The California State Capitol in Sacramento, California

Construction on the Capitol started
in 1861 & was completed
in 1874.

Designed by architect, M. Frederic Butler,
it is modeled after the U.S. Capitol
in Washington, D.C.






The California State Capitol traveled around the state.  First established in Monterey in 1849, it moved to Pueblo de San Jose until 1851 before moving to Vallejo for one week in January 1852.  The Capitol then moved to Sacramento in 1852 before moving back to Vallejo in January 1853 for one month.  Benicia housed the Capitol from February 1853 to February 1854 before moving back to Sacramento in 1854.

Columbus' Last Appeal to Queen

 Isabella, carved in Carrara

 marble, was donated by

 D.O. Mills  in 1883.

Eureka translates to
"I have found it."


Minerva is seated with a
grizzly bear in the
south hallway.

Capital Mall ends at the bridge

across the Sacramento River.

A stairway to the
third floor.

The rotunda

Mosaics of California's
yellow poppies were
installed during the
1906 remodel.

Peter Burnett,

 California's first governor

The Senate Chamber

The desks are original.

Starting in 1975, the Capitol was carefully restored.  Layers of paint were scraped off walls and the original color scheme was restored.  

This photo the Assembly Chamber
was taken from the internet.

I wasn't allowed to take photos
because staff was preparing
for a legislative session.


 In 1973 the State Capitol was added to the National List of Historic Places.

This portrait is from Governor

Jerry Brown's first term

1975 - 1983.

He is California's current

governor.

Ronald Reagan served
from 1967 - 1975.

Governor Schwartzenegger

left this brown bear in front of
 the Governor's Office when

 he left at the end of his term.

Its nickname is Bacteria Bear because everyone touches it.  There's hand sanitizer 

dispenser nearby.

On January 17, 2001, Mike Bowers
drove a tractor trailer into the
southern portico.








The tractor trailer exploded, killing Bowers, resulting in 23 million dollars in damage.

Discoloration of the tiles &

blackened granite remain.

Eric and I enjoyed our tour of the Capitol.  It is a beautiful building, carefully restored in the 1970s. California's symbols and history are well represented here.