Clara's Station

From its beginning in 1903,

the “Union Depot” on Michigan Avenue

was a haven of hospitality for train

passengers and Lansing locals

whose entertainment was watching

the iron horse pull in each day. It’s

rumored this station was also used

as a backdrop in the production and

shooting of the famous novel turned

movie “Anatomy of a Murder.”

The elaborate combination of cut

stone arches and towers was

designed be Detroit architects

Spiers and Rohns who gave several

Michigan railroad stations a

similar dash of 

Romanesque design.

Evidence of the good “Olds” days

kept disappearing but Union Station

continued to serve passengers

until 1972 when all service

through Lansing was discontinued

and the station was closed.

Three years later Amtrak resumed

service but East Lansing

won the depot bid. Active

restaurateurs bought the station

in 1978 and today you

enjoy the results of their

efforts in reconstructing

a little of Lansing’s tradition.*

The foyer waiting room

The solid oak sideboards 

like the hostess stand 

and the oak tree halls are typical

 of the ones found in the 

better homes of the 1890's.

The slag gas lamp in the parlor

once a ticket agent's office,

light the entrance of the

original consumers Power building

The walnut mgrs office is constructed

from the ceiling of one

of the homes built in 1890

The inside was gorgeous

The Main Room

The Fireplace Room

Such architectural designs

The windows of Clara’s have been 

authentically reproduced

 using popular 1903 designs.

The old ticket office is glamorized 

with a bronze chandelier

 from a Belgium department store.

Omelet Bar

The elaborate circus

 horse drawn wagon decoration

 hanging from the balcony

 above the Wurlitzer juke box 

is from early 1900's

At the bottom of the stair railing

is a signed Bradley Hubbard

solid bronze edition statue lamp

which had once light the

way into the Old's family

second floor music room.

It was found in the Old's

home when it was torn

down in 1972 to

make way for I-496

The bar 

Some of the lighting

Hanging from the cathedral

ceiling are 3 crystal chandeliers

They started their life

in a London Opera house.  

This bronze baccarat

crystal chandelier

started it's life in 1825

in a Paris mansion. It is

the oldest lighting fixture

in the restaurant

We ate in the train car