Alaska State Capitol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alaska State Capitol |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Architecture |
| Location | Juneau, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 58°18′7.9″N 134°24′37.7″W / 58.302194°N 134.410472°W |
| Construction started | September 18, 1929 |
| Completed | February 2, 1931 |
| Inaugurated | February 14, 1931 |
The Alaska State Capitol is a very important building in Juneau. It's where the Alaska Legislature meets to make laws for the state. It's also where the Governor of Alaska and Lieutenant Governor of Alaska have their offices. This building opened on February 14, 1931. It started as a federal building. When Alaska became a state, it became the home of the state government.
Contents
History of the Capitol Building
When the United States bought Alaska from Russia in 1867, Sitka, Alaska was the capital. Later, the capital moved to Juneau. Before the capitol building was built, the lawmakers met in rented rooms around the city.
Building the Capitol
The United States Congress helped pay for the capitol building. But they did not give enough money. So, people in Juneau raised the rest of the money to buy the land. They then gave the land to the government. Construction started on September 18, 1929. The building was finished on February 2, 1931.
It was first called the Federal and Territorial Building. It officially opened on February 14, 1931. This building housed federal services until 1959. That's when the Alaska Statehood Act made Alaska a state. After that, the building became the official home for Alaska's state government.
Attempts to Move the Capitol
Over the years, some people have tried to move the capitol building to a different city. These ideas started as early as 1960. A plan to move the government to the Cook Inlet area did not pass. The most recent attempt to move the capitol was in 2002.
Architecture and Inside the Capitol
The Alaska State Capitol is six stories tall. It is built from brick and strong reinforced concrete. The first two floors have a front made of Indiana limestone. The entrance has four large columns. These columns are made of Tokeen marble from Prince of Wales Island. This marble is also used for decorations inside.
Unlike many state capitols, it does not have a large dome. It looks more like a regular office building. It is one of only eleven state capitols without a dome.
Outside the Building
Outside the capitol, you can see a copy of the famous Liberty Bell. The federal government gave these copies to all states and territories in 1950. This was done to help people buy savings bonds.
Inside the Building
The main lobby has two clay murals. They are called Harvest of the Land and Harvest of the Sea. These murals show scenes of hunting and fishing. There is also a statue of Alaska Native activist Elizabeth Peratrovich. The ground and first floors have offices and meeting rooms for lawmakers.
The second floor holds the main meeting rooms. These are for the Alaska Senate and Alaska House of Representatives. You can also find more committee rooms here. The walls show old photos by Juneau photographers Lloyd Winter and Percy Pond. There are also statues of Alaska's first two U.S. Senators, Bob Bartlett and Ernest Gruening.
The offices for the Alaska Governor and Lieutenant Governor are on the third floor. Their office doors are made of black birch wood. They have special hand carvings that show Alaskan industries. This floor also has the "Hall of Governors." Here, you can see pictures of all the governors and lieutenant governors of Alaska.
More offices for lawmakers and committee rooms are on the fourth floor. The fifth floor is where legislative finance committees meet.
Many parts of the building have been made to look like they did in the 1930s. This is especially true on the second and fifth floors. The fifth floor used to have federal courtrooms.
In 2012, Alaska started a big project. They spent $33 million over four years. This project made the building stronger against earthquakes. It also helped restore the building to its original look.
See also
In Spanish: Capitolio del Estado de Alaska para niños
