The Herrmann House is a gorgeous 19th-century villa belonging to Lansing Community College that impresses with its redbrick balcony and colonnade. Its pointed gabled roofs have become an iconic emblem of the campus. Stand on the grassy lawn outside the front of the house and admire the English Tudor style of the façade.

Stand back to get a photo of this impressive structure beside the Rogers-Carrier House next door. A colorful floral display and a large tree separate the two spectacular mansions. Study the small arched windows and larger rectangular ones in the impressive façade of Herrmann House, whose lower section is lined by hedges and flowers.

Learn about the history of the house. It was built for a local tailor and German immigrant named John T. Herrmann in 1893, when the city was growing rapidly. One of his descendants became a prominent writer and is thought to have been a friend of Ernest Hemingway. The house, which was designed by architect J. Arthur Bailey, remained in the family until Lansing Community College bought it in 1967. It was renamed the Herrmann Conference Center and dedicated as a historic site 20 years later. It has since been converted into a home for the college’s president, with a scenic pond in the garden.

Take in the leafy surroundings as you sit on a bench of the adjacent Durant Park. Just one block away is Adado Riverfront Park, with its trails beside the Grand River. Read the Grand River History plaque on the waterway’s eastern side for more background context about the region.

The Herrmann House is part of Lansing Community College, which stands on the western side of the Grand River. It is in the center of Lansing, with a direct bus route from the Capital Region International Airport. Look around the district to find other landmarks, including the Michigan State Capitol, Rotary Park and Ferris Park.