What Is the Missouri State Capitol?
It’s the Missouri State Capitol building!
What Makes It Historical?
Like many capitol buildings, Missouri’s is a third of a kind! The first one, built when Jefferson City became the capital of Missouri, burned down in 1837! Then the second capitol burned down on February 5, 1911! Not interested in getting burned a third time, the state issued $3.5 million in bonds to get to work on something a little more fireproof. They broke ground on Capitol #3, designed by Egerton Swartwout and Evarts Tracy, on May 6, 1913!
It would take four years and five million bricks to complete the capitol! It was supposed to be finished on July 1, 1916, and dedicated on July 4, but construction delays, like World War I, pushed it all the way back to October 6, 1924! Despite all of this, capitol construction actually ended up with a surplus of funds! That extra $1 million went to commissioning artists to fill the interior with stained glass, statues, carvings, and murals, like Thomas Hart Benton’s Social History of Missouri! This mural was controversial and almost destroyed twice, not for depicting the exploitation of Black and Native folks, but for showing Kansas City political boss, Tom Pendergast, and a woman changing a baby’s diaper!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer with the Missouri State Capitol Commission!
- Donate to the State Historical Society of Missouri!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
201 W Capitol Ave
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The capitol is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM and until 4:00 PM on weekends!
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