HISTORY

The arrival of the Union Pacific crews in 1867 as they laid the tracks westward changed Cheyenne from a village to a city in a matter of months, and the seat of the new Territorial government was established in 1869.

In 1886, the Ninth Territorial Legislative Assembly authorized construction of the State Capitol; to be erected in the City of Cheyenne at a cost not to exceed $150,000

A five-member commission, appointed by Governor Francis E. Warren, was charged with the selection and purchase of the site, selection of an architect and accepted the lowest bids for construction of the building. The commission chose the firm of David W. Gibbs & Company, Architects, to draw plans and specifications. These were accepted in July 1886, and the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder, Adam Feick & Brothers, who bid $131,275.12 and broke ground on September 9, 1886.

The architecture of the building is renaissance revival, reminiscent of the National Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

The first two courses of the building proper are of sandstone from the quarries of Fort Collins, Colorado the remainder of the building is of sandstone from the quarries at Rawlins, Wyoming.

The building's cornerstone was laid on May 18, 1887, with maps, a roster of territorial officers and other papers placed within the cornerstone. During the centennial of the Capitol in 1987, the cornerstone was removed and these documents replaced and the cornerstone reset.

The Tenth Territorial Legislative Assembly convened in the still-to be completed building. The second portion of the building, small wings on the east and west, was completed in April 1890. Crowded conditions persisted with the growth of the state and in 1915, the Thirteenth State legislature approved the construction of the House and Senate Chambers, which were completed in march 1917.

The Dome of the capitol is real gold leaf. The 24-carat gold leaf dome is visible from all roads entering the city. it has been gilded six times, the first in 1900 and the last in 1988. A highly skilled person is needed to put this lead in place because, if touched by fingers in handling, it will disintegrate. The peak of the dome is 146 feet high, and the base is 50 feet in diameter.

The 42nd Legislature in 1974 appropriated funds for the first phase of renovation of the capitol. At a cost of $7.6 million, the project was completed in 1980. Work included stripping and staining all woodwork, painting walls in the original designs, replacing wooden floor beams and floors with steal and concrete and modernizing the wiring, heating, plumbing and air conditioning.

Photos Courtesy of the Wyoming State Archives

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Capitol Information Desk
State of Wyoming
Department of Administration and Information-General Services Division
State Capitol
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 777-7220
Fax: (307) 777-6273

Last Updated Monday, 16. August 2004