Oregon State Capitol

Oregon State Capitol, view from the rear

The Oregon State Capitol is the state capitol building of the U.S. state of Oregon. Housing the Oregon Legislative Assembly, the Oregon Secretary of State's office, and the offices of the Oregon State Treasury, it is located in the state capital Salem at 900 Court Street Northeast. The building was constructed in 1935 and the wings finished in 1977. The original design was by New York architects Trowbridge & Livingston, in association with Francis Keally.

The Oregon State Capitol was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. [1]

History

First state capitol

A December 30, 1855, fire destroyed the first capitol. A downtown building, the Holman Building, served as a temporary capitol from 1859 until 1876.

Picture of the state capitol in 1855 when it was briefly located in Corvallis.

Second state capitol

File:Oregon state capitol 1876.jpg

The Oregon state capitol from 1876-1935.

The second state capitol, patterned after the United States Capitol, was completed in 1876. It was destroyed by fire on April 25, 1935.

Third state capitol

The third state capitol was completed on October 1 1938. It cost $2.5 million and is the fourth newest capitol in the United States.

The rotunda features an embedded bronze replica of the Oregon State Seal in its center. It was sculpted by Ulric Ellerhusen. The capitol dome rises 106 feet above the state seal. It was painted by Frank H. Schwartz and features thirty three stars, symbolizing Oregon's place as the thirty third state to join the Union. There are four murals surrounding the rotunda, featuring moments from Oregon state history.

In 1993, the Scotts Mills earthquake damaged the dome, requiring closure for repairs.

The capitol today

In 1997, the Legislative Assembly established the non-profit Oregon State Capitol Foundation in order to "create a living history, enhance the dignity and beauty of the Capitol, and foster cultural and educational opportunities." In 2005 the foundation completed the Walk of the Flags [2] project, a display in Willson Park on the capitol grounds of all 50 flags of the U.S. states.

Tours are available, though scheduling in advance is recommended, especially outside of the summer months when there is a surplus of interns available to lead them.

Gallery

• 
  Gold pioneer on the dome.
• 
  Main entrance relief sculpture.
• 
  Main entrance.
• Inside of the rotunda.
  Inside of the rotunda.
• The Oregon State Senate chamber.
  The Oregon State Senate chamber.
• 
  The Oregon House of Representatives chamber.
• Flags of all 50 states on the Capitol grounds.
  Flags of all 50 states on the Capitol grounds.
• Mural on walls of Oregon Capitol Building depicting the territorial government seal.
  Mural on walls of Oregon Capitol Building depicting the territorial government seal.

External links

• Current capitol information from the Oregon State Legislature
• Oregon State Capitol page from the Oregon Blue Book