"Designing Democracy" traces how the architecture of America's state capitols evolved from the simple Federal style of the early republic to the grand American Renaissance Revival designs of the Gilded Age, and later to the Beaux-Arts and modern styles of the 20th century. Centered on the architecture of our Michigan Capitol and on America's premier state capitol architect, Elijah E. Myers, the exhibit explores the influence of shifting styles in American civic architecture and the symbolism of the dome as a unifying civic landmark.