Benton House (Lansing, Michigan)
| Benton House | |
|---|---|
Benton House, 1847 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Hotel |
| Location | 712 South Washington Ave., Lansing, Michigan, United States |
| Completed | 1847 |
| Opened | 1848 |
| Demolished | 1900 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architects | Bush, Thomas, and Lee |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 60 |
The Benton House was the first brick building in Lansing, Michigan, and one of the oldest hotels in the city. Located on the corner of Main Street and Washington Avenue, it was erected in 1847 and operated until 1900, when it was sold to Edward Cahill and demolished. The site was later bought by Ransom E. Olds, and he built the Olds Mansion where the Benton House once stood.
History
Designed by Bush, Thomas, and Lee,[1] the Benton House was the first brick building built in Lansing.[2] One of the earliest hotels[3][4] in the area, it became the focal point of Upper Village, the area now known as REO Town.[5]
Opening in 1848, the four-story hotel[2][5] operated for 72 years. By 1900, it had seen the end of its days and was sold to Edward Cahill.[6] Cahill razed the building. A few years later, Cahill sold the land to Ransom E. Olds, who built his house where the hotel once stood.[1][3][6]
References
- ^ a b "Benton House, Lansing". The Making of Modern Michigan. MSU Libraries. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ a b Dozier, Vickki (August 20, 2017). "From the Archives: REO Town Back in the Day". Lansing State Journal. p. D5. Retrieved March 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Olds Freeway Historical Marker". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ Dozier, Vickki (September 23, 2016). "From the Archives: Hotels from Back in the Day". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ a b "History of Greater Lansing". Choose Lansing. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ a b "From the Archives: Lansing's Early Hotels". Lansing State Journal. August 30, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2026.