Step back in time to the 19th century with a visit to the 1855 Turner-Dodge House, aka Dodge Mansion, a beautifully restored historic house museum in Lansing, MI.
The Turner-Dodge House has stood in Old Town Lansing for more than 160 years. It was one of the first large homes to be built in Lansing and was home to several generations of an important pioneer family.
The house gets its Turner-Dodge name from the first families to live here. Marion and James Turner built the house in 1858 after moving to Lansing from Mason. James operated a mercantile store and Marion was a school teacher. Later, James would also speculate in real estate and build a foundry.
Abby Turner, Marion and James’ daughter, married Frank Dodge in 1888. The couple bought the house after they married, enlarging and redesigning it to accommodate the expanding family. A renovation that completely changed the house’s appearance.
The Turners and Dodges were more than just wealthy white landowners. They were true pioneers who helped to develop Michigan’s capitol city. They were also progressive, supporting higher education for women, the abolition of slavery, and liquor control.
The family lived in the house until 1958, when it was sold to the Great Lakes Bible College. The city of Lansing purchased the mansion in 1974 and, after substantial renovation, opened it as a historic house museum.
Visiting the Turner-Dodge House
The Turner-Dodge House museum is located at 100 E. North Street in Lansing, less than a half-hour’s drive from The English Inn Restaurant & Pub.
The house is a three-story, 8,600 square foot, historic mansion in the Classical Revival style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Dodge Mansion.
Lansing architect Darius B. Moon was in charge of the house’s late 1800’s renovation and is responsible for the design of the Turner-Dodge House. Features include a front porch dominated by 4, two-story tall Ionic columns and a large porte cochere in the rear. A massive wooden cornice encircles the crown of the brick veneered house.
Inside you’ll find large classical doorways, multiple fireplaces, beveled, leaded glass windows, and a wealth of period furnishings. Exhibits throughout the museum highlight the history of the Turner and Dodge families, and that of early Lansing.
Current hours are 1pm to 7pm, Tuesday through Thursday. Guided tours are available. Learn more on the museum website. You can also visit the museum on Facebook.
Your Lansing Hideaway
The English Inn Restaurant & Pub is located less than 20 minutes from the capitol city, in Eaton Rapids, Michigan.
Our location on the historic Medovue Estate, along the Grand River, provides easy access to the sites and sounds of the city, yet nestles you in the quiet comforts of a classic country estate.
Make the most of your next Michigan getaway with a stay at The English Inn Restaurant & Pub.