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Washington State Capitol facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Washington State Capitol Building is a very important place in Olympia, Washington. It's where the state government works and makes decisions for everyone in Washington! Olympia is also the capital city of Washington State and the county seat of Thurston County. About 55,000 people live in Olympia today. The city of Olympia gets its name from the nearby Olympic Mountains.

What is the State Capitol Building?

The Washington State Capitol Building is where the state's laws are made and important government work happens. It's a group of buildings, but the most famous one is the Legislative Building, with its tall dome. This building is home to the Washington State Legislature, which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives. These are groups of elected people who represent different parts of Washington and vote on new laws.

Why is Olympia the Capital?

Olympia became the capital of Washington Territory in 1853. When Washington became a state in 1889, Olympia remained the capital city. It was chosen because of its central location and easy access by water.

Buildings on the Capitol Campus

The Capitol Campus in Olympia has several important buildings:

  • Legislative Building: This is the main building with the big dome. It's where the Senate and House of Representatives meet to create and vote on laws. You can also see the Governor's office here.
  • Temple of Justice: This building houses the Washington State Supreme Court. This is the highest court in the state, and it makes important decisions about laws.
  • Governor's Mansion: This is where the Governor of Washington State lives. It's a historic home located on the Capitol Campus.
  • Other Buildings: There are also other buildings like the Insurance Building, where different state agencies work.

The Capitol Dome

The dome on top of the Legislative Building is one of the tallest masonry domes in the world. It's made of stone and concrete, not steel. It's a very impressive sight! In 2001, an earthquake called the Nisqually earthquake caused some damage to the dome, but it was repaired and made safe again.

Visiting the Capitol

Many people visit the Washington State Capitol Building every year. You can take tours to learn about the history of the building and how the state government works. It's a great place to learn about civics and see democracy in action!

Images for kids

  • George Washington portrait sculpture by Avard Fairbanks

    Colossal portrait sculpture of General George Washington

  • WACapitolBldgInterior

    Interior of the Legislative Building.

  • Washington State Governor's Mansion

    The Governor's Mansion.

  • FEMA - 5026 - Photograph by Liz Roll taken on 03-04-2001 in Washington

    Workers inspect the crack in the State Capitol dome that resulted from the Nisqually earthquake on February 28, 2001.

  • Washington State Capitol Legislative Building Dome

    The dome and lantern of the Legislative Building.

  • Washington State Capitol Legislative Building and Temple of Justice pano 01

    Panoramic view of the Legislative Building and Temple of Justice.

  • WACapitolTempleOfJustice

    Entrance to the Temple of Justice, facing the Legislative Building.

  • WashingtonCapitolTOJLL

    The law library in the Temple of Justice.

  • Washington State Senate chamber

    The interior of the Senate Chamber in the Legislative Building.

  • WaCapitolRepInterior

    The House of Representatives Chamber, also in the Legislative Building. Note the county names along the ceiling.

  • WA State Old Capitol Bldg 02

    A view of the Old Capitol with statue of J. R. Rogers, first governor of Washington State.

  • WACapitolInsuranceBldg

    The Insurance Building.

  • Washington State Capitol Interior

    The rotunda of the Legislative building with chandelier and Roman fire pot.

  • Washington State Capitol Legislative Building
  • Washington State Capitol building

    Washington State Capitol Building at night

  • Olympia-Washington

    The Capitol from Budd Bay

  • Washington State Capitol - Winged Victory - close view 04 (cropped)

    Winged Victory (World War I memorial)

  • Washington State Capitol - Winged Victory - detail 02

    Winged Victory (detail)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Capitolio del Estado de Washington para niños

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