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West Virginia State Capitol
U.S. Historic district Contributing property

West Virginia State Capitol
Location in West Virginia
Location	1900 Kanawha Boulevard East, Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
Built	1924–1932
Architect	Cass Gilbert
Architectural style	Neoclassical
Part of	West Virginia Capitol Complex (ID74002009)
Added to NRHP	December 31, 1974

The West Virginia State Capitol is where the government of West Virginia works. It is home to the West Virginia Legislature (lawmakers) and the office of the Governor. This important building is in Charleston, West Virginia. It was officially opened in 1932. The Capitol is part of the West Virginia Capitol Complex. This complex also includes the West Virginia Executive Mansion. It is a special historic area listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

West Virginia's Capital City History
- Choosing a Capital City
Past Capitol Buildings
The Present Capitol Building
Exploring the Capitol Plaza
- Statues and Fountains
West Virginia Capitol Facts
Gallery
See also

West Virginia's Capital City History

Before the American Civil War, the areas that became West Virginia were part of Virginia. The capital city of Virginia was Richmond, Virginia. In 1861, Virginia left the United States. But the northwestern counties of Virginia stayed loyal to the U.S. These counties then started the process to create the State of West Virginia. West Virginia officially became a state on June 20, 1863.

Choosing a Capital City

Deciding where to put the state capital was not easy. For several years, the capital moved between Wheeling and Charleston. Other cities like Martinsburg and Clarksburg were also suggested. Finally, the people of West Virginia voted. On August 7, 1877, they chose Charleston as their permanent capital.

Past Capitol Buildings

West Virginia has had several capitol buildings over the years. Some were temporary, and some were destroyed.

Wheeling's First Capitol: 1863-1870

When West Virginia first separated from Virginia in 1861, Wheeling became the temporary capital. This was before West Virginia officially joined the Union.

Linsly School was West Virginia's first capitol building. It was in Wheeling and used from 1863 to 1870.

From 1863, the state's lawmakers met in the Linsly Military Institute building. This building was on Eoff Street in Wheeling. The government quickly grew too big for this building. In 1865, lawmakers voted to move the capital to Charleston. They wanted Charleston to be the permanent capital. The government stayed in Wheeling until 1870. That is when a new building in Charleston was ready.

Charleston's First Capitol: 1870-1875

In 1869, work began on a new capitol building in downtown Charleston. It was on Capitol Street. The building had a mix of different architectural styles. It combined parts of French Baroque, Second Empire, and High Victorian Gothic designs. Lawmakers used this building until 1875. At that time, the city of Wheeling offered to build a brand new capitol. They wanted the government to move back to Wheeling. This move was also because Charleston did not have train access, making Wheeling easier to reach.

Wheeling's Second Capitol: 1875-1885

The state government moved back to Wheeling in 1875. They met in the Linsly building again. A new capitol building in Wheeling was finished in 1876. This was a very large Second Empire style building. The next year, a statewide vote was held to pick a permanent capital. Wheeling was not even an option this time. Charleston was chosen. In 1877, Governor Jacob announced that Charleston would be the permanent capital after 1885.

After the new Charleston building was ready in 1885, the Wheeling building was changed. It became both the city hall and the county courthouse. It stood until 1959. A new building was then built on the same spot.

Charleston's Second Capitol: 1885-1921

Charleston's second capitol building. It was used from 1885 to 1921 and burned down in 1921.

Construction on Charleston's second capitol started in 1880. It was designed by an architect from Pittsburgh. This building was very different from the first one. It was a High Victorian Gothic style building. This capitol building was destroyed by a fire in 1921. Only the outside walls were left. The ruins were quickly torn down.

Charleston's Temporary Capitol: 1921-1927

After the fire, a new temporary wooden building was quickly built in 1921. People jokingly called it the "pasteboard capitol." It was built on Washington Street. Everyone thought the new permanent capitol would be built on the old site. However, a new location was chosen by the river. This new site was in the eastern part of the city. The old downtown site was sold. The temporary capitol building was completely destroyed by another fire in 1927.

The Present Capitol Building

A statue of Abraham Lincoln on the West Virginia Capitol grounds.

In 1921, the Legislature created a special group. This group was called the Capitol Building Commission. They were in charge of building the current capitol. Architect Cass Gilbert designed the building. It is made of light brown limestone. The total cost was almost $10 million. Construction started in 1924. The first stone was laid on November 5, 1930. The building was finished in three parts. Governor William G. Conley officially opened the capitol on June 20, 1932.

Cass Gilbert liked his design for the West Virginia chamber's inside. He even used parts of it for the United States Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court chamber is a bigger version of the one in West Virginia's Capitol.

Exploring the Capitol Plaza

The capitol building seen from across the Kanawha River.

A celebration at the Capitol in 1973.

The front of the Capitol building faces the Kanawha River. The entire capitol area is surrounded by several streets. These include Kanawha Boulevard East, Greenbrier Street, California Avenue, and Piedmont Road. Washington Street used to go through the plaza. But it was closed to cars so people could walk safely.

Besides the main capitol, there are two wings. These wings are at the east and west ends of the building. They form an open square with a fountain in the middle. There are three fountains in the plaza. The two wings are connected by low walkways underground. The Governor's mansion is also in this area. Other buildings house a cultural center and state offices. There is also a parking garage.

Statues and Fountains

The grounds have several statues. One is of Abraham Lincoln in the front plaza. Another is of Stonewall Jackson, a famous general from West Virginia. The Lincoln statue is called Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight. It shows President Lincoln walking with his head down. He is wearing a robe over his clothes. This statue is in front of the main entrance, facing the river.

There are also two large fountains on the grounds. One is in the square behind the main building. The other is to the northwest. It is between the cultural center and the Division of Motor Vehicles building. Also at the complex are the historic Holly Grove Mansion and the West Virginia Governor's Mansion.

Across from the Capitol complex, by the Kanawha River, is another plaza. It has the Zero mile marker. All highway distances in West Virginia are measured from this spot. This plaza also has flagpoles with the American flag and the West Virginia flag. There are also stairs down to the riverbanks.

You can take tours of the Capitol. These tours are arranged through the West Virginia Culture Center.

West Virginia Capitol Facts

The West Virginia State Capitol is the tallest building in the state. It stands at 292 feet (89 meters) high.

Dimensions and facts for West Virginia Capitol building	Measurements
Height of dome	292 ft (89 m)
Diameter of dome	75 ft (23 m)
Floor Space	525,000 sq ft (48,800 m2)
Weight of chandelier in dome	4,000 lb (1,800 kg)
Weight of individual bronze doors on each portico	2,800 lb (1,300 kg)
Height of eagle on top of dome	5 ft (1.5 m)