State Capitol’s boiler room steps into the 21st century
David Poulson
Lansing An obscure door tucked beneath one of the massive stone staircases outside of Michigan’s Capitol opens to reveal yet another steep stairwell leading deep below the building’s south side.
“Boiler Room,” say the letters carved long ago into the stone above. It is here where 14-foot boilers 5-feet in diameter were installed during the building’s construction to minimize their threat.
“The idea was that if the boilers blew accidentally, they would take the steps up but not the whole Capitol,” said Matt Van Acker, the director of tour, education and information services at the Capitol.