The Capitol Building

West Virginia's state capital was not always Charleston. When the state was first formed, the state Legislature covened in Wheeling, WV and elected Charleston as its state capital effective April 1, 1870. However, in 1875, another Legislature voted to move the state capital back to Wheeling. But in 1877, still not satisified with Wheeling, another Legislature decided that the citizens of West Virginia should be allowed to select the state capital. Their choices were Charleston, Clarksburg or Martinsburg, and they chose Charleston.

Eight years later, on May 1, 1885, a capitol building was opened in Charleston. This building would serve as the capitol building for 36 years, until January 3, 1921, when it was destroyed by a fire. With the destruction of the capitol building, a makeshift capitol building, dubbed the "Pasteboard Capitol," was constructed. However, on March 2, 1927 , this building was also destroyed by a fire. Luckily, by the time of the second fire, a Capitol Building Commission had been established, and it was this commission which authorized the construction of the present Capitol building on the North Bank of the Kanawha River in East Charleston.

The Capitol building was designed by Cass Gilbert, was also the architect of the United States Treasury Annex and United States Supreme Court Building. The Capitol is made of buff limestone over a steel frame and is of the Renaissance design of architecture.

"It is dominated by a 293-foot-high dome, which is five feet higher than that of the United States Capitol. The building required more than 700 carloads of limestone and 160 carloads of steel weighing 4,640 tons. Limestone pillars, each weighing 86 tons, support matching Roman Corinthian porticos at the north and south entrances. Beneath each portico are 2,800-pound brass and copper doors decorated with elm, hickory, beech and maple leaves representing West Virginia's native hardwood trees. Gracing the east and west entrances are limestone heads of Greek and Roman deities, which were sculpted in place. :It is dominated by a 293-foot-high dome, which is five feet higher than that of the United States Capitol. The building required more than 700 carloads of limestone and 160 carloads of steel weighing 4,640 tons.Limestone pillars, each weighing 86 tons, support matching Roman Corinthian porticos at the north and south entrances. Beneath each portico are 2,800-pound brass and copper doors decorated with elm, hickory, beech and maple leaves representing West Virginia's native hardwood trees. Gracing the east and west entrances are limestone heads of Greek and Roman deities, which were sculpted in place."

(from http://www.charlestonwv.com/visiting_chas/capitol.asp)

West Virginia's Capitol Building cost $$9,491,180.03 to build and covers 16 acres, with a floor space of 535,000 square feet. The interior flooring is made of marble and Italian Travertine. In the Capitol's 292 foot-high dome, weighing two tons, hangs a Czechoslovakian-imported crystal chandelier. It is lowered every four years for cleaning upon the inauguration of a new governor or re-election of an incumbent. Because of its size and weight, it takes 3 1/2 hours to lower it and 4 1/2 hours to return it to a stationary position.

for more info on the Capitol Building, click HERE.