Oklahoma State Capitol Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Oklahoma State Capitol
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Front of the capitol
Location in Oklahoma Show map of Oklahoma Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	22nd St. and Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Area	5 acres (2.0 ha)
Built	1917 (1917)
Architect	Solomon Andrew Layton
Architectural style	Renaissance Revival, Neoclassical
NRHP reference No.	76001572
Added to NRHP	October 8, 1976

The Oklahoma State Capitol is where the government of Oklahoma works. It's the main building for the state's lawmakers and leaders. You can find it in Oklahoma City, and it's a really big building! The building has a large dome that was finished in 2002.

Oklahoma's first capital city was Guthrie, Oklahoma. But in 1910, the capital moved to Oklahoma City. Building the Oklahoma State Capitol started in 1914 and was finished in 1917. At first, it also housed the state's courts. However, most courts moved to a new building in 2011. Only the Supreme Court Hearing Chamber stayed in the Capitol.

Did you know the Oklahoma State Capitol grounds are special? They are the only state capitol grounds in the United States with active oil rigs!

History of the Oklahoma Capitol Building
Outside and Capitol Area
Inside the Capitol Building
- Art in the Capitol
- The "Ring of Honor"
Gallery
Images for kids
See also

History of the Oklahoma Capitol Building

Early Capital in Guthrie (1889–1900)

Oklahoma's first capital was in Guthrie. This city started on April 22, 1889. That's when cannons fired to begin the Oklahoma land run. Guthrie became the official capital in 1890.

Entrance to Oklahoma State Capitol (1972 photograph)

Moving to Oklahoma City and Building the Capitol (1910–1917)

State leaders let people vote on moving the capital to Oklahoma City. On June 11, 1910, the state's official seal was moved from Guthrie. It went south to Oklahoma City, where the Capitol is today.

Lee Cruce, who was Oklahoma's second Governor, ordered the building of the new Capitol. Before the Capitol was built, state offices were in the Huckins Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City.

Construction on the Oklahoma State Capitol began on July 20, 1914. Architects Soloman Andrew Layton and S. Wemyss-Smith designed the building. James Stewart & Company was chosen to build it.

The outside of the building is mostly made of Indiana limestone. The bottom part is made of local Oklahoma pink granite. The grand staircase inside uses Oklahoma black granite. The inside of the building has a lot of marble.

Original plans for the Capitol included a dome. But in 1915, they found out they didn't have enough money. So, the dome was not built at first. However, the building was designed to hold a dome later. The Capitol was finished on June 30, 1917.

Earthquake Damage to the Capitol

In 1952, an earthquake happened near El Reno. It was a 5.5-magnitude earthquake. This earthquake caused cracks in the walls and ceilings of the Capitol. One crack was about 50 feet long!

Changes and Additions to the Capitol (1998–Present)

In 1998, state leaders created a plan called the Oklahoma Centennial Act. This plan helped to fund the building of the dome. The dome was part of the first plans in 1914. Construction on the dome started in 2001 and finished in 2002.

The dome has a large bronze sculpture on top. It is called The Guardian and is 22 feet tall. In 2014, engineers found cracks in the dome's outer panels. But the main supports for the dome were still strong. The building was always meant to support a dome.

In 2006, plans were made to move the state's courts. They moved to the new Oklahoma Judicial Center in 2011.

Outside and Capitol Area

The north side of the Capitol building.

The Oklahoma State Capitol is at 2300 North Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City. It is mainly built from white limestone and Oklahoma pink granite. The dome is made of strong concrete and plaster.

The state capitol area is famous for its oil wells. It's the only state capitol in the U.S. with active oil rigs. The Capitol building sits right on top of the Oklahoma City Oil Field.

The Capitol building and the buildings around it make up the Oklahoma State Capitol Complex. This area includes the State Capitol Park and the Oklahoma Governor's Mansion. The mansion has a limestone outside, just like the Capitol.

The Oklahoma History Center opened in 2005. It tells the story of Oklahoma. You can learn about Native American tribes and the state's history up to today.

Inside the Capitol Building

The west side of the Capitol holds the Oklahoma House of Representatives chamber and offices. The east side has the Oklahoma Senate chamber and offices. The governor's main office is on the second floor. Other elected state leaders have offices on the first floor. The building also has a museum, a cafeteria, and a barber shop.

Art in the Capitol

Many beautiful artworks are inside the Capitol. A mural called Flight of Spirit is in the main rotunda. It was painted by Chickasaw artist Mike Larsen. This mural honors the Five Moons. These were famous 20th-century Native American ballerinas from Oklahoma.

Several large paintings by Wayne Cooper are also on display. Many of them show Oklahoma's early history and its oil industry. Seminole artist Enoch Kelly Haney's painting The Earth and I are One is on the first floor.

The Senate lobby has a large oil painting. It shows the Ceremonial Transfer of the Louisiana Purchase in New Orleans - 1803. This painting is 6 by 10 feet. The Senate Lounge displays a watercolor painting. It is called Community of Boling Springs by Sonya Terpening.

The "Ring of Honor"

The bottom part of the Capitol dome has gold letters. These letters show the names of people or groups who gave at least $1 million to build the dome. This is called the "ring of honor." This idea is usually for famous players on sports teams.

Some of the names include Halliburton, Hobby Lobby Stores, and General Motors. "The People of Oklahoma" is also listed. Some people didn't like this idea. In 2011, a state representative tried to change the names. He wanted to put the names of Oklahomans who received the Congressional Medal of Honor instead.