Building, Detroit, since 1897
Capitol Square Building
Standing, closed
- Opened
- 1897
- Style
- Classical Revival
- Standing
- 129 years
Designed by Frederick H. Spier, Spier & Rohns and William C. Rohns
The Capitol Square Building has stood on Griswold St. in Detroit since 1897, 129 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
What is there now
Standing, closed
- Closed Source: Historic Detroit
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 24, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
The Capitol Square Building opened in 1897, in Detroit's Gilded Age, when stove works, shipyards and railroads made the city's first fortunes.
The design came from Frederick H. Spier, William C. Rohns, and Spier & Rohns, in the Classical Revival style.
Its doors are closed for now, but the building still stands.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 1265 Griswold St and look up.
Timeline
- 1897 Built Designed by Frederick H. Spier, Spier & Rohns, and William C. Rohns
- 2026 Today Standing, closed
Where it is
1265 Griswold St.
On this map
- 1 Capitol Square Building This place
- 2 Griswold Hotel 80 ft
- 3 Farwell Building 90 ft
- 4 Stevens Building 120 ft
- 5 Bennett Building 140 ft
- 6 Bowles Building 170 ft
- 7 Chancery Building 210 ft
- 8 Malcomson Building 250 ft
- 9 Washington Boulevard Historic District 270 ft
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Architect
Spier & RohnsArchitectural firm, Detroit, founded 1884. Designed Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church (1891) and 7 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Spier & Rohns
More from Detroit in the 1890s
-
Harmonie Club
Building, built 1895, Beaux Arts, by Richard E. Raseman
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Coronado Apartments
Building, built 1894, Romanesque Revival, by William S. Joy
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Hurlbut Memorial Gate
Monument, built 1894, Beaux Arts
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Floral Clock at Water Works Park, Floral clock, Water [Works] Park, Detroit, Mich.](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4470-2305-thumb-1a3e4ef4e0.jpg)
Floral Clock at Water Works Park
Monument, built 1893
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
Dunbar Memorial Hospital
Monument, built 1892, Romanesque Revival
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Eastern States, [Str. Eastern States, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4436-2275-thumb-5717c27eed.jpg)
Eastern States
Ship, built 1902, by Louis Keil, demolished 1956
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Around the block
-
![Griswold Hotel, Griswold Hotel [lobby, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4523-2324-thumb-15fabace68.jpg)
Griswold Hotel
Hotel, built 1868, demolished 1961
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
80 ft
-
Farwell Building
Building, built 1915, Chicago School, by Harrie W. Bonnah
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
90 ft
- Stevens Building Building, built 1901, Neo-classicism, by Donaldson & Meier 120 ft
- Bennett Building Building, built 1895, by Bonnah & Chaffee 140 ft
- Bowles Building Building, built 1887, Romanesque Revival, by Mason & Rice, demolished 1965 170 ft
- Chancery Building Building, built 1924, Romanesque-Italian Renaissance, by Donaldson & Meier 210 ft
- Malcomson Building Building, built 1907, by Louis Kamper 250 ft
-
Washington Boulevard Historic District
Historic district
Photo: Mike Russell at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
270 ft
Sources
Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.