Envision a building where art, history, and government converge. That is the Minnesota State Capitol. It stands as the seat of Minnesota’s government in Saint Paul. This is not just a building. It is a monument to the state’s rich heritage.
The Minnesota State Capitol houses the Minnesota Senate. It also contains the Minnesota House of Representatives. The offices of the Attorney General and the Governor are here. There is even a chamber for the Minnesota Supreme Court. Court activities now happen in the neighboring Minnesota Judicial Center.
There have been three State Capitol buildings in Minnesota’s history. Architect Cass Gilbert designed the present building. Construction finished in 1905. Gilbert’s design drew inspiration from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. He was also influenced by McKim, Mead & White’s Rhode Island State House.
From 2013 to 2017, the Minnesota State Capitol underwent extensive restoration. This project modernized the building’s infrastructure. New mechanical systems were installed. Tens of thousands of marble pieces were replaced or repaired. Historic paintings and sculptures were cleaned. The building also gained safety and accessibility features.
The Minnesota State Capitol’s architecture is often described as Beaux-Arts. This style gained popularity partly due to the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. Cass Gilbert also took cues from the Rhode Island State House. He even noted that his plan was greatly influenced by it.
The building stretches over 430 feet from east to west. From ground level to the top of the dome’s lantern, it measures 220 feet. Inside, the building boasts over 300,000 square feet of floor space. This is about 5,000,000 cubic feet of space.
The Minnesota State Capitol dome is the second-largest self-supported marble dome in the world. Only Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican is larger. Gilbert based his design on it. The dome consists of three layers. The outer layer is self-supporting Georgia marble. Inside, a brick and steel cone supports the lantern and golden sphere. It also provides water drainage. Below is the decorative masonry dome visible from the rotunda.
Gilbert faced criticism for choosing Georgia marble over Minnesota granite. He wanted white marble to avoid a “glooming and forbidding” look. A compromise led to using native granite for the steps. Kasota limestone was used for interior walls. Georgia white marble makes up most of the exterior.
The Minnesota State Capitol opened with roughly 60 artworks. They cost $300,000, about 7% of the project budget. Over time, more art has been added. By 2017, there were nearly 150 pieces. Gilbert sought out the finest artists of the period.
One signature feature is the brass and glass eight-pointed star. It symbolizes Minnesota’s motto, “L’Étoile du Nord.” It sits in the rotunda floor below the central dome. The star motif repeats in the marble floor. Red Numidian marble from the Nile River marks the star’s points.
Originally, Gilbert planned allegorical art. However, Civil War veterans and legislators wanted art depicting Minnesota’s past. This led to Civil War themes in the Governor’s Reception Room. Statues of Civil War veterans were added.
On the Capitol’s south front lies the State Capitol Mall. It includes eighteen acres of green space. Monuments and memorials dot the mall. The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board oversees the mall and the building.
The 2013 to 2017 renovation repaired and modernized the building. It restored Gilbert’s original vision. Public meeting space increased. Life safety systems were updated. Accessibility improved. The original Georgia marble underwent extensive restoration.
Today, the Minnesota State Capitol is open to the public. The Minnesota Historical Society operates the Capitol Information and Tour Center. Guided tours are available. The Third Floor Gallery features rotating exhibits. It showcases Minnesota art, culture, and history. The Minnesota State Capitol is a symbol of the state’s past, present, and future.