Montana joined became the 41st state of the U.S. in November 1889. It's slogan is "the last best place" and has the nicknames: "Treasure State", "Land of Shinning Mountains" and "Big Sky Country".
In 1894 Helena wins election for state capital over the city of Anaconda. In 1895 a State Capitol Commission was created and a site chosen for the Capitol. Corruption discovered within the commission delayed the start until July 4, 1899 went the cornerstone was laid. Completion was in 1902 and dedication ceremonies were held on the 4th of July.
A restoration and rehabilitation project was completed in 2000. the project upgraded technology, added air conditioning, and restored certain features of the building to their original 1902 appearance.
Sanders (1834-1905) was born in New York, moved to Ohio, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1856. After the Civil War he moved to the part of Idaho that became Montana. A member of the Territorial House of Representives from 1873 thru 1879 and after Montana joined the Union was a member of the U.S. Senate from 1890 thru 1893.
Rankin (1880 - 1973) was the first American woman elected to Congress (November 6, 1916). After one term she traveled worldwide, promoting peace, and tried to found a woman's commune on her Georgia farm. In 1968, she led more than five thousand women in a protest in Washington, DC, demanding the U.S. withdraw from Vietnam. She was active in the antiwar movement, often invited to speak or honored by the young antiwar activists and feminists.
Mansfield (1903 – 2001) was an American Democratic politician and the longest-serving Majority Leader of the United States Senate, serving from 1961 to 1977. Born in New York, raised in MOntana and represented the state of Montana throughout his political career. He served as a member of the Democratic Party in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1943 until 1953 and in the United States Senate from 1953 until 1977. During his tenure in the Senate, he served as the majority leader from 1961 to 1977. After he retired he was appointed Ambassador to Japan in April 1977 by Jimmy Carter, a role he retained during the Reagan administration until 1988.
The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Memorial Library at the University of Montana, Missoula is named after him and his wife. The library also contains the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center, which is dedicated to Asian studies.
Upper right plaque:
This historic bell, celebrating Montana's 100th birthday on Nov. 8, 1989 at 10:40 a.m., is from a church in the St. Ignatius area. It has been donated by the Brent Bliss Family of Great Falls and Dutton in memory of Elmer B. Bliss, Power-area farmer, who collected historic bells.
This room has had three lives. Originally, it housed the Senate; from 1912 to 1983 the Supreme Court occupied this room. The Supreme Court moved to the new Justice Building and this room became a committee hearing and public-meeting room.
The Montana House of Representatives is composed of 100 members. A representative is elected to a two-year term . Every two years, following elections, House leadership is selected.
The oil on canvas painting behind the speaker's desk was painted in 1912 by Charles M. Russell.
The Montana Senate is made up of 50 members elected to four-year terms. One half of the senators are elected every two years. Following elections, Senate leadership is selected.
Behind the speaker's desk in the Senate is the monumental bronze relief mural "We Proceeded On". The artwork depicts explorers, Lewis and Clark, at daybreak preparing to re-embark on their upriver journey through Montana"s famed Missouri Breaks.
Meagher (1823-1867) was an Irish revolutionary, flamboyant orator, and Union veteran of the Civil War who twice served as acting governor of Montana Territory.
"More than for any direct contribution to Montana, Thomas Francis Meagher owes his place on the Capitol grounds to his Irish Catholic heritage and Irish nationalist politics. Protestant Irish, or "Orangemen," led Helena's 1894 bid for the capital, while Irish Catholics led by copper magnate Marcus Daly favored Anaconda. Though Helena won the capital fight, in 1905 Anaconda backers settled the score. The Meagher Memorial Association raised twenty thousand dollars by public subscription for the statue by Irish-born Chicago sculptor Charles J. Mulligan (1866-1916). On July 4, 1905, speakers extolled Meagher's love of liberty and Irish heritage as his statue was dedicated before a crowd of over fifteen hundred."
In 1950, the United States Department of the Treasury assisted by several private companies selected Paccard Foundry in France, to cast 55 full-sized replicas of the Liberty Bell. The bells were shipped as gifts to states and territories of the United States and the District of Columbia to be displayed and rung on patriotic occasions.
Montana's replica is east of the capitol, just across the street near Montana's Museum.
On August 28, the Montana Highway Patrol Memorial was dedicated to honor Highway Patrol and other law enforcement officers who lost their lives while serving the people of Montana. The black granite memorial is located on the west lawn of the Capitol grounds in Helena.
This is the work of Sioux artist Benii Daniels and Billings sculptor James Hadcock.
