Coxe, senator, and all of our distinguished guest, welcome. I have a great honor to serve as chief executive officer for preservation virginia. Deskhalf of president ial preservation virginia board of trustees, i share our appreciation for friends and partners gathered today and Technology Leadership of the administration, the General Assembly, american revolution, and the James Northam foundation. As special appreciation to our partners in the National Park service, the representatives, and members of the family society. Today, we commemorate the events that occurred on the site 47 years ago the distinguished speakers who follow me will capture the importance of these proceedings and the direct influence still felt today. Hope it will define this place with the persistent efforts of women who ensured its preservation. Within these walls would have been lost were not for the vision and dedication of women. 1889, they founded the association for the preservation of virginia antiquity. T
[bells clanging] [bells clanging] good morning. I am kirk cox, speaker of the Virginia House of delegates. Im delighted to welcome everyone here at jamestown settlement in the recreated church in james fort. And those viewing these proceedings online or watching from beyond to the 400 that anniversary today. Of the first and oldest continuous representative legislation body in the western hemisphere. As our forefathers did on this very day 400 years ago assembled here at the birthplace of american democracy, jamestown. Freedom in the form of Representative Democracy began here in virginia. The unforgettable and inspiring event that happened here, what began here, has changed not only virginia, and not only america, but much of the entire world. Special occasions and commemorations like this offer us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the history of 1619. As a retired schoolteacher, i taught government for 30 years. I know the year 1619 was pivotal. As well as complicated. Events th
Coming up well talk with authors based here as we fir learn how the city was chosen as the states capital, and anyone 15 minutes the story of re olds and the auto company he founded in lapsing and then later well take a driving tour of the citys downtown. We begin our special feature as hear about james turner and the found offering lansing. The founding of lansing. James turner was pioneer. It wasnt until the state legislature designated this area as the new capital that he came with these other folks and helped build the capital. State had a slightly more expected, i sincible proven but we daytona that. We had nothing here. There was no transportation. They had several months to build the capital city. That was the very interesting, exciting and unique story of lansings beginning. The legislature established a state in about 1836, about a year before we became a state. They designated detroit as the capital but they were fearful that detroit could be easily attacked from the lake eri
Were going to see the bottom of the palm today. Exactly. Where are you taking us. Think well hit the downtown area of the State Capitol and then old town lansing, which is very popular, and then out east to Michigan State university. Perfect. Should we get going . You bet. On the left youll see tall lawyer called the bo itemperature but was originally the olds tower. Ransom eli olds came to lansing with his family and founded oldmobile and youll find his name and the car industry in a lot of things you talk but in lansing. A lot of people associate the car industry with detroit bit made its way here as well. It actually began here. Olds was kind of a friend of henry ford but he actually was the first built the First Assembly line, and henry ford perfected it. So olds had a lot of great inventions. He sold the Oldsmobile Company and then founds a Company Called reo car company and they were both in lansing. Does lansing have an always to presence. We do. We are home of gm, general motor
Michigan to learn more about its unique history and literary life. For eight years, we have traveled to u. S. Cities, bringing the book seen to our viewers scene to our viewers. You can see more on cspan. Org citiestour. A pioneer. S it wasnt until the state legislature designated this area camee new capital that he with these other folks and helped build the capital. More states had a slightly sensible approach. We did not do that here. There was no transportation. Was the interesting and unique story of lansings beginning. Established the 1836, a year before it became a state. They designated detroit as the capital, but they were fearful detroit could easily be attacked by lake erie, and they should move the capital inward, but they could not decide where. They put in the constitution that the first session of the legislature of 1848 should be held in the new capital, which should be inland. So, they had 10 years to decide. They waited until they had 10 months left. Statelittle town