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 | 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 famous landmark in Iowa City, Iowa. It's located in the state of Iowa, in the United States. This building was once the main government center for Iowa. Today, it stands proudly at the heart of the University of Iowa campus.
The Old Capitol is very important historically. It was featured on a special coin in 1946. It was also recognized as a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1976. This means it's a place with great national importance.
Contents
A Home for Government
The Old Capitol Building was designed by John F. Rague. Some people also believe that a priest named Father Samuel Mazzuchelli helped with the design. Rague had previously designed the capitol building for Illinois. He started working on Iowa's capitol in 1839.
The cornerstone of the Old Capitol was placed in Iowa City on July 4, 1840. Iowa City was the third and final capital city for the Iowa Territory. The government met here until December 28, 1846. That's when Iowa officially became the 29th state in the United States.
After Iowa became a state, Iowa City was named the state capital. The government continued to meet in the Old Capitol Building. Important decisions were made here. For example, the Iowa constitution was written in this building. Iowa's first governor also took office here. The first six groups of lawmakers for Iowa met in this 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. It was called the State University of Iowa, and today it's known as The University of Iowa.
After ten years, the state decided to move the capital. They wanted a city closer to the center of Iowa. So, the government moved to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1857. The Old Capitol Building then became the first permanent building owned by the University of Iowa.
A Campus Landmark and Its First Big Fix
From 1857 to 1863, the Old Capitol Building housed almost the entire university. As the school grew, the Old Capitol remained very important. It was used as a library, a chapel, and even a place to store weapons. It also had classrooms and offices.
The Old Capitol is in the middle of an area called the Pentacrest. This is a group of five buildings arranged in an X shape at the center of the University of Iowa campus. The other four buildings are Jessup Hall, MacBride Hall, MacLean Hall, and Schaeffer Hall.
In the 1920s, the state of Iowa approved a major update for the building. It continued to be used for classes and offices until the 1970s. University presidents even had their offices there for many years.
By 1970, the building needed another big repair. But the university decided not to turn it into a modern office building. Instead, they moved the offices out. With the help of Margaret Keyes, a leader in education and history, the university began a six-year project. They worked to restore most of the inside of the building. They wanted it to look like it did when it was a government building in the 1850s. It was also planned to be a state history museum.
The Old Capitol Building was declared a National Historic Landmark on January 7, 1976. It reopened to the public on July 4, 1976, which was America's 200th birthday!
The 2001 Fire and Rebuilding
The repairs in the 1970s made the inside look new again. But by the 1990s, the outside and structure of the building needed work. The University of Iowa started another round of repairs. Part of this work involved removing asbestos from the gold dome.
On November 20, 2001, something unexpected happened. Workers were using torches and heat guns on the part of the building that supports the gold dome. They accidentally set it on fire. Luckily, a concrete wall, called a firewall, had been put in during the 1920s repairs. This firewall stopped the fire from spreading to the rest of the building.
However, the bell at the top of the Old Capitol was badly damaged. The dome was destroyed. Also, tens of thousands of gallons of water were used to put out the fire, which caused a lot of damage inside.
In February 2003, a new wooden dome was placed on top of the Old Capitol Building. This new dome weighs 12,000 pounds! It is covered with 233⁄4 carat gold leaf, which makes 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, just like in the past, students working on their Ph.D. degrees often present their final projects in the Old Capitol Building's historic rooms.
The Old Capitol dome is so important that it's even part of the official logo for the University of Iowa.
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
