Iowa State Capitol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Iowa State Capitol
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State Capitol
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Grand Ave. and E. 12th St. Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Area | 17 acres (6.9 ha) |
| Built | 1871–1886 |
| Architect | John C. Cochrane Alfred H. Piquenard |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| MPS | State Capitol TR (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000799 |
| Added to NRHP | October 21, 1976 |
The Iowa State Capitol, also known as the Iowa Statehouse, is a very important building in Des Moines, the capital city of Iowa. It's where the state's government leaders meet and work.
Inside this grand building, you'll find the Iowa Senate and the Iowa House of Representatives. These groups make the laws for Iowa. The offices of the Governor and other important state officials are also here. The building even has a room for the Iowa Supreme Court, though they usually work in a building next door.
The Capitol was built between 1871 and 1886. It's special because it's the only state capitol in the United States with five domes! It sits on a hill, giving amazing views of downtown Des Moines. Around the building, you can see different monuments and memorials, like the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil War Monument.
Contents
History of the Capitol
Building the Statehouse
After Iowa became a U.S. state, leaders decided the capital city should move from Iowa City to a more central location. In 1854, they chose a spot near the Des Moines River. A man named Wilson Alexander Scott generously gave the state the land where the Capitol now stands.
Before the big Capitol building was ready, a smaller brick building was used as a temporary statehouse for 30 years. Sadly, it was later destroyed by fires.
In 1870, the state decided it was time to build a permanent Capitol. They hired architects John C. Cochrane and Alfred H. Piquenard. The first stone, called a cornerstone, was placed on November 23, 1871. However, some of the stone got damaged by water and weather, so a new cornerstone was laid in 1873.
The building project faced challenges, including going over budget. Cochrane left in 1872, and Piquenard continued until he passed away in 1876. Two of his assistants, Mifflin E. Bell and W.F. Hackney, took over. Bell redesigned the main dome to look better with the building. Hackney was the only architect who stayed with the project until it was finished.
The Iowa State Capitol was officially opened on January 17, 1884. The entire building was completed in 1886. The final cost was about $2.87 million, which was a lot of money back then!
Fires and Fixes
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On January 4, 1904, a fire broke out in the Capitol. It happened when the gas lights were being changed to electric lights. The fire damaged areas where the Supreme Court and House of Representatives met. After the fire, the building was repaired and updated with new electrical lighting, elevators, and a telephone system.
For many years, efforts to keep the Capitol looking good focused on the inside. But in 1965, the famous golden dome was re-covered with gold leaf. This was a big step in taking care of the building's outside.
By the early 1980s, the outside stone of the Capitol was starting to crumble. Pieces of sandstone were falling off, so protective covers were put over the entrances. From 1983 to 2001, a huge project costing $41 million was done to restore the Capitol's exterior.
A Place for the World
The Iowa State Capitol is not just where laws are made. It's also like a living museum and a place for important events.
Since 1987, the World Food Prize award ceremony has been held every October in the House of Representatives chamber. This event is a big deal, bringing together over 800 people from more than 75 countries. It's similar to the Nobel Prize. Famous performers like Ray Charles and John Denver have performed there. After the ceremony, a special dinner is held in the Capitol's main rotunda.
Building Design
The Iowa State Capitol has a classic design, common for public buildings in the 1800s. It has a Renaissance style, which means it looks strong and important. The building is about 364 ft (111 m) long from north to south and 247 ft (75 m) wide from east to west.
Outside the Capitol
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The outside of the Capitol is made entirely of stone. It has fancy columns and decorative edges. The foundation uses dark stone from Iowa. The main part of the building is made of light-colored sandstone from quarries along the Mississippi River in Missouri.
Both the front and back entrances have large porches, called porticoes. These are supported by six tall Corinthian columns. Above the front entrance, there's a beautiful sculpture that tells a story.
The most striking part of the Capitol is its tall central dome. It's made of iron and brick and covered with very thin sheets of pure 23-carat gold. This gold layer protects the dome from the weather. The dome was re-gilded (re-covered with gold) in 1964-1965 and again from 1998 to 1999.
The dome has a lookout area at the very top, which you can reach by climbing long, winding stairs. The very tip of the dome is 275 ft (84 m) above the ground floor. For many years, it was the tallest building in Des Moines. The large round hall under the dome is called the rotunda. There are also four smaller domes on each corner of the Capitol.
Inside the Capitol
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When you step inside the Capitol and stand under the main dome, you can really see its beauty. Wide, tall hallways stretch out in different directions. The walls are beautifully decorated. The rooms and offices use many different types of wood from Iowa, like walnut and oak. They also use 29 different kinds of imported and local marble.
The grand marble staircase between the second and third floors is a main feature of the building. On the first floor, you'll find the offices of the Governor and other state officials. The historic Supreme Court Chamber is also on this floor. The grand staircase leads you up to the second floor. Here, the House of Representatives is on one side, and the Senate is on the other. The Law Library, with its four stories of balcony shelves, is also on this floor and is open to the public.
The ground floor of the Capitol has a cafeteria and other offices.
Art and Messages
Around the rotunda, above the columns, you can read a famous quote from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. It says: "This nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
On the east wall, above the staircase, there's a huge painting called Westward. It shows an artistic idea of the pioneers coming to Iowa. The artist, Edwin H. Blashfield, said the painting shows "the Pioneers led by the spirits of Civilization and Enlightenment to the conquest by cultivation of the Great West."
In the center of the rotunda, a very large banner hangs from the ceiling. It's the symbol of the Grand Army of the Republic, a group of Civil War veterans. They used to have a room in the Capitol for many years.
Special Displays
In the Capitol, you can see the battle flags carried by Iowa soldiers in different wars, like the Civil War and World War I. In the west hall, there's a special plaque honoring Iowa women who fought for equal rights. There's also a memorial for Iowans who died in recent conflicts.
Also in the west hall, you can see a model of the battleship USS Iowa. This model is 18 feet 7 inches (5.66 m) long and weighs about 1,350 pounds (610 kg)! It's a perfect small copy of the real ship. The USS Iowa was a very important battleship in the United States Navy. It's now a museum ship in California.
In the south hall, near the Governor's office, there's a collection of porcelain dolls. These dolls represent the 41 Iowa First Ladies. Each doll wears a tiny copy of their inaugural gown. As new First Ladies take office, their dolls will be added to the collection.
See also
In Spanish: Capitolio del Estado de Iowa para niños
- List of state and territorial capitols in the United States
- Iowa Old Capitol Building
