Click above images to enlarge Bingham House 13270 Silver Lake Road, between Kensington (Peer) and Dixboro roads, South Lyon vicinity - Livingston County Property Type frame house Historic Use DOMESTIC Current Use COMMERCE/TRADE Style Greek Revival Significant Person Bingham, Kinsley S. Narrative Description The Kinsley S. Bingham House is a basilica form Greek Revival frame building covered in clapboard siding with a two-story front-gable central section flanked on either side by single-story wings topped by hip-roofs. The wings are fronted by enclosed square columned porticos, and a third enclosed porch is located at the rear of the main section. Decorative elements include latticework on the tympanum and dentil moldings along the wide entablatures. Statement of Significance The Bingham House is one of the earliest and finest Greek Revival structures in Michigan and was the residence of Kinsley S. Bingham, Governor of Michigan from 1854 to 1862. Bingham built this house in approximately 1842 to house his young family and to accommodate political and social functions. Known as the "farmer governor," Bingham was the first Republican governor in the nation and also served in the U. S. Senate in 1847. During his gubernatorial tenure the state agricultural college, later Michigan State University, was established. Currently owned by a local gravel quarry company, the house is well maintained with few alterations. Marker Name Kingsley S. Bingham Marker Text KINSLEY S. BINGHAM Twenty-five-year-old Kinsley Bingham left his New York home in 1833 saying: "Give me $500 and let me go to Michigan and I'll be governor in two years." He settled here, constructing this handsome Greek Revival house in 1842. Bingham's boast was not exaggerated, since he was elected to the legislature in 1836, serving five terms, and was U.S. Congressman from 1847 to 1851. Adamantly opposed to slavery, he broke from the Democratic Party of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. The Republican Party chose Bingham as its candidate for governor in Jackson's famous "Under the Oaks" convention of 1854. Six months later he took office as the nation's first Republican governor, and in 1856 he was reelected. Becoming U.S. senator in 1859, Bingham died here on October 5, 1861. Period of Significance 1826-1865 Significant Date(s) c. 1842 Registry Type(s) 06/15/1973 Marker erected 10/18/1972 National Register listed 06/28/1973 State Register listed Site ID# P23973