan Avenue  (full-size image) Even in the best of weather the drive to Lansing on Michigan Avenue was a bumpy one back in 1905. Pictured here, three buggies raise clouds of dust as they depart from what is now East Lansing.
Agriculture Outside of the Classroom  (full-size image) Physical farm work was a common practice for 19th and 20th Century agricultural students. In this photograph, Perry Greeley Holden's practical farming class harvest corn on a nearby Michigan farm. Holden, the first professor of agronomy in the United States, received his master's degree at Michigan State (known then as State Agricultural College) in 1895.	League of Women Voters  (full-size image) Fighting since 1920 to improve America's system of government, the League of Women Voters of the Lansing Area made an appearance in East Lansing's Golden Anniversary Parade on June 8, 1957. Parading down Grand River Avenue, the League of Women Voters is shown in this photograph displaying the well-known name of their nonpartisan political organization.
A Visit from the President  (full-size image) In celebration of Michigan State's semi-centennial, President Theodore Roosevelt visited East Lansing in May of 1907. He is shown in this photograph with Ransom E. Olds (inventor of the Oldsmobile), William Loeb (Roosevelt's secretary) and Jonathan L. Snyder (president of Michigan State) on the drive from the Capitol to campus for the ceremony. At the ceremony, twenty thousand people gathered in West Circle to hear Roosevelt's commencement address. There, for the first time, seniors sang the college's first "Alma Mater."	Fun in Downtown East Lansing  (full-size image) This Sealtest carousel was brought out for a downtown East Lansing street carnival in 1958. Often making appearances for community events, children's carnival rides advertised local products such as Sealtest and Vernor's soda pop. This photo was taken on M.A.C. Avenue in front of Twitchells Dry Cleaners, an East Lansing business which has remained at the same location since the 1920's. It remains the City's oldest operating business to this day.
A Hidden Surprise  (full-size image) In 2001 construction teams working to build East Lansing's City Center were surprised to uncover this beautifully preserved Vernor's mural when tearing down the 1955 Byrnes Building. Found on the wall of the Brown Building, which had been covered by the Byrnes Building for years on end, the mural was painted decades ago by Ray Meyers (pictured above). Meyers painted the mural as a tribute to MSU's mascot, complete with a jolly Vernor's gnome sporting a Spartan helmet. When City Center was completed, the sign was hidden once more.	A 1957 Community Band in Patriarche Park  (full-size image) Patriarche Park, named for former East Lansing City Manager John M. Patriarche, was often used for community band concerts.
On-Campus Housing in 1951  (full-size image) The end of World War II brought an influx of professors and students to Michigan State College in 1946. Experiencing a more than three-fold surge of enrollment from 3,800 in 1944 to 13,300 in 1946, the college built villages of Quonset huts, trailers and barracks to accommodate the new population. Pictured above, a vet living in the MSC barracks (married housing) in 1951 bids farewell to his wife and child before school. Thousands lived in quarters like these after the war. Special Note: If you look closely you will see The State News clipped to the post in front of this young family's quarters. The State News was established back in 1909, and was first called the Holcad. It was later renamed Michigan State News, which eventually got clipped to The State News.	Fountain Square in 1991  (full-size image ) This photograph was taken right after the dedication ceremony for Fountain Square.  The dedication ceremony took place on May 18, 1991 at 11:30a.m.
The East Lansing Art Festival  (full-size image) Established in 1964, the East Lansing Art Festival is held every spring during the weekend prior to the Memorial Holiday weekend. Known for featuring the highest caliber of fine art and craft, this highly anticipated Festival attracts 70,000 to 80,000 attendees from across the region.	The Peanut Barrel in 1982  (full-size image) The Peanut Barrel is located on the 500 block of East Grand River. It has been a popular dining spot in East Lansing for more than 20 years.
75th Anniversary Parade  (full-size image) In 1982 the City of East Lansing celebrated its 75th Anniversary.  One of the celebrations included this parade. This photo shows prominent Eat Lansing residence enjoying a ride in a fire engine.	75th Anniversary Parade  (full-size image) City officials Liz Schweitzer, John Czarnecki, and Bob Docking ride on a city fire engine during the City of East Lansing's 75th Anniversary Parade.
The City of East Lansing Floods  (full-size image) In April of 1975 the City of East Lansing experiences some light showers. Even showers to flood many of the streets.	Streets Become Rivers  (full-size image) This is Lilac Ave. during the flood of 1975.  Instead of cars traveling on it boats become the main source of transportation.
The Flood of 1975  (full-size image) An East Lansing resident braves the weather to work in their backyard during the flood in April of 1975.	Water Takes Over Lilac Ave.  (full-size image) This is what you would have seen in April of 1975 had you looked west on Lilac Ave from the bottom of the incline.