Home to Michigan State University, founded in 1855 as the nation's first agricultural college and the pioneer land-grant institution that became the prototype for the land-grant university system created by the 1862 Morrill Act source
Community character
A classic college town economically and demographically dominated by Michigan State University, blending students, faculty, and long-term residents source
Michigan State University
The land-grant research university the city grew around; classes began in 1857 and it is one of the largest public universities in the United States source
Beaumont Tower
1928 Collegiate Gothic carillon tower on the MSU campus marking the site of College Hall, the first building erected on campus source
Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum
Zaha Hadid-designed contemporary art museum on the MSU campus, opened November 2012 source
John M. Patriarche Park
East Lansing community park on Alton Road with ball fields, a 1.2-acre accessible playground, tennis and pickleball courts, and a pavilion source
Harrison Meadows Park
47.2-acre natural park linked to the linear Northern Tier Trail, with a butterfly garden and managed bird habitat source
Bailey
Neighborhood adjacent to the MSU campus and downtown, named for horticulturist Liberty Hyde Bailey; a mix of families, retirees, students, and faculty source
Oakwood
One of East Lansing's oldest neighborhoods, platted beginning in 1899 and designated a local historic district in 1989 source
