| California State Capitol | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location within Sacramento, California Show map of Sacramento, California California State Capitol (California) Show map of California California State Capitol (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| General information | |
| Type | Government offices |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Architecture |
| Address | 1315 10th and L St |
| Town or city | Sacramento, CA |
| Coordinates | 38°34′36″N121°29′37″W / 38.57667°N 121.49361°W /38.57667; -121.49361 |
| Construction started | 1860; 165 years ago (1860) |
| Completed | 1874; 151 years ago (1874) |
| Owner | State of California |
| Management | State of California |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 75.3 m (247 ft) |
| Roof | 64 m (210 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | West wing:3+1⁄2 (4); East Annex: 6 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | M. Frederic Butler, Reuben Clark, Gordon Parker Cummings |
California State Capitol | |
| Architectural style | NeoclassicalRenaissance Revival (interior) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000427[1] |
| CHISL No. | 872 |
| Added to NRHP | April 3, 1973 |
| References | |
| [2][3][4] | |
TheCalifornia State Capitol is the seat of theCalifornia state government, located inSacramento, the state capital ofCalifornia. The building houses the chambers of theCalifornia State Legislature, made up of theAssembly and theSenate, along with the office of thegovernor of California. TheNeoclassical structure, designed by Reuben S. Clark, was completed between 1861 and 1874. Located at the west end ofCapitol Park and the east end of theCapitol Mall, the building was added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 1973. TheCalifornia State Capitol Museum is housed on the grounds of the capitol.
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The structure was completed between 1860 and 1874, designed by architect Reuben S. Clark of Clark & Kenitzer, one ofSan Francisco's oldest architectural firms, founded in 1854.[5][6] Although not generally considered earthquake country, Sacramento was hit by two earthquakes within days of each other in 1892 which damaged the Capitol.[7] The Capitol was remodeled, adding seventy rooms and elevators, between 1906 and 1908.[8]
Between 1949 and 1952, the Capitol's apse was demolished to make way for the building's expansion with the construction of the Capitol Annex adjoining the historic Capitol building to its east.[9] The offices of thegovernor of California were housed in the Capitol Annex.
The Capitol and grounds were listed on the office of theNational Register of Historic Places in 1973,[1] and listed as aCalifornia Historical Landmark in 1974, with a re-dedication on January 9, 1982, to commemorate the close of the bicentennial restoration project.[10][11] The building underwent a major renovation known as the California State Capitol Restoration, from 1975 until 1982, involving an architectural restoration and structural reconstruction for earthquake safety.[7]
In 2012, many protesters stormed the building and were arrested.[12]
The Capitol Annex was vacated in 2021 in preparation for its demolition and replacement with a new Annex on the same site, due to its obsolescence and decayed state.[13][14] Demolition was delayed until 2023 by lawsuits about the project's environmental impacts to the trees inCapitol Park, which is immediately adjacent to the Annex site.[13][15] The offices and personnel previously in the Annex moved into the newly constructedCapitol Annex Swing Space building until the new Annex is constructed.[16][17]
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The building is based on theU.S. Capitol building inWashington, D.C. The westfacade ends in projecting bays, and aportico projects from the center of the building. At the base of the portico, sevengranite archways brace and support the porch above. Eight flutedCorinthian columns line the portico. Acornice supports the pediment above depictingMinerva surrounded byEducation,Justice, Industry andMining.
Above the flat roof withbalustrade are two drums supporting a dome. The first drum consists of a colonnade of Corinthian columns; the second, Corinthian pilasters. Large arched windows line the drum walls. The dome is 64 m (210 ft) high, and supports a lantern with a smaller dome capped with agold-leafed orbedfinial.
TheCalifornia Senate chamber seats its forty members in a large chamber room decorated inred, which is a reference to theBritish House of Lords (also theupper house of abicameral legislature). The chamber is entered through a second-floor corridor. From the coffered ceiling hangs an electric reproduction of the originalgaschandelier. A hand-carved dais caps off a recessed bay framed by Corinthian columns.
TheLatin phrase "Senatoris est civitatis libertatem tueri" ("It is the duty of the Senator to guard the civil liberties of the Commonwealth") lines the cornice. A portrait ofGeorge Washington byJane Stuart, the daughter ofGilbert Stuart, is on the wall above. The State Seal hangs above. Statues of the Roman goddess of wisdomMinerva once overlooked both chambers. Today, Minerva, sculpted by Michael H. Casey, appears only in the senate chambers.
Gilded Corinthian columns support the gallery above, and dark red curtains that can be drawn for privacy are tied back along the columns. High arched windows run along the bottom below rectangular pane windows. Behind the rostrum, there are two chairs with red velvet cushions, reserved for the presidentpro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the assembly, but they are never used.
TheCalifornia Assembly chamber is located at the opposite end of the building. Its green tones are based on those of theBritish House of Commons, the lower house. The dais rests along a wall shaped like an "E", with the central projection housing the rostrum. Along the cornice is the Assembly motto, in Latin:Legislatorum est justas leges condere ("It is the duty of legislators to establish just laws").[18]
TheCalifornia State Capitol Museum is a museum housed within the capitol and on the grounds of Capitol Park, run byCalifornia State Parks. The Capitol Museum includes the historic offices of the governor and legislature.
The capitol's grounds are known asCapitol Park, an area of 10 undivided city blocks running from 10th to 16th and from L to N Streets. The entire Capitol Park area is included in the National Register historic district listing.[1][19] Capitol Park contains numerous monuments and memorials, including theCalifornia Firefighters Memorial and El Soldado Monument.
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Messrs. Sutton & Weeks were the architects of the remodeling work now completed [1908], their plans having been selected [1906] by the Board of Capitol Commissioners from five competitive sets submitted.
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