North Dakota State Capitol
North Dakota State Capitol | |
---|---|
Record height | |
Tallest in North Dakota since 1934[I] | |
General information | |
Architectural style | Art Deco |
Location | 600 East Boulevard Avenue Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S. |
Coordinates | 46°49′15″N 100°46′57″W / 46.8208°N 100.7824°W |
Groundbreaking | August 13, 1932 |
Completed | 1934 |
Cost | $50 million |
Height | |
Tip | 241 ft 8 in (73.66 m) |
Roof | closed |
Observatory | 18th floor |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 18 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Joseph Bell DeRemer William F. Kurke[1] |
Other information | |
Public transit access | Bis-Man Transit |
The North Dakota State Capitol is the house of government of the
The State Capitol is largely surrounded by state government buildings. The
History
The first capitol building was constructed between 1883 and 1884 to house the territorial government, and after statehood, two additions were erected: the Senate wing (1894, south side), and the House wing (ca. 1903, north side). On the morning of December 28, 1930, smoke was spotted coming from the northeast part of the original building, and despite the fire department being summoned within minutes, it was too late to save the structure. Even as the fire raged through the upper portions of the building, efforts were made by citizens and state employees to rescue what was possible before everyone was ordered out of the building mid-morning. It was later determined to likely have originated in a pile of oily rags in a janitor's closet on the top floor of the main part of the building, as work had been underway to clean and varnish the legislators' desks in preparation for the upcoming legislative session.
The disaster required the construction of a new building during the Great Depression. The tower and wing were built between 1931 and 1934, at a cost of $2 million. Governor George F. Shafer broke ground for the building on August 13, 1932.[4] Workers on the building were paid only 30 cents an hour and, after multiple worker strikes, the capitol grounds were administered by martial law in June 1933. The state sold half of the original capitol campus to defray the cost of construction.[1] Artist Edgar Miller was brought in to do much of the interior design and decoration as well as the bas-relief sculptures on the facade which depict the human history of North Dakota.
The new 19-story capitol was expected to provide ample space for years to come, however it quickly filled as the state government expanded. The Liberty Memorial Building, completed in 1924, was able to house some of the additional workers, but more space was needed by 1955 when construction began for the State Office Building. The building originally housed the Bismarck Junior College, but the Legislature purchased it in 1959. The 1960s was a period of rapid development of the grounds. In 1960, the new governor's residence replaced the old residence which was deteriorating. In 1980, expanding State Historical Society of North Dakota moved into the new North Dakota Heritage Center and in 1968, the North Dakota Department of Transportation occupied the building designed to provide it more office space. The Transportation Building is the last constructed on the campus to date, although a Judicial Wing was added onto the base of the capitol tower between 1977 and 1981. While the space needed by state government has increased since the original construction of the Capitol in the 1930s, the state's population has decreased.[5]
Layout
The state capitol grounds has six buildings: the capitol building, the Department of Transportation Building, the North Dakota Heritage Center, the Liberty Memorial Building, the governor's residence, and the State Office Building. Additionally, the campus holds Myron Atkinson Park and the Capitol Park. Through the center of the grounds is the Capitol Mall, a large open field of grass with walking paths lined by
Buildings
State Capitol
The capitol building is a 241.67-foot (73.7 m) tall, 21-story,
The south side of the Capitol building features a drive-through tunnel which leads to an entrance to the building. This was accessible by public vehicles until 2001 when it was closed due to security measures after the
The many windows on the capitol building's tower are used for several ongoing traditions. During the Christmas season, red and green shades are drawn over the windows and lights are turned on in certain offices to make a pattern that resembles a Christmas tree. During the New Year's Eve, office lights are turned on to spell out the new year; the first two numbers of the new year are given on the top half, and the last two numbers on the bottom. This tradition began during the 1970s, and is now done on all four sides of the building; the Christmas tree tradition began as early as the 1940s.[12]
Tours of the capitol building are available on weekdays. Weekend tours are available Memorial Day through Labor Day. Tours include stops throughout both the building's legislative and judicial wings as well as an elevator ride to the top of the tower.[13]
Judicial Wing
The judicial wing serves as a hub for the
Prior to the 2017 Legislative Assembly, two new committee rooms were added in the Judicial Wing (in a space vacated by the Information Technology Department). These rooms are used by various legislative committees when the Assembly is in session, and by the Judicial branch when the Legislature is not meeting.[citation needed]
Liberty Memorial Building
The Liberty Memorial Building is home to the
Department of Transportation building
The North Dakota Department of Transportation Building is home to the central office of the state's transportation department, as well as small divisions of other agencies. The building was completed in 1968 with materials that harmonize visually with the earlier structures. Before it was consolidated in this building, the Department of Transportation, known then as the State Highway Department, occupied several buildings around the campus including the State Office Building and the capitol. The building contains 125,000 square feet (11,600 m2) of space and is just to the east of the capitol tower. While above ground the building is separated from the tower, it is connected to the Judicial Wing by a tunnel accessible only to state employees.[17]
North Dakota Heritage Center
The North Dakota Heritage Center building is home to the Heritage Center museum which stores and displays artifacts from around the state. The building also is home to office space for the
In 2006, state officials revealed a massive expansion plan for the center. The construction cost approximately $50 million and nearly doubled the size of the complex adding three large galleries to the east of the existing structure, as well as a new main entry fronting State Street. The building consisted of 140,000 square feet (13,000 m2) and the expansion added 125,000 square feet (11,600 m2). Funding for the project consisted of twenty percent private, twenty percent federal, and sixty percent state.
State Office Building
The State Office Building, on the complex's southeast corner, contains the Water Commission, in addition to several divisions of the office of the Attorney General: the Civil Litigation Division and the Natural Resources and Indian Affairs attorneys. Built in 1955, the structure housed the Bismarck Junior College until 1961 when the legislature authorized its purchase. Since then, it has been home for various state agencies. During the 1991-1993 biennium, the building underwent massive renovation and was re-faced with an exterior that blended more harmoniously with the complex's other buildings. At 28,838 square feet (2,679 m2), the building is the smallest of those housing offices.
North Dakota Governor's Residence
Prior to 1960, North Dakota's
Outdoor facilities
Parks
Two parks, the Myron Atkinson Park and the Capitol Park occupy space on the capitol grounds. The Myron Atkinson Park, named after the Bismarck attorney Myron Atkinson, is east of State Street.[22] Pedestrians can access the park via a tunnel. The Capitol Park is at the northwest corner of the grounds at the intersection of 4th Street and Divide Avenue and includes a playground with trees and shrubs planted by the Farwest Rotary Club.[1]
Arboretum Trail
The Arboretum Trail is a walking trail winding through a wooded area on the west side of the grounds. Walkers pass 60-million-year-old petrified tree stumps from the Amidon, North Dakota, area, as well as 75 different species of trees and shrubs which are labeled with ground plaques.[23] Various statues and memorials are also on the trail. The trail was created in 1985 in anticipation of the state's centennial and as an opportunity for state employees and the public to exercise while learning about various trees and the history of the buildings on the grounds. Many area schools take their students to the trail for nature walks and students have used the various trees for leaf collections. This damaged some of the trees, so signs that forbid leaf picking were posted.
Prairie Trail
The Prairie Trail runs north of the Capitol's Judicial Wing, taking pedestrians into an area filled with examples of grasses and wild flowers which are typical of native prairie. In 2006, the trail was expanded to take walkers from the corner of State Street and Divide Avenue south into the main grounds area. The original trail was dedicated with a plaque in 1987 and the wild grassland surrounding the trail was registered as a state Natural Area by the Parks and Recreation Department.[24]
Statues and other features
Statues
Several statues are on the grounds, depicting Sakakawea (1910), a pioneer family (1946), John Burke (1963), buffalo (1986), pioneers of the future (1989), and Cortes the horse (1994).[25][26]
Memorials
The grounds have memorials to members of the armed forces from North Dakota who died in the state's first century, police officers who died in the line of duty, and Purple Heart recipients. The "French Gratitude Box Car," which transported troops in both world wars is also on the grounds, as well as the bowplate of the USS North Dakota.[25][26]
Fossils
60-million year old fossilized Metasequoia trees from Amidon, North Dakota were installed on the grounds in 1988.[25]
Former landmarks
A Mandan earth lodge was once located on the grounds, but it was removed from the grounds due to decay, and a cabin belonging to Teddy Roosevelt was moved to Medora, North Dakota.[26]
See also
- List of tallest buildings by U.S. state
- List of state and territorial capitols in the United States
Notes
- ^ a b c d "History". State of North Dakota - Facility Management Division. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ "North Dakota State Capitol - Capitol Complex Master Plan" (PDF). State of North Dakota. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-28. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "The Capitol Building". The Chicago Daily Tribune: 3. July 6, 1883.
- ^ "Local tragedies make headlines". Fargo Forum. 1999-12-19. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Resident Population and Apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ "Snowangels on Capitol Mall" (PDF). State of North Dakota. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ North Dakota State Capitol Master Plan, p. 1-3
- ^ "About North Dakota". North Dakota Tourism Division. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "North Dakota State Capitol & Grounds". North Dakota Secretary of State. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ "Capitol Deck Closed". KXnet.com. 2006-06-05. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Hoeven Takes Measures In Wake Of Tragedy". North Dakota Governor's office. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Capitol holiday display". State of North Dakota - Facility Management Division. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Tour". State of North Dakota - Facility Management Division. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Capitol Lunch Menus". State of North Dakota - Facility Management Division. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Our Team". ND Parks and Recreation. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
- ^ "North Dakota State Library History". North Dakota State Library. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "DOT Agencies". State of North Dakota - Facility Management Division. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Heritage Center expansion plans shown". The Bismarck Tribune. 2006-09-12. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Expansion Efforts". State Historical Society of North Dakota Foundation. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ Hageman, John (December 29, 2017). "Burgum's move into new residence not expected for a couple months". West Fargo Pioneer. Forum News Service. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- ^ MacPherson, James (March 22, 2018). "North Dakota's First Family Moves Into New $5M Mansion". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "Myron Atkinson Papers". University of North Dakota. Archived from the original on 2007-05-29. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Arboretum Trail". State of North Dakota - Facility Management Division. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Native Prairie". State of North Dakota - Facility Management Division. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ a b c "Statues and Monuments". Office of Management and Budget North Dakota. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ a b c "Statues and Monuments Page 2". Office of Management and Budget North Dakota. Retrieved 2023-10-17.