Whether you know it or not, you’ve been staring at Jackson history as long as you’ve had American dollars in your wallet. Jackson was founded in 1829, dedicating its name to the soon-to-be star of the $20 bill, President Andrew Jackson. Originally named “Jacksonopolis,” then “Jacksonburgh,” then finally good old “Jackson,” our city wasted no time leaving an impression on both state and national history. It was the birthplace of the Republican Party and represented a turning point in the events leading up to the Civil War. Michigan even selected Jackson to house its first state prison in 1839, just two years after joining the Union. Museums, monuments and historic buildings pepper the city, harboring stories and artifacts that are waiting to be discovered.