Florida State Capitol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Florida State Capitol
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Florida Capitol buildings (Old Capitol in foreground)
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| Location | 400 S Monroe St, Tallahassee, Florida |
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| Area | 160000 |
| Built | 1845 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000584 |
| Added to NRHP | 1973 |
The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is a very important building. It is where Florida's government works. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its history and design. You can find it in downtown Tallahassee, where Apalachee Parkway meets South Monroe Street.
The Historic Capitol, also known as "The Old Capitol," was built in 1845. In the late 1970s, when the new capitol building was being built, there were plans to tear it down. Luckily, it was saved and restored in 1982 to look like it did in 1902. The Historic Capitol is now right behind the new Capitol building.
Inside the restored Old Capitol, you can see the Governor's Suite, the Supreme Court, and the old rooms for the House of Representatives and Senate. It also has a museum called the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. This museum shows the state's political history. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter recognized the Historic Capitol Building's restoration as one of Florida's top architectural achievements.
The New Capitol Tower holds offices for the executive branch (like the Governor) and the legislative branch (lawmakers). It also has the meeting rooms for the Florida Legislature, which includes the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives.
The Florida Department of Management Services takes care of the Capitol Complex. It is open to the public from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on state holidays.
Contents
What Are the Capitol Buildings Called?
The buildings are often called the Old Capitol and the New Capitol. The Old Capitol is also known as the Historic Capitol or the Florida State Capitol. Before the New Capitol was built in 1977, the Old Capitol was the official state capitol. Even after the new one opened, the National Park Service still called the old one the Florida State Capitol. Today, its official name is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol building itself does not have an official legal name. When it was planned, the entire area, called the Capitol Complex, was meant to include the House and Senate chambers and the tall office building.
A Look Back: History of the Capitol
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Tallahassee became Florida's capital city in 1824. It was chosen because it was halfway between the two largest cities at the time, St. Augustine and Pensacola. The first government meetings were held in a simple log building. A capitol building was started in 1826 but was never fully finished. It was torn down in 1839 to make way for the building we now call the Old Capitol. This building was completed in 1845, just before Florida became the 27th state in the United States.
Over the years, the Historic Capitol had several additions. In 1902, Frank Pierce Milburn added the classical dome. In 1923, Henry Klutho added two new wings and a marble interior. Later, in 1936 and 1947, large wings were added for the House and Senate chambers.
The 1902 Capitol building was the last time all of Florida's government business was in one building. Ten years later, the Florida Supreme Court moved into its own building. This new court building was just west of the Capitol Complex.
Why a New Capitol Was Built
In the 1960s, Florida's government went through big changes. This led to the Constitution of 1968. There was a lot of talk about moving Florida's capital city. Tallahassee was convenient for people in North Florida, but not for the growing populations in central and south Florida.
Voters in Florida were asked to decide where the capital should be. Other cities like Ocala, Orlando, and Jacksonville were considered. In the end, the voters decided that the capital would stay in Tallahassee.
Saving the Old Capitol
The architects who designed the New Capitol thought the Old Capitol would be torn down. So, the new building's design did not match the old one. The area around the new building was also planned as if the Old Capitol would not be there. The movement to save the Old Capitol started after the New Capitol was finished. It was almost too late to change the plans for the new building or its surroundings.
The Historic Capitol was saved thanks to citizens who took action. Secretary of State Bruce Smathers and his then-wife Nancy McDowell led these efforts. Their hard work paid off, and the building was restored to how it looked in 1902. The later House and Senate chambers were removed. The restoration included the beautiful art glass dome, red and white striped awnings, and a design of the Florida State Seal above the entrance columns.
In 2011, the Florida Department of Management Services began restoring the Historic Capitol's cupola (the small dome on top). This included new copper roofing. In April 2012, Tallahassee's famous landmark showed off its newly restored dome.
The New Capitol Building
Design and Layout
The design for the current Capitol Complex was a team effort. It was created by the architectural firms of Edward Durell Stone & Associates from New York City and Reynolds, Smith & Hills from Jacksonville. The Capitol is made of concrete and has a modern design. It uses metal louvers to shade the windows. This design was meant to show Florida's modern growth.
The Capitol is often called a twenty-two-story building. It stands about 345 feet (105 meters) tall. However, if you count the three underground floors, it actually has 25 stories. The Governor and other Cabinet members have their offices on the Plaza Level. Floors two through four of the main building are used for the Senate and House of Representatives chambers. These floors also have offices for legislative leaders and committees.
The main meeting rooms for the lawmakers are on the fourth floor. Visitors can watch these meetings from public viewing galleries on the fifth floor. The floors between the observation deck and the first five floors are used for executive and legislative offices. There is a cafeteria on a lower level and a snack bar on the tenth floor. The Florida Welcome Center is just inside the west Plaza Level entrance. The Welcome Center offers guided tours for groups and self-guided tours during business hours.
The Senate office building and the House office building are each four stories tall. They are located on either side of the Capitol Complex. Bridges on the second and third floors connect these office buildings to the main Capitol building. These buildings mostly contain committee meeting rooms and offices for lawmakers. The Knott Building, to the south, was connected to the Capitol by a skywalk in 1999. The west side of the Capitol is known as Waller Park. In 2003, a dolphin statue called "Stormsong" was added to Waller Park's Florida Heritage Fountain.
Interesting Places to See
Capitol Grounds
On the northeast corner of the Capitol Complex, you can find the Florida Sri Chinmoy Peace State Marker. East of the House Office Building, there is a replica of the Liberty Bell. This replica was a gift to Florida's citizens in 1950. Inside the Capitol Courtyard, there is a memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., dedicated in 1984. South of the King Memorial is The Florida Fraternal Order of Police Law Enforcement Memorial, dedicated in 2000. This memorial lists the names of law enforcement officers who died while on duty. Outside the Senate Office Building, there is a monument for Floridians who have received the Purple Heart medal.
On the lawn of the Old Capitol, there are two marble obelisks. The northern one is the Leon County Civil War Memorial. It honors Floridian Confederate soldiers who fought in the U.S. Civil War.
The Florida Department of Management Services takes care of the Capitol Complex grounds.
Inside the Capitol
The Plaza Level has many interesting things to see, besides the offices of the Governor and the Cabinet. In the Rotunda, there is a bronze copy of the State Seal on marble. This is an older version of the seal. It is surrounded by five smaller seals. These represent the nations and kingdoms that once ruled parts of Florida: France, Spain, Great Britain, the Confederate States of America, and the United States. North of the Rotunda, you'll find the Florida Women's Hall of Fame and the Fallen Firefighters Wall of Honor. To the south are the Florida Artists Hall of Fame and a memorial for Florida's Medal of Honor recipients.
Southwest of the Rotunda is the Heritage Chapel, a quiet space for reflection. Across from the Chapel, there is a plaque. It says: "This plaque is dedicated to Senator Lee Weissenborn whose valiant effort to move the Capitol to Orlando was the prime motivation for the construction of this building." The Florida Welcome Center is on the west Plaza Level. It features "Images of the Sunshine State" murals by Florida artist James Rosenquist. The Welcome Center offers maps, brochures, and a self-guided tour pamphlet.
The public viewing galleries for the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate are on the fifth floor. Murals by Christopher Still showing Florida's history surround the House chamber floor. Outside the Senate galleries, there is the Five Flags Mural by Renee Faure. This mural shows people from Florida's history.
The Observation Deck is on the top, or twenty-second, floor of the Capitol building. It is about 307 feet (94 meters) above the Plaza Level. It is about 512 feet (156 meters) above sea level. In the east wing, there is an art gallery with changing displays of artwork by Florida artists. There are also bronze plaques honoring inductees into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. The southern side has the Freedom Shrine.
Florida Legislative Research Center & Museum
The Capitol is also home to the Florida Legislative Research Center & Museum. This museum has exhibits about Florida's legislative history. Its collection includes art, old photographs, documents, and recorded stories. The Gallery at the Historic Capitol often features changing photo exhibits from the museum.
See also
In Spanish: Capitolio del Estado de Florida para niños
- List of Florida state legislatures
- Florida Democratic Party
- Marshall Ledbetter
- Republican Party of Florida
- List of state and territorial capitols in the United States
