Virtual Tour

FIRST FLOOR

Dome Interior

While standing in the center of the rotunda, looking upward at the base of the dome directly overhead you see the blue and green stained glass, imported from England. It sparkles with blue and green hues from underneath, but the upper side glistens with red, orange, and yellow shades. normal sunlight cannot penetrate and illuminate the glass. Electric spotlights were installed in the dome to shine downward.

Four of Wyoming's five elected officials - Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor and Treasurer - have their offices surrounding the Capitol Rotunda on the first floor. The Superintendent of  Public Instruction is housed a block south in the Hathaway Building.

The mounted Bison specimen on display in the hallway was raised with the state herd in Hot Springs State Park near Thermopolis.  While living, the animal weighed approximately 3,000 pounds and holds the distinction of being the third largest Bison ever to be enrolled in the Boone and Crocket Book of Records. In 1985, the state legislature enacted a bill designating the American Bison as the State Mammal of Wyoming. This American Bison is an excellent specimen of Wyoming's monarch of the plains. The bison was a key to the Indian economy, and when it began to disappear because of the white man, the Indian's independence diminished.

"Here in this rocky passage" an oil painting by Wyoming artist, John Giarrizzo hangs in the rotunda near the Secretary of States office. The painting, which honors the diverse national and ethnic groups who settled the State of Wyoming, was formally unveiled on February 22, 1988.

Chief Washakie

"Washakie stood for bravery and courage, he was a peacemaker. a strong leader and above all a wise and generous man." -- John Washakie, Chairman, Eastern Shoshone Business Council. The Chief Washakie statue is one of three commissioned statues. One stands in statuary hall in Washington D.C. as one of Wyoming's two contributions, another stands in the Shoshone Tribal Headquarters in Ft. Washakie, Wyoming. And the Third and Final is this one that stands in the capitol rotunda in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The sculpture was done by artist Dave McGary.

As you leave the first floor, mention should be made of the wood used in the capitol. The wood in the basement is maple, while the wood in the rotunda is cherry. In the house and senate the wood is oak.

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SECOND FLOOR

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives Chamber is in the east Wing, and was completed in March 1917. Allen True painted the four murals. Two oil paintings are done by William Gollings who has many paintings featured in the Whitney Gallery of western art in Cody, Wyoming. In the ceiling, the State Seal is embedded in Tiffany style stained glass.

Wyoming presently has 60 representatives. The 40th Legislature, in 1969, had a woman speaker of the house for the first time in the state's history. She was miss Verda James of Casper. Representatives come from the state's 23 counties and are elected to two-year terms. they must be 21 years old and a united states citizen and must have lived in the county for at least 12 months. the number of members is controlled by legislative apportionment. The number is never to be less than twice nor more than three times the members of the senate. the house has the sole power of impeachment of state and judicial officers except justices of the peace. All revenue bills must originate in the House.

Senate

The senate chamber is housed in the west wing, which was also completed in March 1917 the four murals were painted by Allen True. The state seal is embedded in Tiffany style  stained glass in the ceiling

Wyoming currently has 30 Senators, who are elected to four-year terms. To be eligible to run for the Senate, a person must be 25 years old, a resident of Wyoming and a United States Citizen. The Governor's appointments are confirmed by the Senate. It sits as a Court of Impeachment of state and judicial officers (except for justices of the peace) after charges are brought by the house.

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Third Floor

Balconies

The balconies are usually open for visitors at all times. You should note the Renaissance revival architecture here, which the columns graphically depict. The Tenth Legislature was the first to convene in the Capitol in 1888. the first state legislature convened in November 1890

Stained Glass Ceilings

The ceilings of both House and Senate chambers are inlaid with beautiful Tiffany-style glass and the Wyoming state seal is prominently displayed in the center.

Allen Tupper True Murals

The Senate and house of representatives chambers each have four large murals depicting industry, pioneer life, law and transportation. The senate murals are titled "Indian Chief Cheyenne," "Frontier Cavalry Officer," "Pony Express Rider," and "Railroad builders/surveyors" Those in the House are named "Cattlemen," Trappers," "Homesteaders" and "Stagecoach." They are the works of Allen True who contracted to paint them in August 1917 for a price of $500 each.

Legislative Conference Room 302

Ornate and uniquely designed hinges were installed during the construction of the Capitol in 1887, Their beauty and craftsmanship add to the handsome cherry wood doors found on entering room 302.

A 1,000-lb, tiffany chandelier, which was originally located elsewhere in the capitol, hangs beneath a beautiful four-pane stained glass ceiling insert.

The 8' by 22' mural painted by artist Mike Kopriva, a Wyoming native dominates the north wall. Entitled "Wyoming, the Land of the People, Past and Present" the art work depicts "real Wyoming and also some secrets."

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outdoor points of interest

Liberty Bell

A replica of the Liberty Bell stands on the Capitol grounds at the corner of 24th and Carey. Wyoming is one of the few states given a replica of the Liberty Bell that keeps it outside for all to see. on the capitol grounds at the opposite corner of 24th and Central Avenue stands a statute dedicated to those who served in the Spanish American War.

Bison

On the east lawn of the Capitol grounds stands a bronze bison statue. It was a gift to the State of Wyoming made possible by donations from Wyoming citizens. The handsome statue is the work of Cheyenne native Dan Ostermiller.

Esther Morris Statue

Commanding a prominent position in front of the capitol is a statue of Esther Hobart Morris, a replica of which stands in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol. Mrs. Morris played a role in granting women equal suffrage. The act to grant women suffrage was introduced November 27, 1869, during the First Territorial Assembly and was signed by Governor J.A. Campbell on December 10, 1869. Wyoming was the first government in the world to grant women suffrage and was thus named the "Equality State." A resident of South Pass City and later Cheyenne, Mrs. Morris was appointed the first woman Justice of the Peace in 1870.

Spirit of Wyoming

Conceived as a symbol to represent Wyoming's people, "The Spirit of Wyoming" depicts a cowboy and his horse at odds against nature and it's elements. This handsome bronze statue stands on the west lawn of the Capitol and is the work of national and international award winning sculptor and artist Edward J. Fraughton. The statue weighs nearly 4500 pounds and stands on a five-foot, pre-cast base for a combined height of over 18 feet.

Tree Walk

In 1876 Mrs. Nannie Steel reported that there were only 12 trees in Cheyenne! Almost all of the trees in Cheyenne today were planted by someone. The Wyoming State Forestry Division Created a map to the specimens around the Capitol grounds. The map is located in the capitol rotunda

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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