Cass Building

The Cass Building, the oldest office building in the Capitol Complex, is just off the central Plaza. It is also, by far, the most architecturally interesting office building in the set.

Lewis Cass was governor of Michigan Territory from 1813 to 1831, and one of the founders of the Democratic Party. He was Secretary of War under Andrew Jackson, and Secretary of State under James Buchanan. Between his cabinet postings he represented Michigan in the United States Senate. In 1848, he was the Democratic nominee for President.

You can make a reasonable case that Lewis Cass is the most important political figure in Michigan history.