Wyoming State Capitol
Encyclopedia
The Wyoming State Capitol is the state capitol and seat of government of 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 and well as the office of the Governor of Wyoming. It was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark
during 1987.
during 1886 by the Ninth Territorial Legislature Assembly, which specified that the cost should not exceed US$150,000. Governor Francis E. Warren
appointed a five-member commission to select and purchase a site in Cheyenne, as well as to select an architect and solicit for construction. The commission selected the architectural company David W. Gibbs & Company, which submitted plans and specification, which were accepted during July 1886. The construction contract was awarded to Adam Freick & Brothers, which submitted the lowest bid at $136,275.12. Construction began on September 9, 1886. The cornerstone was laid on May 18, 1887. The original cornerstone contained maps and a roster of territorial officers. During the centennial celebration of the capitol during 1987, the cornerstone was removed, the original documents were replaced, and the cornerstone was reset.
The Tenth Territorial Legislative Assembly convened in the building during 1888 while it was still under construction. The east and west wings of the building were completed during April 1890, during the year of the Statehood of Wyoming. The First State Legislature convened in the building during November 1890. As the state grew during the next few decades, the building became increasingly cramped. During 1915, the Thirteenth State Legislative authorized the construction of the House and Senate chambers, which were completed during March 1917.
During 1974 the 42nd State Legislature authorized funds for the first phase of a renovation of the building. The renovation was completed during 1980 at a total cost of $7.6 million. It included stripping and staining all woodwork, painting walls in the original design, replacing wooden floor beams with steel and concrete, as well as modernizing the wiring, heating, plumbing, and air conditioning.
The building was designated a National Historic Landmark
during 1987.
. It is Corinthian
in style with a central dome and portico reminiscent of the United States Capitol
. It has three stories above ground, and one floor below ground. The first two courses of the building are made of sandstone
quarried near Fort Collins, Colorado
. The remainder is sandstone from near Rawlins, Wyoming
. The central dome is covered with 24 carat
(100%) gold leaf
and has been gilded six times, between 1900 and 1988. It is 146 ft (43 m) high and 50 ft (15 m) wide at its base, and is visible from roads entering the city.
The interior of the building features a ground-floor rotunda
from which the interior of the central dome is directly visible overhead. The dome interior features blue and green stained glass
from England
. Since normal sunlight cannot penetrate the glass, electrical
lights were installed within the dome to illuminate the glass from behind. The offices of four of Wyoming's five elected officials— Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, and Treasurer— have their offices on the ground floor surrounding the rotunda.
The wood in the rotunda is cherry. The rotunda also features a prominent statue of Chief Washakie
of the Shoshoni. The wings of the ground floor contain several large taxidermy
specimens, including a mounted bison
which was raised with the state herd in Hot Springs State Park
near Thermopolis
. The bison weighed approximately 3,000 lb (1350 kg) while living, and is the third largest bison recorded in the Boone and Crocket Book of Records.
The Senate chamber is 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 mural
s by Allen True, who painted them during August 1917 for a cost of $500 each. The murals depicting 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 Tiffany
-style stained glass, with the Wyoming State Seal displayed in the center. Both chambers are accessible to visitors by balconies on the third floor. The House chamber also includes two oil paintings by William Gollings. The wood in both chambers is oak
.
The exterior approach to the front steps of the capitol features a prominent statue of Esther Hobart Morris
, who had a significant role in gaining women's suffrage
in the Wyoming Territory. The statue is by sculptor Avard Fairbanks
. The Act to grant women the right to vote was passed by the First Territorial Assembly and signed by Governor J.A. Campbell
on December 10, 1869. Wyoming was thus first government in the world to grant women the right to vote. Morris was also appointed as the first female Justice of the Peace
in the territory during 1870. A replica of the Morris statue is in the National Statuary Hall
in the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. Built between 1886 and 1890, the capitol is located in Cheyenne
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
and contains the chambers of the Wyoming State Legislature and well as the office of the Governor of Wyoming. It was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
during 1987.
History
The construction of the capitol began prior to Wyoming gaining statehood. The project was authorized in Wyoming TerritoryWyoming Territory
The Territory of Wyoming was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 25, 1868, until July 10, 1890, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Wyoming. Cheyenne was the territorial capital...
during 1886 by the Ninth Territorial Legislature Assembly, which specified that the cost should not exceed US$150,000. Governor Francis E. Warren
Francis E. Warren
Francis Emroy Warren was an American politician of the Republican Party best known for his years in the United States Senate representing Wyoming.-Early life and military service:...
appointed a five-member commission to select and purchase a site in Cheyenne, as well as to select an architect and solicit for construction. The commission selected the architectural company David W. Gibbs & Company, which submitted plans and specification, which were accepted during July 1886. The construction contract was awarded to Adam Freick & Brothers, which submitted the lowest bid at $136,275.12. Construction began on September 9, 1886. The cornerstone was laid on May 18, 1887. The original cornerstone contained maps and a roster of territorial officers. During the centennial celebration of the capitol during 1987, the cornerstone was removed, the original documents were replaced, and the cornerstone was reset.
During 1974 the 42nd State Legislature authorized funds for the first phase of a renovation of the building. The renovation was completed during 1980 at a total cost of $7.6 million. It included stripping and staining all woodwork, painting walls in the original design, replacing wooden floor beams with steel and concrete, as well as modernizing the wiring, heating, plumbing, and air conditioning.
The building was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
during 1987.
Description
The capitol is located north of downtown CheyenneCheyenne
Cheyenne are a Native American people of the Great Plains, who are of the Algonquian language family. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two united tribes, the Só'taeo'o and the Tsétsêhéstâhese .The Cheyenne are thought to have branched off other tribes of Algonquian stock inhabiting lands...
. It is Corinthian
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
in style with a central dome and portico reminiscent of the United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
. It has three stories above ground, and one floor below ground. The first two courses of the building are made of sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
quarried near Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
. The remainder is sandstone from near Rawlins, Wyoming
Rawlins, Wyoming
Rawlins is a city in Carbon County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 8,538 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carbon County...
. The central dome is covered with 24 carat
Carat (purity)
The karat or carat is a unit of purity for gold alloys.- Measure :Karat purity is measured as 24 times the purity by mass:where...
(100%) gold leaf
Gold leaf
right|thumb|250px|[[Burnishing]] gold leaf with an [[agate]] stone tool, during the water gilding processGold leaf is gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades...
and has been gilded six times, between 1900 and 1988. It is 146 ft (43 m) high and 50 ft (15 m) wide at its base, and is visible from roads entering the city.
Rotunda (architecture)
A rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, sometimes covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome...
from which the interior of the central dome is directly visible overhead. The dome interior features blue and green stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Since normal sunlight cannot penetrate the glass, electrical
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
lights were installed within the dome to illuminate the glass from behind. The offices of four of Wyoming's five elected officials— Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, and Treasurer— have their offices on the ground floor surrounding the rotunda.
Washakie
Chief Washakie was a renowned warrior first mentioned in 1840 in the written record of the American fur trapper, Osborne Russell. In 1851, at the urging of trapper Jim Bridger, Washakie led a band of Shoshones to the council meetings of the Treaty of Fort Laramie...
of the Shoshoni. The wings of the ground floor contain several large taxidermy
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
specimens, including a mounted bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
which was raised with the state herd in Hot Springs State Park
Hot Springs State Park
Hot Springs State Park is a park in Thermopolis, Wyoming famous for its hot springs. It was Wyoming's first state park.The park includes a number of businesses:*Wyoming Pioneer Home, a state-run assisted-living facility*Gottsche Rehabilitation Center...
near Thermopolis
Thermopolis, Wyoming
Thermopolis is the largest town in, and the county seat of Hot Springs County, Wyoming, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 3,172....
. The bison weighed approximately 3,000 lb (1350 kg) while living, and is the third largest bison recorded in the Boone and Crocket Book of Records.
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s by Allen True, who painted them during August 1917 for a cost of $500 each. The murals depicting various aspects of the culture, history, and industry of Wyoming. The murals in the Senate chamber are entitled "Indian Chief Cheyenne
Cheyenne
Cheyenne are a Native American people of the Great Plains, who are of the Algonquian language family. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two united tribes, the Só'taeo'o and the Tsétsêhéstâhese .The Cheyenne are thought to have branched off other tribes of Algonquian stock inhabiting lands...
", "Frontier Cavalry Officer", "Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
Rider", and "Railroad Builders/Surveyors". The House murals are entitled "Cattlemen", "Trappers", "Homesteaders", and "Stagecoach". The ceilings of both chambers are inlaid with Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
-style stained glass, with the Wyoming State Seal displayed in the center. Both chambers are accessible to visitors by balconies on the third floor. The House chamber also includes two oil paintings by William Gollings. The wood in both chambers is oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
.
The exterior approach to the front steps of the capitol features a prominent statue of Esther Hobart Morris
Esther Hobart Morris
Esther Hobart Morris , a Tioga County, New York native, distinguished herself as the first female Justice of the Peace in the United States. A mother of three boys, she began her tenure as justice in South Pass City, Wyoming, on February 14, 1870, and served a term of less than nine months...
, who had a significant role in gaining women's suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
in the Wyoming Territory. The statue is by sculptor Avard Fairbanks
Avard Fairbanks
Avard Tennyson Fairbanks was a prolific 20th century American sculptor. Three of his sculptures are in the United States Capitol, and the state capitols in both Utah and Wyoming, as well as numerous other locations, also have his works...
. The Act to grant women the right to vote was passed by the First Territorial Assembly and signed by Governor J.A. Campbell
J.A. Campbell
J.A. Campbell can refer to:* John Argentine Campbell, Scottish rugby player* James Campbell...
on December 10, 1869. Wyoming was thus first government in the world to grant women the right to vote. Morris was also appointed as the first female Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in the territory during 1870. A replica of the Morris statue is in the National Statuary Hall
National Statuary Hall
National Statuary Hall is a chamber in the United States Capitol devoted to sculptures of prominent Americans. The hall, also known as the Old Hall of the House, is a large, two-story, semicircular room with a second story gallery along the curved perimeter. It is located immediately south of the...
in the U.S. Capitol.
Visitors
The capitol is open to the public during business hours during the week. The front desk in the rotunda provides informational pamphlets. Tours are available.External links
- Wyoming State Capitol: Official Site 0.
- Wyoming State Capitol Building and Grounds National Historic Landmark at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office