Wyoming State Capitol

Last updated

Wyoming State Capitol
DSCN5263 cheyennewyomingcapitolfront e.jpg
Wyoming State Capitol, seen from rear.
Wyoming State Capitol
General information
Architectural styleRenaissance Revival
Address200 W. 24th St., Cheyenne, Wyoming
Country United States
Coordinates 41°8′25″N104°49′11″W / 41.14028°N 104.81972°W / 41.14028; -104.81972
Construction started1886
Completed1890
Cost$150,000
ClientState of Wyoming
Design and construction
Architect(s) David W. Gibbs and William DuBois [1]
Engineer Adam Feick & Bro.; Moses B. Keefe; John W. Howard [1]
Wyoming State Capitol and Grounds
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
NRHP reference No. 73001935
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJanuary 29, 1973 [2]
Designated NHLMay 4, 1987 [3]

The Wyoming State Capitol is located in the city of Cheyenne. Cheyenne is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Wyoming. Built between 1886 and 1890, the capitol is located in Cheyenne and contains the chambers of the Wyoming State Legislature as well as the office of the Governor of Wyoming. It was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1987. [1] [4] The Capitol underwent an extensive three-year renovation and reopened to the public on July 10, 2019. [5]

Contents

History

The construction of the capitol began prior to Wyoming gaining statehood. Cheyenne was born in 1867 in the path of the transcontinental railroad, when the Union Pacific crews arrived to lay tracks westward. Cheyenne soon laid claim to a higher status than older Wyoming settlements such as those at Fort Laramie, Fort Bridger, and the mining town of South Pass City, changing Cheyenne from a village to a city in a matter of months. The seat of the new Territorial government was established in Cheyenne in 1869.

In 1886, the Ninth Territorial Legislative Assembly authorized construction of the State Capitol. A five-member commission, appointed by Governor Francis E. Warren, was charged with the selection and purchase of the site, selection of an architect and accepting the lowest bids for construction of the building. The commission chose the firm of David W. Gibbs & Company, Architects, to draw plans and specifications. These were accepted in July 1886 and a contract issued to the lowest bidder, Adam Feick & Brother, who broke ground on September 9, 1886.

The Tenth Territorial Legislative Assembly convened in the unfinished building. The two small wings on the east and west were completed in 1890. Crowded conditions persisted with the growth of the state and in 1915 the Thirteenth legislature approved the construction of the House and Senate Chambers, which were completed in March 1917.

The 42nd Legislature in 1974 appropriated funds for the first phase of renovation of the capitol and the project was completed in 1980. Work included stripping and staining all woodwork, painting walls in the original designs and colors, replacing wooden floor beams with steel, concrete and modernizing the wiring, heating, plumbing and air conditioning.

In 2013, the Wyoming State Legislature created a task force to examine potential renovations to the building. The Legislature authorized the renovation project in 2014 with work on the Capitol, the Herschler Building, the utility plant and the tunnels to be completed as a unified project with a budget of $299 million. The project was completed in 2019. [6]

The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987, for its role in Wyoming's history, including specifically the role it played in hosting conventions that ensured woman's suffrage in the state constitution. [1]

Description

The facade as it was extended during 1915 with the House and Senate chambers in the end pavilions Wyoming Capitol Exterior.jpg
The facade as it was extended during 1915 with the House and Senate chambers in the end pavilions

The capitol is located north of downtown Cheyenne. The exterior approach to the front steps of the capitol features the State Seal in granite.

The architecture of the building is Renaissance Revival, reminiscent of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. The sandstone for the building came from quarries in Rawlins, Wyoming, and Fort Collins, Colorado. The building's cornerstone was laid on May 18, 1887, with maps, a roster of territorial officers, and other papers inside. During the Centennial of the Capitol in 1987; the cornerstone was removed, these documents were replaced and the cornerstone reset.

While standing in the center of the rotunda, looking up at the base of the dome directly overhead you see the stained glass, imported from England. From underneath it sparkles with blue, purple, and green hues, but the upper side glistens with red, yellow, and orange. The peak of the dome is 146 feet high, and the base is 50 feet in diameter.

The first-floor rotunda is striking, with checkerboard marble floors, columns, and an impressive staircase made of cherry wood brought from Ohio.

The Governor is the only elected official with offices in the capitol building. The four other elected officials have ceremonial offices only.

The Senate chamber is in the west wing of the second-floor building; the House chamber is in the east wing of the second floor. Each chamber contains four large murals by Allen Tupper True, who painted them in August 1917 for a cost of $500 each. The murals depict various aspects of the culture, history, and industry of Wyoming. The murals in the Senate chamber are entitled Indian Chief Cheyenne , Frontier Cavalry Officer, Pony Express Rider, and Railroad Builders/Surveyors. The House murals are entitled Cattlemen, Trappers, Homesteaders, and Stagecoach. The ceilings of both chambers are inlaid with stained glass from the Midland Paint and Glass Company of Omaha, NE, with the Wyoming State Seal displayed in the center. Both chambers are accessible to visitors by balconies on the third floor. The House has two oil paintings by William Gollings. The wood in both chambers is oak.

Renovation

The Wyoming State Capitol went through a major restoration between 2016 and 2019. Many improvements were made during this time. Some of the improvements included: the addition of stairs, elevators, and restrooms; the restoration of decorative paintings and moldings; and the improvement of the electrical and HVAC systems. During the restoration phase, there were several discoveries of paintings, decorated architectural elements, and woodwork that were all carefully restored. [7] Another major part of the restoration project was to gain back some of the visibility of the dome on the building. To be able to view the dome from North Capitol Avenue, a large atrium on an adjacent building was demolished. [8]

The Dome

The dome is one of the key architectural features of the Capitol building. It stands out above the skyline, representing Wyoming's values. [7] The Dome of the capitol is copper and it tarnished so badly in 1900 they began using gold leaf on the exterior of the dome. The 24-carat gold leaf dome is visible from all roads entering the city. It has been gilded five times, the first in 1900. Only ten out of the fifty United States have gold leaf covered domes on their state capitol buildings. In 2009, the dome was re-covered in gold for $1.3 million. During the restoration process that took place between 2016 and 2019, scaffolding was used to cover the dome until the work on it was complete. Thanks to this restoration work, the dome's life expectancy went from a mere 15 years to 90 years. [9]

The Vaults

On the first floor of the Capitol, there sits six vaults that were covered in brown paint. But during the restoration, this paint was removed, and hiding beneath it were unique paintings, one for each vault door. These vaults were found to have been made by Mosler Safe and Lock Company, which was a well distinguished safe company at the time. This company was originally called Mosler, Bahmann and Company and was located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mosler's sons would later take over the business and move it to Hamilton, Ohio, where it would be run under the name Mosler Safe and Lock Company. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Wisconsin

The Wisconsin State Capitol, located in Madison, Wisconsin, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature along with the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor. Completed in 1917, the building is the fifth to serve as the Wisconsin capitol since the first territorial legislature convened in 1836 and the third building since Wisconsin was granted statehood in 1848. The Wisconsin State Capitol is the tallest building in Madison, a distinction that has been preserved by legislation that prohibits buildings taller than the columns surrounding the dome. The Capitol is located at the southwestern end of the Madison Isthmus. The streets surrounding the building form the Capitol Square, which is home to many restaurants and shops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Minnesota

The Minnesota State Capitol is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Minnesota, in its capital city of Saint Paul. It houses the Minnesota Senate, Minnesota House of Representatives, the office of the Attorney General and the office of the Governor. The building also includes a chamber for the Minnesota Supreme Court, although court activities usually take place in the neighboring Minnesota Judicial Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Georgia

The Georgia State Capitol is an architecturally and historically significant building in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The building has been named a National Historic Landmark which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As the primary office building of Georgia's government, the capitol houses the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, and secretary of state on the second floor, chambers in which the General Assembly, consisting of the Georgia State Senate and Georgia House of Representatives, meets annually from January to April. The fourth floor houses visitors' galleries overlooking the legislative chambers and a museum located near the rotunda in which a statue of Miss Freedom caps the dome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Iowa

The Iowa State Capitol, commonly called the Iowa Statehouse, is in Iowa's capital city, Des Moines. As the seat of the Iowa General Assembly, the building houses the Iowa Senate, Iowa House of Representatives, the Office of the Governor, and the Offices of the Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, and Secretary of State. The building also includes a chamber for the Iowa Supreme Court, although court activities usually take place in the neighboring Iowa Supreme Court building. The building was constructed between 1871 and 1886, and is the only five-domed capitol in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Oklahoma

The Oklahoma State Capitol is the house of government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is the building that houses the Oklahoma Legislature and executive branch offices. It is located along Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City and contains 452,508 square feet of floor area. The present structure includes a dome completed in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of California

The California State Capitol is the seat of the California state government, located in Sacramento, the state capital of California. The building houses the chambers of the California State Legislature, made up of the Assembly and the Senate, along with the office of the governor of California. The Neoclassical structure, designed by Reuben S. Clark, was completed between 1861 and 1874. Located at the west end of Capitol Park and the east end of the Capitol Mall, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The California State Capitol Museum is housed on the grounds of the capitol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabama State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Alabama

The Alabama State Capitol, listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the First Confederate Capitol, is the state capitol building for Alabama. Located on Capitol Hill, originally Goat Hill, in Montgomery, it was declared a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960. Unlike every other state capitol, the Alabama Legislature does not meet there, but at the Alabama State House. The Capitol has the governor's office and otherwise functions as a museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey State House</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of New Jersey

The New Jersey State House is the capitol building of the U.S. state of New Jersey and is the third-oldest state house in continuous legislative use in the United States. Located in Trenton, it was originally built in 1792 and is notable for its close proximity to the state border with Pennsylvania, which makes it the closest capitol building to a state border. The building accommodates both the New Jersey Legislature's Senate and General Assembly chambers, offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and various state government departments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Utah State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Utah

The Utah State Capitol is the house of government for the U.S. state of Utah. The building houses the chambers and offices of the Utah State Legislature, the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, the State Auditor and their staffs. The capitol is the main building of the Utah State Capitol Complex, which is located on Capitol Hill, overlooking downtown Salt Lake City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania State Capitol is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Pennsylvania located in downtown Harrisburg which was designed by architect Joseph Miller Huston in 1902 and completed in 1906 in a Beaux-Arts style with decorative Renaissance themes throughout. The capitol houses the legislative chambers for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the Harrisburg chambers for the Supreme and Superior Courts of Pennsylvania, as well as the offices of the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor. It is also the main building of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana Statehouse</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Indiana

The Indiana Statehouse is the state capitol building of the U.S. state of Indiana. It houses the Indiana General Assembly, the office of the Governor of Indiana, the Indiana Supreme Court, and other state officials. The Statehouse is located in the capital city of Indianapolis at 200 West Washington Street. Built in 1888, it is the fifth building to house the state government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Idaho

The Idaho State Capitol in Boise is the home of the government of the U.S. state of Idaho. Although Lewiston briefly served as Idaho's capital from the formation of Idaho Territory in 1863, the territorial legislature moved it to Boise on December 24, 1864.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Kansas

The Kansas State Capitol, known also as the Kansas Statehouse, is the building housing the executive and legislative branches of government for the U.S. state of Kansas. Located in the city of Topeka, which has served as the capital of Kansas since the territory became a state in 1861, the building is the second to serve as the Kansas Capitol. During the territorial period (1854–1861), an earlier capitol building was begun but not completed in Lecompton, Kansas, and smaller structures in Lecompton and Topeka were where the territorial legislatures met.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Oregon

The Oregon State Capitol is the building housing the state legislature and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, and treasurer of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in the state capital, Salem. Constructed from 1936 to 1938 and expanded in 1977, the current building is the third to house the Oregon state government in Salem. The first two capitols in Salem were destroyed by fire, one in 1855 and the other in 1935.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York State Capitol</span> Legislative building in Albany, New York, U.S.

The New York State Capitol, the seat of the New York state government, is located in Albany, the capital city of the U.S. state of New York. The capitol building is part of the Empire State Plaza complex on State Street in Capitol Park. Housing the New York State Legislature, the building was completed in 1899 at a cost of US$25 million, making it the most expensive government building of its time. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, then included as a contributing property when the Lafayette Park Historic District was listed in 1978. The New York State Capitol was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Mississippi

The Mississippi State Capitol or the “New Capitol,” has been the seat of the state’s government since it succeeded the old statehouse in 1903. Located in Jackson, it was designated as a Mississippi Landmark in 1986, a National Historic Landmark in 2016 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Michigan

The Michigan State Capitol is the building that houses the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the portion of the state capital of Lansing which lies in Ingham County. The present structure, at the intersection of Capitol and Michigan Avenues, is a National Historic Landmark that houses the chambers and offices of the Michigan Legislature as well as the ceremonial offices of the Governor of Michigan and Lieutenant Governor. Historically, this is the third building to house the Michigan government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa Old Capitol Building</span> 1842 early capitol of Iowa, original location of the University of Iowa

The Iowa Old Capitol Building is located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It was once the main government building for the state of Iowa, and it now stands as the most prominent landmark at the center of the University of Iowa's campus. The building was depicted on the 1946 Iowa Centennial commemorative half dollar. It was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1972, and it was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1976. In 1978 it was included as a contributing property in the Pentacrest, a historic district listed on the NRHP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheyenne, Wyoming</span> Capital of Wyoming, United States

Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming, as well as the county seat of Laramie County, with 65,132 residents, per the 2020 US Census. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne metropolitan statistical area which encompasses all of Laramie County and had 100,512 residents as of the 2020 census. Local residents named the town for the Cheyenne Native American people in 1867 when it was founded in the Dakota Territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Main (University of Wyoming)</span> United States historic place

Old Main, built 137 years ago in 1886 in Laramie, Wyoming, was the first building on the University of Wyoming campus and continues as its oldest. At an approximate elevation of 7,180 feet (2,190 m) above sea level, it currently houses university administration.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mark Junge; Paige Putnam Miller & Edwin C. Bearss (February 6, 1987). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Wyoming State Capitol Building and Grounds (Report). National Park Service. and accompanying three historic photos  (351 KB)
  2. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Wyoming State Capitol". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 26, 2006. Retrieved June 27, 2008.
  4. ↑ As "Wyoming State Capitol and Grounds" or alternate name "Wyoming Capitol Building and Grounds", the property was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places during 1973. It was further designated a National Historic Landmark during 1987.
  5. 1 2 EverGreene Architectural Arts Inc (June 26, 2019). "Paintings on historic vaults uncovered at Wyoming State Capitol". Wyoming Tribune - Eagle; Cheyenne, Wyo. ProQuest   2270028274.
  6. ↑ "Home". Wyoming Capitol Square Project. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  7. 1 2 [Linda Graves Fabian], [StarleyTalbott] (June 4, 2019). "A History of the Wyoming Capitol". WyoHistory.org. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Wyoming Raises Capital to Restore Capitol". GALE GENERAL ONEFILE. November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Wyoming state Capitol dome to undergo repairs". AP English Language News. September 9, 2017. ProQuest   1936914447.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.