19th century

The location of McKay Tower is where the first non-Native American marriage took place in Grand Rapids in 1834, only a few years after settlers arrived and the area was surveyed as part of the Michigan Territory.^[4][5] The marriage took place in a cabin that was owned by the American pioneer, Joel Guild which involved his daughter Harriet Guild and Barney Burton.^[5] The first town meeting was also held at the cabin that had a total number of nine voters.^[5]

20th century

The Wonderly Building was then built on the location in 1890.^[2] The first two floors of McKay Tower were then built in their current manner in 1915 and the building was then known as the Grand Rapids National Bank.^[4] Another 11 floors were added between 1921 and 1927.^[2] In 1942, the tower was bought from the Grand Rapids National Bank by Grand Rapids businessman and politician, Frank D. McKay.^[4] In the early 1940s, two additional mechanical floors were added to the tower.^[4]

From the completion of the tower in 1927 to 1983, the McKay Tower was the tallest building in Grand Rapids until the completion of the Amway Grand tower.^[4] The McKay Tower was also the tallest office building in Grand Rapids until Bridgewater Place was completed in 1993.^[2]

21st century

In 2000, the University of Michigan, which acquired the building from McKay's will, sold the tower.^[4] The building was sold to Greystone Associates later that year.^[1] Mark Roller, an internet businessman, purchased the tower in 2006 for $7.8 million,^[1][6] who later listed the property for sale in 2009 for $11 million.^[6]

McKay Tower was sold to Jonathan L. Borisch, founder of Borisch Manufacturing Corp. (now Amphenol Borisch) in May 2012 for $10.5 million through his Steadfast Property Holdings company.^[7] In January 2020, the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan and the Huron Band of the Potawatomi purchased McKay Tower for $17.5 million from Steadfast Property Holdings.^[3]