Capitol Tour
WELCOME TO THE IOWA CAPITOL A WARM WELCOME to visitors of all ages from the tour department. Enjoy your Internet virtual tour of the Iowa State Capitol. Questions may be directed to: joan.arnett@legis.state.ia.us, or you may contact the Tour Department by phone at (515) 281-5591.   Tours of the Capitol last about one hour to one hour and 20 minutes. The tours can be scheduled between 8:00 and 3:30 Monday through Friday. Saturday tours are every hour starting at 9:30 and ending at 2:30. Groups must schedule in advance. Click here to schedule a tour online! Capitol Shuttle    Capitol & Lucas Cafeteria Menu   Capitol Building Address: East 9th and Grand, Des Moines, Iowa. Start Tour Capitol Facts Capitol Today Historical Look Capitol Grounds    The Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, signifies the prodigious spirit of Iowa. Built between 1871 and 1886, this magnificent building represents, both inside and out, one of the nation's finest examples of 19th century architecture.    Inside, the building features an array of majesty including many different types and colors of marble, works of art, fixtures and carvings in both wood and stone. One of the most commanding features of the building is the towering dome.    The dome, constructed of steel and brick, is externally gilded with 23-karat gold leaf. A belvedere on top of the large dome features a golden lantern at the top. In addition, four smaller golden lanterns are each attached to copper-covered domes at every corner of the building. These four domes are decorated with vertical lines of intermittent gold, giving each a braided look.    The state capitol is truly an impressive Iowa landmark. Each year the state capitol is visited not only by Iowans, but by people from all over the world. The capitol's golden dome can be seen for miles, symbolizing representative government for the citizens of the state.