Touring the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck

This is North Dakota's
second state capitol.







The first Capitol burnt to the ground in December 1930.  North Dakota residents voted to keep the Capitol in Bismarck.  Thus Art Deco skyscraper design building replaced the old Capitol.  Ornamentation was stripped from its Indiana Limestone exterior.   The cornerstone was laid on October 8, 1932.

During construction, WPA (Works Progress Administration) employees went on strike.  They wanted to increase their wages from 30 cents to fifty cents per hour. Construction of the new Capitol was placed under marshal law.  The WPA workers did not receive wage increases.

The new State Capitol was completed in 1934.  Eighty percent of the building's space is used for government offices.  It is often referred to as "The Skyscraper of the Prairie."

The Pioneer Family Statue

recognizes the people who

settled North Dakota.

The State Seal in 

Memorial Hall.

This State Capitol has free post cards for visitors.  

North Dakota residents nominate

fellow North Dakotans for the

Theodore Roosevelt Rough

Riders Award.

I know know that journalist Eric Sevareid, baseball great Roger Maris, author Louis L'Amour, entertainers Angie Dickinson, Lawrence Welk, Peggy Lee and former US Secretary of State Warren Christopher lived in North Dakota.

The chandeliers in resemble
heads of wheat.

Geometric designs above the

couches are an Art Deco feature.

The entrance to the House of
Representatives is on the side
of the room.

The ceiling represents the
moon & the stars.

The public sits in the galleries above to view the proceedings.

The Senate Chamber ceiling

represents the sunset.

Both houses of the legislature are situated in the same wing of the building.  This configuration reminds me of the Montana State Capitol.

 The Governor's Office

The North Dakota

Supreme Court

Behind these doors are the

Supreme Court Justices'

Chambers.

Look at the grain of the wood.

What faces do you see?

The eighteenth floor has

an observation deck.

In the 1930s female patients in the North Dakota State Hospital made wicker furniture as part of their therapy.  Numerous pieces were brought to the State Capitol and are in use throughout the building.

  

We got snacks at the Capitol's

Dining Area.

Eric and I filled out our post cards and looked for a mail slot in the Capitol.

The view from the

Capitol.

There are walking

paths on the grounds.

On February 17, 2007,  8,962 people created Snow Angels on the Capitol grounds, breaking the old record for largest number of Snow Angels made in one place on one day.  North Dakotans are very proud of the is Guinness World Record event.

Here's the mail box.

The post cards have been

mailed & it's time to

head south.

The North Dakota State Capitol is very different from most state capitols.  The building is very simple, modern looking.  The grounds are very large, in scale with the nineteen story building.  Symbols in the building highlight the state's history and industries.  I am a fan of Art Deco and love the geometric flourishes throughout the building.