Arizona State Capitol facts for kids

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Arizona State Capitol Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Front view of the original capitol building (2014)
Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona
Area	2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built	1901; 124 years ago (1901)
Architect	James Riely Gordon
Architectural style	Beaux Arts
NRHP reference No.	74000455
Added to NRHP	October 29, 1974

The Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, is a very important building. It was the last home for Arizona's government when it was still a territory. Arizona became a state in 1912.

At first, all three parts of the new state government worked in this building. These parts are the people who make laws, the people who carry out laws, and the courts. As Arizona grew, these government groups moved to other buildings nearby.

The oldest part of the Capitol, built in 1901, is now the Arizona Capitol Museum. It teaches visitors about Arizona's history and culture. The Arizona State Library, which used to be in a newer part of the building, is now also part of the museum.

The Arizona Capitol Museum
- Special Displays at the Museum
Building History
Cool Architecture
Capitol Complex Future
Gallery
See also

The Arizona Capitol Museum

View of the original capitol building

The Arizona Capitol Museum helps people learn how Arizona changed from a territory to a state. It has many exhibits, events, and programs. The "Arizona Takes Shape" exhibit is great for students. It teaches them about Arizona's history and how its government works.

The museum has more than 20 exhibits. They show modern and old items from Arizona's collections. Some permanent exhibits include:

Items from the USS Arizona battleship.
A special silver service from the USS Arizona.
A timeline of important events that made Arizona a state.
The original offices of the Governor and Secretary of State.
The old Senate and House of Representatives rooms.

Visitors can even sit at the desks in the Historic House Chamber. There is also a room that shows the many changes to the Arizona Constitution over 100 years. The Governor's office on the second floor has items from past Arizona governors. It also displays a flag used by Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders.

Special Displays at the Museum

One amazing display is a huge silver and copper punchbowl set. It came from the USS Arizona battleship. There is also a bronze sculpture that was on the ship. These items survived when the USS Arizona sank. They were being cleaned off the ship before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The punchbowl set is very unique. It has copper panels with desert scenes. These are set into a silver bowl. The bowl is decorated with mermaids, dolphins, and waves.

Another interesting display shows gifts Arizona received from the Merci Train. This train was sent by France to the United States after World War II. France wanted to thank America for sending the Friendship Train. That train carried food and supplies to Europe in 1948. Many French citizens donated items for the Merci Train. One boxcar was sent to each U.S. state. These boxcars were called "Forty and Eight" cars. They were named because they could hold 40 men or 8 horses. Each car had the coats of arms of French regions.

The Capitol building also shows art by the famous Arizona artist Lon Megargee. One of the Merci Train cars can be seen at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale.

Building History

The Capitol building was built to show that the Arizona Territory was ready to become a state. A contest was held to pick the design. James Riely Gordon won the contest. His first plan was for a much bigger building. It would have had a larger dome and big wings for the legislature.

But there wasn't enough money. So, the plan was made smaller. The legislative wings were removed. A small metal top replaced Gordon's fancy dome.

Construction of the Capitol started in 1899. It opened in 1901. A Scottish-born Texan builder named Tom Lovell built it. More parts were added to the west side of the building in 1918 and 1938. These additions matched the original style. They made the building much larger.

The Capitol was home to the Legislature until 1960. That's when the current House and Senate buildings were built. The Governor's Office stayed there until 1974. At that time, the state planned to turn the original Capitol into a museum.

The Arizona Capitol Museum first opened in 1978. In its first year, over 40,000 schoolchildren visited! After some repairs, the building reopened as a museum in 1981. In the 1990s, more than $3 million was spent to fix up the Capitol. Many rooms were made to look like they did originally. Some rooms on the third floor are still not finished because of money problems. The Capitol is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2010, the state sold some of the buildings around the Capitol to private groups. But the old Capitol building was not sold.

Cool Architecture

View from the east at sunset. (2007). The Senate building is on the left and the House building is on the right.

The Capitol building is mostly made from materials found in Arizona. These include a type of rock called malapai, granite, and copper for the dome. The design is perfect for Arizona's desert climate. The thick walls keep the inside cool. Skylights and round "bullseye" windows let heat out of the legislative rooms.

On top of the building is a weather vane. It looks like the famous Winged Victory of Samothrace statue. You can see it through a skylight from inside the rotunda.

Capitol Complex Future

As Arizona's population has grown, the Capitol area has become very busy. The Senate and House buildings, built in 1960, have gotten old. The Senate building often has plumbing problems.

The original Capitol building is now only used as a museum. Over 70,000 people visit it each year. More than 50,000 of these are schoolchildren. Some people have said that the newer Senate and House buildings don't look as nice as the old Capitol.

In 2007, a group looked at the Capitol complex. They said it was barely big enough for the state's needs now. They also said it was not big enough for the future. So, in 2008, ideas were suggested to fix up or rebuild the Capitol area. The main goal has been to keep the 1901 building looking original.

There have been ideas to move some offices back into the Capitol. Also, the House and Senate buildings might be greatly rebuilt or completely replaced. A study by Arizona State University planned a full redesign for the entire Capitol area.

Gallery

Another view of the Arizona State Capitol, built in 1901, which is now the Arizona State Capitol Museum.
The rotunda floor of the Arizona State Capitol Building.
A piece of USS Arizona's superstructure which was salvaged and which is on display at the Arizona State Capitol Museum.
The U.S. flag that flew on the battleship USS Arizona when it sank during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The flag is on display in the first floor of the Arizona State Capitol Museum.
The Arizona Capitol Museum is home to the silver service (silverware) that was donated to USS Arizona by the citizens of Arizona in 1919. This service is composed of 59 distinct pieces on display at the Capitol Museum.
Additional silver service (silverware) that was donated to USS Arizona by the citizens of Arizona in 1919. on display at the Arizona Capitol Museum.
Model of USS Arizona at the Arizona State Capitol Museum.
Inside the historic House Chamber. The Chamber is located on the third floor of the Arizona State Capitol Museum.
A view from the fourth floor of the Arizona State Capitol Museum looking down from the gallery into the original House Chamber.
A view from the fourth floor of the Arizona State Capitol Museum looking down from the gallery into the original Senate chamber.