List of state and territorial capitols in the United States
This is a list of state and territorial capitols in the United States, the building or complex of buildings from which the government of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia and the organized territories of the United States, exercise its authority. While most states (39 of the 50) use the term "capitol" for their state's seat of government, Indiana and Ohio use the term "Statehouse" and eight states use "State House": Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Vermont. Delaware has a "Legislative Hall". The State of Alabama has a State Capitol, but the Legislature has, since 1985, met in the State House.
A capitol typically contains the meeting place for its state's legislature and offices for the state's governor, though this is not true for every state. The legislatures of Alabama, Nevada, and North Carolina meet in other nearby buildings, but their governor's offices remain in the capitol. The Arizona State Capitol is now strictly a museum and both the legislature and the governor's office are in nearby buildings. Only Arizona does not have its governor's office in the state capitol, though in Delaware, Ohio, Michigan, Vermont, and Virginia,[1] the offices there are for ceremonial use only.
In nine states, the state's highest court also routinely meets in the capitol: Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma (both civil and criminal courts), Pennsylvania (one of three sites), South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The other 40 states have separate buildings for their supreme courts, though in Michigan, Minnesota, and Utah the high court also has ceremonial meetings at the capitol.
Eleven of the fifty state capitols do not feature a dome: Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Virginia.[2]
Forty-four capitols are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, marked with NRHP. Nineteen of those are further designated as National Historic Landmarks, marked with NHL
State capitols
Picture | Capitol name | Location | Years of current capitol construction | Height (feet) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Alabama State Capitol | Montgomery 32°22′38.81″N 86°18′3.39″W |
1850–1851 1885 (East wing) 1903–1906 (South wing) 1911–1912 (North wing) 1960 (State House; the Legislature moved into the building in 1985) |
119[3] | NHL
Original meeting site for the Provisional Confederate Congress (1861) NRHP The State Capitol is only used for ceremonial meetings; actual government meetings are held in the State House |
Alaska State Capitol | Juneau 58°18′7.91″N 134°24′37.68″W |
1929–1931 | 118[4] | ||
|
Arizona State Capitol
Arizona House of Representatives Arizona Executive tower |
Phoenix 33°26′53.15″N 112°5′49.54″W |
1899–1900 (State Capitol)
1960 (House of Representatives and Senate buildings) 1974 (Executive tower) |
92[5] | NRHP
The State Capitol Building no longer hosts government meetings; The office of the Governor is located in the Executive tower |
Arkansas State Capitol | Little Rock 34°44′48.33″N 92°17′19.54″W |
1899–1915 | 230[6] | NRHP | |
California State Capitol | Sacramento 38°34′35.66″N 121°29′36.28″W |
1860–1874 | 247[7] | NRHP | |
Colorado State Capitol | Denver 39°44′20.74″N 104°59′5.63″W |
1886–1907 | 272[8] | NRHP Exactly one mile above sea level | |
Connecticut State Capitol | Hartford 41°45′50.89″N 72°40′58″W |
1872–1879 | 257[9] | NHL
NRHP | |
Delaware Legislative Hall | Dover 39°9′26.3″N 75°31′11″W |
1933 1965-1970 (north and south wings) 1994 (expansion of east wings) |
70 (est.)[10] | The Old Statehouse, used from 1792 to 1932, is listed on the NRHP. | |
Florida State Capitol | Tallahassee 30°26′17.2″N 84°16′53.76″W |
1973–1977 | 322[11] | Newest state capitol Second largest state capitol | |
Georgia State Capitol | Atlanta 33°44′57.38″N 84°23′17.74″W |
1883–1889 | 272[12] | NHL
NRHP | |
Hawaii State Capitol | Honolulu 21°18′26.43″N 157°51′26.16″W |
1960–1969 | 100 (est.)[13] | Part of the NRHP Hawaii Capital Historic District Second newest state capitol | |
Idaho State Capitol | Boise 43°37′3.71″N 116°11′58.61″W |
1905–1913 1919–1920 (wings) 2008–2010 (underground wings) |
208[14] | NRHP | |
Illinois State Capitol | Springfield 39°47′54.66″N 89°39′17.6″W |
1884–1887 (construction) | 361[15] | NRHP Tallest non-skyscraper capitol, including Washington, DC | |
Indiana Statehouse | Indianapolis 39°46′7″N 86°9′45″W |
1877–1888[16] | 256[17] | NRHP | |
Iowa State Capitol | Des Moines 41°35′28.24″N 93°36′13.93″W |
1871–1886 | 275[18] | NRHP | |
Kansas State Capitol | Topeka 39°2′52.83″N 95°40′41.36″W |
1866–1873 (east wing) 1879–1881 (west wing) 1884–1906 (center) |
326[19] | NRHP | |
Kentucky State Capitol | Frankfort 38°11′12.4″N 84°52′31.2″W |
1905–1910 | 210[20] | NRHP | |
Louisiana State Capitol | Baton Rouge 30°27′25.46″N 91°11′14.66″W |
1930–1932 | 450[21] | NHL
NRHP | |
Maine State House | Augusta 44°18′26.05″N 69°46′54.04″W |
1828–1832 1889–1891 (wing) 1909–1911 (wings) |
185[22] | NRHP | |
Maryland State House | Annapolis 38°58′43″N 76°29′28″W |
1772–1797[23] | 181[24] | NHL
NRHP | |
Massachusetts State House | Boston 42°21′27.75″N 71°3′48.83″W |
1795–1798 | 200 (est.)[25] | NHL
NRHP U.S. Historic District Contributing property | |
Michigan State Capitol | Lansing 42°44′1.42″N 84°33′20.12″W |
1871–1878 | 270[26] | NHL
NRHP | |
Minnesota State Capitol | Saint Paul 44°57′18.53″N 93°6′8.05″W |
1893–1905 | 223[27] | NRHP | |
Mississippi State Capitol | Jackson 32°18′14″N 90°10′56″W |
1901–1903 | 180[28] | NRHP | |
Missouri State Capitol | Jefferson City 38°34′44.83″N 92°10′22.77″W |
1911–1917 | 238[29] | NRHP | |
Montana State Capitol | Helena 46°35′8.52″N 112°1′6.24″W |
1896–1902 1909–1912 (wings) |
165[30] | NRHP | |
Nebraska State Capitol | Lincoln 40°48′29.12″N 96°41′58.51″W |
1919–1932 | 400[31] | NHL
NRHP | |
|
Nevada State Capitol | Carson City 39°9′50.67″N 119°45′58.65″W |
1869–1871
1971 (New Legislative building) |
112[32] | NRHP
The State Capitol is no longer used for Government meetings, which are now held in the Nevada Legislature building |
New Hampshire State House | Concord 43°12′24.29″N 71°32′17.26″W |
1815–1818 | 150[33] | ||
New Jersey State House | Trenton 40°13′13.57″N 74°46′11.65″W |
1792 | 145[34] | ||
New Mexico State Capitol | Santa Fe 35°40′56.21″N 105°56′22.77″W |
1964–1966 | 35 (est.)[35] | Only round state capitol | |
New York State Capitol | Albany 42°39′9.19″N 73°45′26.36″W |
1867–1899 | 220[36] | NHL
NRHP U.S. Historic District Contributing property | |
North Carolina State Capitol | Raleigh 35°46′49″N 78°38′21″W 35°46′59.53″N 78°38′20.24″W |
1833-1840
1963 (Legislative Building) |
98[37] | NHL
NRHP U.S. Historic District Contributing property The State Capitol is no longer used by the state legislature, which now meets in the State Legislative building | |
North Dakota State Capitol | Bismarck 46°49′14.93″N 100°46′57.87″W |
1920–1924 1931–1934 (office tower & wing) |
242[38] | ||
Ohio Statehouse | Columbus 39°57′41″N 82°59′56″W |
1837–1861 | 158[39] | NHL
NRHP | |
Oklahoma State Capitol | Oklahoma City 35°29′32.21″N 97°30′12.14″W |
1914–1917 2000-2002 (dome) |
255[40] | NRHP | |
Oregon State Capitol | Salem 44°56′19.43″N 123°1′48.35″W |
1935 1977 (wings) |
162[41] | NRHP | |
Pennsylvania State Capitol | Harrisburg 40°15′52″N 76°52′0″W |
1904-1906[42] | 272[43] | NHL
NRHP U.S. Historic District Contributing property | |
Rhode Island State House | Providence 41°49′51″N 71°24′54″W |
1895–1904 | 223[44] | NRHP | |
South Carolina State House | Columbia 34°0′1.56″N 81°1′59.33″W |
1855-1907 | 180[45] | NHL
NRHP | |
South Dakota State Capitol | Pierre 44°22′1.8″N 100°20′46.87″W |
1905–1911 | 161[46] | NRHP | |
Tennessee State Capitol | Nashville 36°9′57″N 86°47′3″W |
1845–1854 | 206[47] | NHL
NRHP | |
Texas State Capitol | Austin 30°16′29″N 97°44′26″W |
1881–1888 1993 (underground extension) |
311[48] | NHL
NRHP | |
Utah State Capitol | Salt Lake City 40°46′38″N 111°53′17″W |
1912–1916 2004-2008 (major restoration and renovation) |
286[49] | NRHP | |
Vermont State House | Montpelier 44°15′44″N 72°34′51″W |
1834–1836 | 136[50] | NHL
NRHP | |
Virginia State Capitol | Richmond 37°32′19.53″N 77°26′0.94″W |
1785–1790 1904–1906 (wings); restored, renovated and expanded 2004-2007 |
83[51] | NHL
NRHP
| |
Washington State Capitol | Olympia 47°02′07″N 122°54′23″W |
1919–1928 (Legislative building) | 287[52] | NRHP
U.S. Historic District | |
West Virginia State Capitol | Charleston 38°20′11″N 81°36′44″W |
1924–1932 | 292[53] | U.S. Historic district Contributing property | |
Wisconsin State Capitol | Madison 43°4′28″N 89°23′5″W |
1906–1917 1988-2002 (major renovation and restoration) |
284[54] | NHL
NRHP | |
Wyoming State Capitol | Cheyenne 41°8′25″N 104°49′11″W |
1886–1890 1915–1917 (House and Senate chambers) |
146[55] | NHL
NRHP |
Territorial and federal district capitols
Picture | Capitol name | Location | Years of current capitol construction | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Puerto Rico Commonwealth Capitol | San Juan 18°28′8″N 66°6′22″W |
1921-1929 | NRHP | |
John A. Wilson Building District Building |
Washington 38°53′41″N 77°1′54″W |
1904-1908 | NRHP
Originally called the District Building until renamed in 1994 after district councilor John A. Wilson | |
American Samoa Fono Building | Fagatogo 14°16′42″S 170°41′20″W |
1973 | ||
Guam Congress Building | Hagåtña 13°28′30″N 144°45′8″E |
1949 | NRHP | |
Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature Building | Capitol Hill 15°12′42″N 145°45′17″E |
|||
United States Virgin Islands Legislature Building | Charlotte Amalie 18°20′24″N 64°55′46″W |
1828 |
References
- "Virtual Tour of the Virginia State Capitol". Virginia Capitol.gov. May 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- "State Capitols and Domes". NCSL.org (National Conference of State Legislatures). Retrieved October 9, 2013.
- Daniel, Jean Houston; Daniel, Price (1969). Executive Mansions and Capitols of America. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Country Beautiful. p. 145.; "Alabama State Capitol, Montgomery". Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- "Alaska State Capitol, Juneau". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Original Arizona State Capitol, Phoenix". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.; The branches of the state government have relocated from the original capitol to adjacent buildings and additions.
- "Arkansas State Capitol, Little Rock". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "California State Capitol, Sacramento". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Review of Colorado State Capitol". Frommers. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Connecticut State Capitol and Legislative Office Building" (PDF). Government of Connecticut. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- Estimate of 70 based on photograph
- "New Florida State Capitol, Tallahassee". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- Edwin L. Jackson, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia. "The Story of Georgia's Capitol and Capital Cities". Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved September 21, 2013.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- This appears to be an estimate that is used in Hawaii. "Cupolas of Capitalism". Cupola Consulting. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- "Idaho Capitol Building". Idaho Public Television. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "IL State Capitol". Historic Sites Commission of Springfield, Illinois. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "IDOA: The Statehouse Story". IN.gov. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
- "Indiana's Third State Capitol Building Design Released to the Hoosier Public". Indiana Historic Newspaper Digitization Project. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Capitol Facts". The Iowa Legislature. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Kansas State Capitol, Topeka". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Capitol, Frankfort". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "The Louisiana State Capitol Building". State of Louisiana. Archived from the original on September 8, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "The State House". State of Maine. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- History of the State House and Its Dome. msa.maryland.gov (Maryland State Archives), 2007. Retrieved on April 5, 2014.
- "The Maryland State House". State of Maryland. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- Estimate based on photograph
- Kerry Chartkoff (February 28, 1992). "National Historic Landmark Nomination—Michigan State Capitol" (pdf). National Park Service. Cite journal requires
|journal=
(help) - "Facts About the State Capitol". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Mississippi State Capitol". Mississippi State Legislature. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Missouri's State Capitol". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Montana State Capitol, Helena". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Nebraska State Capitol". Nebraska State Government. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Nevada State Capitol, Carson City". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- Norma Love (July 14, 2013). "N.H. Statehouse Dome Getting a Golden Makeover". Concord Monitor. Archived from the original on December 6, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "New Jersey State House, Trenton". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- Estimate based on photograph.
- "New York State Capitol, Albany". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Capitol". North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "History of the State Capitol Complex". North Dakota State Department. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Ohio Statehouse". State of Ohio. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Capitol, Oklahoma City". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- "Oregon State Capitol". Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- Pennsylvania Manual p. xiv
- Caffin, Charles Henry (1906). Handbook of the New Capitol of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg: Mount Pleasant Press. p. 13. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- Parker, J. Fred (1914). State of Rhode Island Manual. Providence: State of Rhode Island. p. iii. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- "Tour Outside the State House (The State House)". State of South Carolina. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- "The South Dakota State Capitol Building". State of South Dakota. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- "Not-so-ordinary State Capitol is 150". Associated Press. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- Green, William Elton (December 2, 2015) [June 12, 2010]. "Capitol". Handbook of Texas (online ed.). Texas State Historical Association.; "Texas State Capitol, Austin". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 22, 2013.; "Capitol Views". City of Austin Library. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- "Utah State Capitol Building". Utah Travel Industry. Archived from the original on October 11, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- "Vermont State House, Montpellier". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- "Cupolas of Capitalism". Cupola Consulting. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- "Capitol Facts & History". Washington State Department of Enterprise Services. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- James E. Harding (April 11, 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: West Virginia Capitol Complex / West Virginia State Capitol, West Virginia Executive Mansion" (PDF). West Virginia Capitol Complex. State of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Historic Preservation. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- "State Capitol Building". Wisconsin Department of Administration. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- "Wyoming State Capitol Field Trip". Wyoming State Historical Society. Retrieved September 22, 2013.