Iowa Old Capitol Building facts for kids
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Old Capitol
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Old Capitol, 2008
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Iowa City, Iowa, United States |
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| Built | 1842 |
| Architect | John F. Rague |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Pentacrest (ID78001230) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000475 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 31, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | January 07, 1976 |
The Iowa Old Capitol Building is a very important historical place in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It used to be the main government building for the state of Iowa. Today, it is a famous landmark at the center of the University of Iowa's campus. This building was even shown on a special coin in 1946. It was recognized as a National Historic Place in 1972 and a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1976.
Contents
Iowa's First Capitol Building
The Old Capitol Building was designed by John F. Rague. Some people think a priest named Father Samuel Mazzuchelli also helped with the design. Rague had previously designed the capitol building for Illinois. He started working on the Iowa project in 1839 but left after five months. However, the Iowa Capitol looks a lot like the Illinois one, so his ideas were clearly used.
Building the Capitol
The first stone of the Old Capitol Building was placed on July 4, 1840. Iowa City became the third and final capital city for the Iowa Territory. The government leaders met in this building until December 28, 1846. That's when Iowa officially became the 29th state in the United States.
A Hub for Government
After Iowa became a state, Iowa City was named the state capital. The government continued to meet in the Old Capitol Building. Important things happened here:
- The Iowa constitution was written in this building.
- Iowa's first governor took office here.
- The first six groups of Iowa lawmakers met in the building.
Just 59 days after Iowa became a state, a law was passed in the Old Capitol. This law created Iowa's first public university, which is now known as The University of Iowa.
Moving the Capital
After ten years, the state decided to move the capital city. They chose Des Moines, a city closer to the center of Iowa. The new Iowa State Capitol was built there. When the state government moved to Des Moines in 1857, the Old Capitol Building became the first permanent building owned by the University of Iowa.
A Landmark for the University
From 1857 to 1863, the Old Capitol Building housed almost the entire university. As the school grew, the Old Capitol remained a very important part of the campus. It was used as a library, a chapel, and even an armory. It also had classrooms and offices.
The Old Capitol is located in the middle of an area called the Pentacrest. This area has five buildings arranged in an "X" shape at the heart of the University of Iowa's campus. The other four buildings are Jessup Hall, MacBride Hall, MacLean Hall, and Schaeffer Hall.
Restoring the Building
The state of Iowa paid for a big update of the building in the 1920s. It continued to be used for classrooms and offices until the 1970s. Even the university presidents had their offices there for many years.
By 1970, the building needed another renovation. Instead of turning it into a modern office building, the university decided to restore it. With the help of Margaret Keyes, an educator and conservationist, the university spent six years working on the inside of the building. They made it look like it did when it was a government building in the 1850s. It was also planned to be a state historical museum. The Old Capitol Building reopened to the public on July 3, 1976.
Fire and Rebuilding in 2001
Even though the inside was restored in the 1970s, by the 1990s, the outside and structure of the building needed repairs. The University of Iowa started another round of renovations. Part of this work involved removing asbestos from the building's gold dome.
On November 20, 2001, workers accidentally started a fire while using torches and heat guns on the cupola (the small dome-like structure) that supported the main gold dome. The fire was mostly contained to the cupola because a concrete firewall had been put in during the 1920s renovation. However, the bell at the top was badly damaged, and the dome was destroyed. Thousands of gallons of water used to put out the fire also caused a lot of damage.
In February 2003, a new wooden dome, weighing 12,000 pounds, was placed on top of the Old Capitol Building. This new dome is covered with 233⁄4 carat gold leaf, making it shine. A new bell was installed, and the old damaged bell is now on display inside the building.
The Old Capitol Today
On May 6, 2006, the Old Capitol Building reopened to the public. The ground floor is now a museum. It has exhibits about the history of the building, the university, and the state of Iowa. University meetings and speeches can happen there again. Also, students working on their Ph.D. degrees often present their final projects in the Old Capitol Building's chambers, just like in the past.
The official logo for the University of Iowa even shows a picture of the Old Capitol dome.
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in Iowa
- Iowa State Capitol
Other sources
- Margaret Keyes, "Old Capitol: Portrait of an Iowa Landmark", ISBN: 978-0-87745-210-2
