North Dakota State Capitol facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids North Dakota State Capitol
View from south in 2022
Record height
Tallest in North Dakota since 1934
General information
Architectural style	Art Deco
Location	600 East Boulevard Avenue Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
Coordinates	46°49′15″N 100°46′57″W / 46.8208°N 100.7824°W / 46.8208; -100.7824
Groundbreaking	August 13, 1932
Completed	1934; 91 years ago (1934)
Cost	$50 million
Height
Tip	241 ft 8 in (73.66 m)
Roof	closed
Observatory	18th floor
Technical details
Floor count	18
Design and construction
Architect	Joseph Bell DeRemer William F. Kurke

The North Dakota State Capitol is the main government building for the U.S. state of North Dakota. It is located in Bismarck at 600 East Boulevard Avenue. This tall, 21-story building is designed in the Art Deco style. It is the tallest building in North Dakota.

The Capitol sits on a large campus that is about 160 acres (0.65 square kilometers) big. Many other government buildings are also on these grounds. The Capitol building and its surrounding offices are where the state's lawmakers (legislative branch) and judges (judicial branch) work. Many other government offices are also located here.

The State Capitol grounds are surrounded by other state government buildings. The parks, walking trails, and monuments on the grounds share a lot about North Dakota's history. This makes the Capitol a popular place for visitors. Six main buildings are on the grounds. They were built as the government grew over time. Some state offices are in other parts of Bismarck, not just on the Capitol campus.

History of the Capitol Building

The first capitol building was built between 1883 and 1884. It was home to the government when North Dakota was still a territory. After North Dakota became a state, two more parts were added. These were the Senate wing in 1894 and the House wing around 1903.

On December 28, 1930, smoke was seen coming from the original building. Firefighters arrived quickly, but it was too late to save the structure. The fire spread through the upper floors. People tried to save important items before everyone had to leave. It was thought the fire started from oily rags in a janitor's closet on the top floor. Workers had been cleaning and varnishing desks for the upcoming legislative session.

North Dakota Secretary of State Robert Byrne saved the original copy of the state's constitution. He got cuts and burns on his hands while breaking a window to reach it. Another state employee, Jennie Ulsrud, burned her hands trying to save records. Governor George F. Shafer returned from a trip while the fire was still burning. He quickly gathered state leaders to plan how to deal with the lost records and workspaces.

After the fire, 40 state prison inmates helped to rescue items from the burned building. Many vaults were found to be safe inside. The Legislature met in other buildings in Bismarck for a while. State offices were spread out across the city. The lower floors of the old building's 1903 wing were even fixed up and used again.

The fire meant a new building had to be built during the Great Depression. This was a time in the 1930s when many people were out of work and money was scarce. The new tower and wing were built between 1931 and 1934. It cost $2 million. Governor George F. Shafer started the building project on August 13, 1932. Workers were paid only 30 cents an hour. After several worker strikes, the Capitol grounds were put under military control in June 1933. The state sold half of the original Capitol land to help pay for the new building. Artist Edgar Miller created many of the interior designs and sculptures. These sculptures show the history of North Dakota.

The new 19-story Capitol was expected to have plenty of space for many years. However, it quickly filled up as the state government grew. Other buildings were added to the campus over time. The Liberty Memorial Building, finished in 1924, housed some workers. More space was needed by 1955, so the State Office Building was started. This building first housed Bismarck Junior College. The Legislature bought it in 1959.

The 1960s saw many new buildings on the grounds. In 1960, a new governor's residence was built. In 1980, the State Historical Society of North Dakota moved into the new North Dakota Heritage Center. In 1968, the North Dakota Department of Transportation moved into its own building. The Transportation Building is the last one built on the campus so far. A Judicial Wing was added to the Capitol tower between 1977 and 1981. Even though the government needs more space now, the state's population has actually gone down since the 1930s.

Capitol Campus Layout

The North Dakota State Capitol grounds have six main buildings. These are the Capitol building, the Department of Transportation Building, the North Dakota Heritage Center, the Liberty Memorial Building, the governor's residence, and the State Office Building.

The campus also has Myron Atkinson Park and Capitol Park. Running through the middle of the grounds is the Capitol Mall. This is a large open field of grass with walking paths lined by American Elm trees. In 2007, the Mall was the site of a world record for snow angels. A picture was taken from the top of the Capitol tower of 8,962 people making snow angels.

Buildings on the Campus

The State Capitol Building

The Capitol building is 241.67 feet (73.66 meters) tall and has 21 stories. It was designed by North Dakota architects Joseph Bell DeRemer and William F. Kurke, along with the Chicago firm of Holabird and Root. It is the tallest building in North Dakota and is known as the Skyscraper on the Prairie.

This tall tower holds the office of the governor and many state agencies. At the bottom of the tower, in the west wing, the two parts of the legislature meet to make laws. The state supreme court meets in the east wing. The 18th floor of the Capitol has an observation deck. This is the highest viewing spot in the state.

On the south side of the Capitol, there is a drive-through tunnel that leads to an entrance. This tunnel was open to public cars until 2001. It was closed for security reasons after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Now, only people walking can use the tunnel. In 1988, U.S. President George H. W. Bush dedicated an American Elm tree near the Capitol steps. This was to celebrate the state's 100th birthday in 1989.

The many windows on the Capitol tower are used for special traditions. During the Christmas season, red and green shades are pulled over the windows. Lights are turned on in certain offices to create a pattern that looks like a Christmas tree. For New Year's Eve, office lights are turned on to spell out the new year. The first two numbers are on the top half, and the last two numbers are on the bottom. This tradition started in the 1970s and is now done on all four sides of the building. The Christmas tree tradition began as early as the 1940s.

You can take tours of the Capitol building on weekdays. Weekend tours are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Tours include visits to the legislative and judicial wings. They also include an elevator ride to the top of the tower.

Judicial Wing

The judicial wing is where the state supreme court and its staff work. It also has offices for state agencies like the Department of Health. The design for this part of the building started in May 1977. Construction began in April 1979 and was finished by 1981. The Judicial Wing is about 168,400 square feet (15,645 square meters) in size. It cost $10.5 million to build. The dedication ceremony was held on November 15, 1981.

The wing also includes the Capitol lunchroom. It serves food to state employees and the public on weekdays. Before the 2017 Legislative Assembly, two new committee rooms were added in the Judicial Wing. These rooms are used by legislative committees when the Assembly is meeting. They are used by the Judicial branch when the Legislature is not meeting.

Liberty Memorial Building

The Liberty Memorial Building is home to the State Library. It also has offices for the North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department. The state's legislature approved building this in 1919 because more government offices were needed. It was finished by 1924 and cost $350,000.

This building first housed the State Historical Society Museum, the Adjutant General, the State Library Commission, and the supreme court. Later, the State Library took it over. It is the oldest building still on the Capitol grounds. It was updated in 1982 to meet modern building rules.

Department of Transportation Building

The North Dakota Department of Transportation Building is the main office for the state's transportation department. It also has small parts of other agencies. The building was finished in 1968. Its materials match the look of the older buildings. Before this building, the Department of Transportation (then called the State Highway Department) used several buildings on campus, including the State Office Building and the Capitol.

The building has about 125,000 square feet (11,613 square meters) of space. It is just east of the Capitol tower. While it looks separate above ground, it is connected to the Judicial Wing by a tunnel. This tunnel is only for state employees.

North Dakota Heritage Center

The North Dakota Heritage Center building houses the Heritage Center museum. This museum stores and shows items from all over the state. The building also has offices for the North Dakota State Historical Society, which runs the museum. Planning for the building started in 1963. When it was finished in 1981, the State Historical Society moved from the Liberty Memorial Building into its new home. The building has about 130,000 square feet (12,077 square meters) of space. It offers exhibit areas, storage, meeting rooms, and offices.

In 2006, state officials announced a big plan to make the center much larger. The construction cost about $50 million. It almost doubled the size of the complex. Three new large galleries were added to the east. A new main entrance facing State Street was also built. The expansion added about 125,000 square feet (11,613 square meters) to the original 140,000 square feet (13,006 square meters). Money for the project came from private donations, federal funds, and state funds.

Besides new galleries, the expansion includes a 50-seat digital auditorium. It also has climate-controlled storage, a café, a children's gallery, and an expanded gift shop. The Corridor of History is a 25-foot (7.6 meter) wide walkway. It runs the length of the expansion with glass on one side and digital murals on the other.

State Office Building

The State Office Building is on the southeast corner of the campus. It holds the Water Commission. It also has parts of the office of the Attorney General. These include the Civil Litigation Division and the Natural Resources and Indian Affairs attorneys.

Built in 1955, this building first housed the Bismarck Junior College. In 1961, the legislature approved buying it. Since then, it has been home to various state agencies. From 1991 to 1993, the building was greatly renovated. Its outside was changed to match the other buildings on the campus better. At about 28,838 square feet (2,679 square meters), it is the smallest office building on the campus.

North Dakota Governor's Residence

Before 1960, North Dakota's First Family lived in a house away from the Capitol grounds. In 1960, the state built a new residence near 4th Street on the west side of the campus. This replaced the old, worn-out residence. After a big renovation in 2000, the residence had over 10,000 square feet (929 square meters) of space and eighteen rooms.

In 2015, the legislature approved a new residence next to the old one. This new home would be safer and easier to access. The state offered the old house to anyone who would move it, but no one did. So, it was torn down. The new residence was expected to cost $5 million. $1 million of this was to be raised by private donations. The governor's family moved into the new residence in March 2018.

Outdoor Areas and Trails

Parks on Campus

Two parks are on the Capitol grounds: Myron Atkinson Park and Capitol Park. Myron Atkinson Park is named after a Bismarck attorney. It is east of State Street. People can get to it through a tunnel. Capitol Park is on the northwest corner of the grounds. It has a playground with trees and shrubs planted by the Farwest Rotary Club.

Arboretum Trail

The Arboretum Trail is a walking path that goes through a wooded area on the west side of the grounds. Walkers can see 60-million-year-old petrified tree stumps from the Amidon, North Dakota, area. There are also 75 different kinds of trees and shrubs. Each plant is labeled with a small sign. Various statues and memorials are also along the trail.

The trail was created in 1985 to celebrate the state's 100th birthday. It also gave state employees and the public a place to exercise and learn about trees and the history of the buildings. Many schools bring students to the trail for nature walks. Students used to collect leaves from the trees. This damaged some trees, so signs were put up to ask people not to pick leaves.

Prairie Trail

The Prairie Trail runs north of the Capitol's Judicial Wing. It takes walkers into an area filled with examples of grasses and wild flowers. These plants are typical of North Dakota's native prairie. In 2006, the trail was made longer. It now takes walkers from the corner of State Street and Divide Avenue south into the main grounds. The original trail was dedicated with a plaque in 1987. The wild grassland around the trail was named a state Natural Area by the Parks and Recreation Department.

Statues and Other Features

Statues

Several statues are on the grounds. They include statues of Sakakawea (1910), a pioneer family (1946), John Burke (1963), buffalo (1986), pioneers of the future (1989), and Cortes the horse (1994).

Memorials

The grounds have memorials to North Dakota soldiers who died in the state's first century. There are also memorials for police officers who died while on duty and for Purple Heart recipients. The "French Gratitude Box Car," which carried troops in both world wars, is also on the grounds. You can also see the front part of the USS North Dakota battleship.

Fossils

Sixty-million-year-old fossilized Metasequoia trees from Amidon, North Dakota were placed on the grounds in 1988.

Images for kids

The territorial capitol as designed by the Minneapolis architectural firm of Caulkins and Telford in 1883
The First State Capitol building - 1903 wing
Judicial Wing
Liberty Memorial Building
The Department of Transportation Building
The previous Governor's Residence
Sakakawea statue by Leonard Crunelleon, North Dakota State Capital grounds