Arizona was part of the territory claimed by Spain in the colonization of the New World. In 1821 Mexico declared its independence from Spain and eventually went to war with the United States. This war ended in 1848, and the land north of the Gila River became United States territory. In 1853 an additional area was acquired by the Gadsen Purchase. Arizona was basically part of the New Mexico Territory until 1863 when that territory was divided; Arizona Territory being the western portion.
Northern Arizona was mountainous, the South was mainly desert and Native American Apache and Commache tribes hindered the population by Whites. In time the territory of Arizona was made peaceful and the population began to increase more rapidly. In 1912 Arizona became the 48th state.
The Arizona State Capitol building was completed in 1900 and was the territorial capitol for twelve years, then the state capitol. In 1960 the legislature moved to their own buildings. The House of Representatives building is in front and to the north of the capitol; the Senate building is in front to the south. A West Wing (State Capitol Executive Tower) was added to the Capitol in 1938; the Governor's Office is now there. After a restoration, the building became a museum in 1981. Many of the rooms have been restored to their 1912 appearance.
The original structure of the capitol is depicted in this model.
The state’s key enterprises are symbolized on the face of the seal. In the background is a range of mountains with the sun rising behind the peaks. At the right side of the range of mountains there is a storage reservoir and a dam, below which, in the middle distance, are irrigated fields and orchards reaching into the foreground with grazing cattle to the right. To the left, the middle distance depicts a mountainside with a quartz mill. In the foreground is a miner with a pick and shovel. Above this is the motto “Ditat Deus,” meaning God enriches. In a circular band surrounding the whole seal is inscribed “Great Seal of the State of Arizona” and the year of admission to the Union, 1912.
The personnel of this office had the responsibility of collecting state revenues as its most basic duty. Other responsibilities included advising the Governor and the Legislature concerning taxation, and supervision of the tax structure of the State. As time past legislation had given authority of collection of other types of revenues, such as the insurance premium tax, state's share of parimutuels, gasoline tax, and others, to agencies not a part of the Tax Commission.
The Arizona Territorial House of Representatives met in this chamber from 1901-1911. Arizona's Constitution was hammered out here in the fall of 1910. Statehood was attained in 1912. The State House of Representatives remained in the building through 1959.
Beginning with the 28th Legislature in 1967, Arizona’s Legislature has been composed of 30 Senators and 60 members of the House of Representatives, for a total membership of 90. The members are apportioned among 30 legislative districts. The districts for the Senate are identical to the districts for the House, so that each district elects one Senator and two Representatives.
The World War I aviator statue that stands vigilance at the entrance to the Capitol Mall is Frank Luke. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor as an observation balloon buster in France. Luke Air Force Base in the West Valley is named for him.
Lt. Luke's exploits ranged only a scant 17 days, but in this time, as records reflect, he destroyed 14 German balloons and four aircraft, earning him the title of the "Arizona Balloon Buster."
On his last flight he crash landed. Instead of surrendering to German soldiers, he was killed in a gun battle with them.
The capitol is topped with a windvane similar to the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Winged Victory has been on the top of the building since the building's completion and has been free moving except for a time in the 1950's when a group of legislators had her tethered because they were tired of seeing her back side.
A partial view of a desert garden on the south side of the capitol. The log segments are petrified wood. Several pieces of petrified wood exist around the capitol. The Petrified Forest National Park is in nortern Arizona and contains the largest known collection of petrified wood.
The 1938 West Wing addition leads to this tower (or is this tower) on the west side of the capitol. The governor's office, as well as other state offices, resides in this building.
The plaza was established on March 9, 1978 by the Arizona Legislature in honor of Governor Wesley Bolin, who had died a mere 5 days earlier. The plaza is located in front of the capitol and serves as a home to a number of memorials honoring prominent figures in Arizona history as well as memorializing significant wars and other events that have had an impact on the state.
Wesley Bolin served as Secretary of State for 28 years. He assumed the governorship when Governor Raul Castro was appointed US Ambassador to Argentina. After serving four months as Governor Wesley Bolin passed away on March 4, 1978.
Click HERE to view some of the statues/monuments in the plaza.
