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Local History

Buildings

Rickman Hotel

The Rickman House is one of the most impressive and imposing landmarks on the north end of downtown Kalamazoo. The elegant architecture speaks to the building’s century-old history as one of Kalamazoo’s finest hotels.

Lawrence and Chapin Iron Works Building

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Lawrence and Chapin Iron Works building is one of downtown Kalamazoo’s most distinguished for its unique architectural details, and for its myriad uses.

Marlborough Building

The Marlborough Building at 471 W. South Street was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 1983. In addition to being listed on the National Register, the Marlborough Building enjoys local historic district status as a single...

Masonic Temple

Kalamazoo’s venerable Masonic Temple sits at 309 N. Rose Street. The handsome, Italian-Renaissance-style building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Michigan Central Railroad Station

Kalamazoo celebrated one Sunday morning in 1846, when the Michigan Central ran its first train into town. A few years later, passengers and freight could move on as far as Chicago, and Kalamazoo's future as a rail center was assured. Eventually...

Oakland Pharmacy

Whether by design, by location, or perhaps by pure chance, certain commercial structures are destined to become lifelong places where people like to congregate, regardless of the type of business within. From its origins as Oakland Pharmacy, ....

Park Building

Known over the years under three different monikers, the last one being the Park Building, downtown Kalamazoo became just a little less historical in 2006, when the five-story structure was demolished...

Rockwell A. LeRoy: Kalamazoo Architect

During the first decades of the 20th century, few Kalamazoo architects were perhaps as successful or as well respected as was Rockwell A. LeRoy, who designed many of the area’s finest municipal, residential, and commercial structures.

Salvation Army Building

Sometimes referred to as the Citadel because of its distinct parapet roofline, the more common moniker used by local historians for the building at 244 N. Rose Street, is the Salvation…

Saniwax Building

One of Kalamazoo’s most prominent factory buildings has progressed through several name changes, while serving as a base for an assortment of commercial activities. Today, most citizens will know of…

Star Paper Company Building

From paper-making to asbestos to craft beer and live music, the old three-story building situated at 402 E. Kalamazoo Avenue holds the history of an assortment of different commercial enterprises.…

Upjohn Company Office Building

Today the building located at 301 John Street in downtown Kalamazoo is called the Bronson Upjohn Building, but when the Albert Kahn-designed building was built in 1935, it was intended to house the renowned company’s headquarters.

Vine-Locust Corner Buildings

Today, O’Duffy’s Pub and Cosmo’s Cucina occupy the two-story brick building on the corner of W. Vine and Locust Street in the Vine Neighborhood (726-728 Locust). A parking lot is…

Vine's Apartments

Scattered throughout the Vine Neighborhood, apartment complexes receive far less attention and devotion from historians and preservationists than residential homes.

William A. Doyle Building

Arguably the jewel of the Haymarket District, the William A. Doyle Building was built in 1890-91. Despite the absence of his name on the building, William’s brother James also contributed…