|
Images of the Nevada State Capitol
Photo by Terri McBride,
Courtesy of Nevada State Historic Preservation Office and
the National Historic Landmarks collection |
The Nevada State Capitol was designed by San Francisco architect Joseph
Gosling for $250, and built by local building contractor Peter Cavanaugh
between 1870 and 1871. It is a two-story masonry Classical Revival structure
that incorporates Renaissance Revival and Italianate elements into its
composition. It is a building of monumental character and harmonious
proportions. To keep costs low, the sandstone was obtained free of charge
from the Nevada State Prison quarry, just outside of Carson. The original
footprint of the capitol was cruciform, a central rectangle with two
wings. The first floor contained a major office at each corner connect
by central halls, while the wings of the second floor were filled by
the two legislative chambers--the Assembly and the Senate. The octagonal
dome topped with a cupola admitted light to the second story. In 1906,
an octagonal Annex was added to the rear (east) of the capitol to house
the State Library. By the early 20th century, the legislature had outgrown
the capitol, and prominent Nevada architect Frederic DeLongchamps was
contracted to design northern and southern legislative wings, completed
in time for the 1915 session. These compatible wings used stone from
the same quarry as the original portion of the capitol, and provided
more office space and expanded legislative chambers.
View of east and north façade of the
Capitol in 1872
Photo from Nevada State Museum in collection of Library of Congress,
Prints and Photographs Division, Historic American Buildings Survey,
Reproduction Number HABS,NEV,13-CARCI,4-3, f
|
|
For more than 50 years, all three branches of the state government were
housed in the Capitol. The Nevada Supreme Court met here until 1937, when
it moved into an adjacent building and the state legislature met here
until 1971, when it moved to its new Legislative Building just south of
the Capitol. Every Nevada governor except the first has had his office
in the capitol. Today, the Capitol continues to serve the Governor, and
contains historical exhibits on the second floor.
The Nevada State Capitol is located at 101 North Carson St. in Carson
City. The Capitol is open to the public for self-guided tours; hours
are 8:00am to 5:00pm, seven days a week.
|