Delaware Legislative Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Delaware Legislative Hall |
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The Delaware General Assembly meets in the Legislative Hall in Dover, built 1931-1933, with wings added 1965-1970, 1994.
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Location | 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, Delaware, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°09′26″N 75°31′11″W / 39.157307°N 75.519722°W |
| Construction started | 1931 |
| Completed | 1933 |
| Client | State of Delaware |
| Owner | State of Delaware |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | E. William Martin; Norman M. Isham |
The Delaware Legislative Hall is the main building where Delaware's laws are made. It's like the state's headquarters! You can find it in Dover, which is the capital city of Delaware. This building is where the Delaware General Assembly meets. The General Assembly is the group of people who make laws for the state.
The building was designed in a style called Colonial Revival architecture. This style looks like old colonial buildings. It was built between 1931 and 1933. Later, more parts were added in 1965–1970 and again in 1994.
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Designing Delaware's Capitol
The Legislative Hall was built using red bricks and white wooden trim. It was designed in the Colonial Revival style. Two architects, E. William Martin and Norman M. Isham, worked on the plans.
They worked under a special group called the State Buildings and Grounds Commission. This group was created by Governor C. Douglass Buck in 1931. This was during the Great Depression, a tough economic time.
At first, only Isham was chosen for the job. But some people didn't like that he wasn't from Delaware. So, a local architect, E. William Martin, was brought in to help. Isham's ideas can be seen in how the building looks. It shares many details with the Old Colony House in Newport, Rhode Island, which Isham also helped restore.
History of Delaware's State Houses
Delaware has had two main buildings where its government meets. The first was the Old State House. The current one is the Legislative Hall.
The Old State House: Delaware's First Capitol
The very first capitol building for Delaware was called the State House. Today, we know it as the Old State House. It is located on a historic area called The Green in Dover.
This building was first planned by Kent County to be their courthouse. It was built between 1787 and 1791. After it was finished, it also became the State House. Kent County and the state government shared the building for many years. In 1873, Kent County moved its offices. The Old State House was used by the state until the new Legislative Hall was ready.
Today, the Old State House has been carefully fixed up to look like it did in the 1700s. It is now a museum. You can see the old courtroom and where the state lawmakers used to meet. The House chamber has paintings of important Delaware heroes. These include Commodore Jacob Jones and Commodore Thomas Macdonough. They were naval officers who served in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812.
Legislative Hall: The Current Capitol
Legislative Hall is located across from the Old State House. The building was finished and opened in 1933.
Over the years, the building has grown. From 1965 to 1970, new sections were added to the north and south sides. These additions gave each lawmaker an office. Before, they only had a desk in the main meeting rooms. The architect George Fletcher Bennet designed this expansion.
Even more space was needed later! In 1994, two more sections were added to the back of the building. These new parts provided more offices for lawmakers and their helpers. They also added rooms for meetings and discussions. The Architects Studio, a firm from Wilmington, designed this expansion.
After these additions, the inside of Legislative Hall was also updated. This big project happened over three summers: 1995, 1996, and 1997. It included fixing up the House and Senate meeting rooms, the lobby, the cafeteria, and many offices. This renovation was designed by Moeckel Carbonell Associates.
Inside Legislative Hall, you'll find the main meeting rooms for the Delaware House of Representatives and the Delaware Senate. These are the two parts of the General Assembly. The building also has offices for staff who help the lawmakers. Plus, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor have offices there when the General Assembly is meeting.
The building is also home to the Hall of Governors. This hall displays portraits of almost all of Delaware's past governors. You can also see other portraits of important political and military figures.
See also
- Delaware lunar sample displays
- List of state and territorial capitols in the United States
