The Michigan Capitol's historic dome has been given a fresh lease on life after crews wrapped up a restoration project that not only peeled away 30 years of grime but also injected a dose of vibrancy into the 150-foot-tall rotunda. Budgeted at around $3 million, the project is closing out at less than the earmarked funds, owing to the swift pace of work that saw the renovation finish ahead of schedule. Assistant director for capitol facilities, Barb Thumudo, celebrated the successful endeavor with CBS Detroit, stating, "We're very pleased with the way that it turned out."

Comparatively, Michigan's capitol continuously sees construction work, but the extensive interior restoration hasn't been seen since the 1980s, Thumudo mentioned. Providing support for an intricate scaffolding structure that comprised over 10,000 pieces and weighed approximately 40 tons was a herculean task in itself. Thumudo told WZZM13, "With all of that decorative paint, it's constant maintenance."

Thumudo further shared amidst the tour for media members that the dome's refreshed grandeur serves as an inspiration and aims to motivate visitors, especially school children, to chase unlimited possibilities. With a sense of renewed pride, she expressed to WZZM13, "We hope that [visitors] have the reaction that they always have: that it's a breathtaking space, and it's an inspiring space."

Beneath the restoration project's surface, tales are etched into the capitol beyond the visual artistry of the muses symbolizing different facets pivotal to Michigan's identity. "So, they represent things like art, agriculture, law, science, justice, industry, shipping and education," Thumudo explained in a conversation with WZZM13. Notably, specialists from John Canning & Co. led the charge in breathing new life into these paintings, drawing on their expertise from prior work on the Capitol between 1989 and 1992.

Efforts to document every nook and cranny of the artwork will persist even as the scaffold comes down. Beginning Tuesday, April 9, according to MLive, the structure's dismantling will create an opportunity for the Capitol Commission to photograph the muses for the first time without obstruction — a chance to capture their full splendor from a straight-on perspective. This will unfold across four weeks, culminating in the rotunda's reopening to the public come June.

Fascinated visitors and locals can expect to see the end result of the extensive effort soon, as the majestic dome's golden stars once again twinkle brightly against a backdrop of opulence and state pride. For individuals interested in following the project's completion or learning more about the intricacies of the capitol's muses, resources and updates are available on the Michigan Capitol Building website.