Capitol+Building

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 * Wyoming State Capitol Building **


 * Address: ** 200 West 24th Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002
 * Constructed: ** 1886-1888 (original), 1888-1890 (1st addition), 1916-1917 (2nd addition)
 * Cornerstone laid: ** May 18, 1887
 * Style: ** French Renaissance, Romanesque
 * Exterior Stone: ** Ft Collins sandstone, Rawlins sandstone
 * Architect: ** David W. Gibbs (original & 1st addition), William Dubois (2nd addition)
 * Construction Contractor: ** A. Feick & Bro (original), M.P. Keefe (1st addition), John W. Howard (2nd addition)
 * Remodeled: ** 1970s-1980, planned 2015-2018
 * Home to: ** Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General, Legislature, Legislative Services Office (prior to renovation. For updated information on office location, see the Wyoming Capitol Square Project website.)

= History =

The State Capitol serves as a symbol of the State government, in addition to its utilitarian purposes.

The Capitol building of today was constructed under three different contracts; this building has been in use since January 1888. Prior to 1888, a number of different buildings in the city of Cheyenne, capital of the Territory and later of the State, served as the State Capitol.

Original Building
The Ninth Territorial Legislative Assembly, 1886, authorized the construction of the State Capitol to be erected in the city of Cheyenne, at a cost not to exceed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00).

The governor was empowered to appoint, with the approval of the Legislative Council, five residents of the Territory as members of the Capitol Building Commission; the commission to select its chairman and secretary from its members, and to appoint a superintendent of construction. The commission was charged with the selection and purchase of the site for the Capitol; to secure the services of a competent architect whose plans and specifications would be submitted to and approved by the commission; and to contract the building of the State Capitol to the contracting firm submitting the lowest bid.

On March 13, 1886, the governor, with the consent of the Legislative Council, appointed Erasmus Nagle, Charles N. Potter, Nathaniel R. Davis, Morton E. Post, and Nicholas J. O'Brien as members of the Capitol Building Commission, who met and elected Erasmus Nagle as chairman and Charles N. Potter as secretary.

On July 17, 1886, Governor Francis E. Warren received a telegram from Joseph M. Carey, Wyoming delegate in Congress, to the effect that Congress had approved of Wyoming Territory building a Capitol.

David W. Gibbs & Co., who was chosen architect by the Capitol Building Commission, submitted plans and specifications which were accepted by the commission, July 19, 1886.

The firm of Messrs. A. Feick & Bros. of Toledo, Ohio, the contracting firm that submitted the lowest bid, one hundred thirty-one thousand two hundred and seventy-five dollars, and thirteen cents, ($131,275.13) was awarded the contract, August 25, 1886. This first contract provided for the closing or walling up the east and west ends of the building in such manner as to admit an easy and perfect connection therewith, and with as little interference with the walls as possible in the' event of making further additions.

Ground for the Capitol was broken September 9, 1886. The first two courses of the building above the ground are of stone from the stone quarries at Ft. Collins, Colorado; the building proper is of sandstone from the quarries of Rawlins, Wyoming. The building is of Corinthian architecture, greatly resembling the National Capitol in its classic lines.



The cornerstone was laid May 18, 1887, in accordance with Masonic rites and ceremonies. There was a great celebration, parade and barbecue; people came from all over the Territory. A copper box containing Federal and Territorial documents, maps, roster of Territorial officers. of members of different lodges, etc., was placed within the cornerstone. The 17th Infantry of Fort D.A. Russell (now Warren Air Force Base) took an active part in the celebration.

On September 7, 1887, a fine, large American flag, the handiwork and donation of Mrs. S. Feick and Mrs. S.C. Wilcox, floated from the pinnacle of the Capitol.

The Tenth Territorial Legislative Assembly, 1888, was the first Legislative Assembly to convene in the new Capitol, January 1888, though the building was not quite completed at the time.

The Capitol Building according to the plans and specifications of the first contract was completed and the keys turned over by the outgoing Capitol Building Commission to the new commission on March 29, 1888.



First Addition
The Tenth Territorial Legislative Assembly, 1888, provided for the building of the first east and west wings of the Capitol, and appropriated one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000.00) for this purpose. Governor Thomas Moonlight vetoed the bill, feeling this would so greatly increase taxation, and would be too great a financial burden for the people of the Territory; the Council and House of Representatives reconsidered the same, and passed the said bill, two-thirds of the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the Council agreed, notwithstanding the Governor's objection, March 2, 1888, the bill was passed.

The pen and inch sketch of the first Capitol Building finished in 1888 was sketched from the building proper and from the specifications of the contract of 1886 by Frank Lewts.

The second Capitol Building Commission appointed by the governor with approval of the Legislative Council, were L. R. Bresnahen, J. C. Baird, T. A. Kent, A. Gilchrist, and A. Poole; the commission elected L. R. Bresnahen chairman and J. C. Baird secretary.

David W. Gibbs & Co., of Toledo, Ohio, architect employed by the first Capitol Building Commission, was retained by the second commission. Bids for the building of the two wings were submitted. On July 25, 1888, H. W. Newell was awarded the contract to build the east wing, (his. bid being $58,454.00) and M. P. Keefe was awarded the contract to build the west wing ($59,050.00). Several days later H. W. Newell requested the Capitol Building Commission for their consent to transfer the contract awarded him for the building of the east wing of the Capitol to M. P. Keefe. The Capitol Building Commission granted his request. On July 28, 1888, the commission then entered into another written contract with M. P. Keefe for the construction of the east and west wings of the Capitol, according to specifications and plans, and in accordance with the terms, the price being $117,504.00. His contract was ratified and approved. The lighting, plumbing and heating were not included in this contract.



The first wings of the Capitol were completed and accepted by the Capitol Building Commission April 4, 1890.

Second Addition
In view of the crowded condition of the State Capitol the Thirteenth State Legislature, 1915, provided for the building of new east and west wings to the Capitol.

Pursuant to an act of March 4, 1890, the Capitol Building Commission was composed of the Treasurer, Auditor and Engineer of the Territory.

The Third Capitol Building Commission was composed of Robert B. Forsyth, State Auditor; Herman B. Gates, State Treasurer; and James B. True, State Engineer. Robert B. Forsyth was president and Herman B. Gates secretary of the commission.

On March 15, 1915, the commission secured the service of an architect William B. Dubois, who submitted plans and specifications for the $150,000.00 addition to the State Capitol.

On September 6, 1915, John W. Howard, of Cheyenne was awarded the contract for the building of the east and west wings, his bid being $140,790.00, the lowest of live bids; this contract did not include the plum bin heating and lighting. Mr. Howard completed the wings, and turned the building over to the Capitol Building Commission March. 15, 1917.



The Senate and House of Representatives chambers are in these wings. The Senate chamber is in the west wing, the House of Representatives in the east wing. Each chamber has four large murals, depicting Industry, Pioneer Life, Law, and Transportation; the titles of the murals in the Senate are "Indian Chief Cheyenne", "Frontier Cavalry Officers", "Pony Express Rider", and "Railroad Builders-Surveyors"; those in the House of Representatives are, "Cattlemen", "Trappers", "Homesteaders", and "Stagecoach''. These murals are the work of Allen T. True; each costing five hundred dollars, ($500.00); the contract price for the completed work was five thousand and two hundred dollars ($5,200.00). Mr. True was awarded the contract August 17, 1917. The ceiling of each chamber is of beautiful stained glass, with the seal of the State of Wyoming in the center.

=Additional Resources=
 * [|Wyoming's Capitol Square] project website (accessed June 2015)
 * "Wyoming State Capitol Building and Grounds", National Register of Historic Places nomination form, National Park Service, 1987 (accessed June 2015)