In 1890 Wyoming was admitted into the Union as the 44th state. The construction of the capitol was authorized in Wyoming Territory in 1886 by the Ninth Territorial Legislature Assembly. Construction began on September 9, 1886. The cornerstone was laid on May 18, 1887.
The Dome of the capitol is real gold leaf. It has been gilded six times, the first in 1900 and the last in 1988.
In 1974 funds were appropriated for the renovation of the capitol. The project was completed in 1980.
At the time of my visit the governor was Dave Freudenthal.
Christmas season was when I visited and his office was decorated for the season.
No mention of Abe Lincoln Bust sculpture in front of the Attorney General's office was found anywhere. It seems to be a fine place for it to be displayed.
The House of Representatives Chamber is in the east Wing, and was completed in March 1917. Wyoming presently has 60 representatives. Representatives come from the state's 23 counties and are elected to two-year terms. they must be 21 years old and a United States citizen and must have lived in the county for at least 12 months. the number of members is controlled by legislative apportionment. The number is never to be less than twice nor more than three times the members of the senate.
The senate chamber is housed in the west wing, which was also completed in March 1917. Wyoming currently has 30 Senators, who are elected to four-year terms. To be eligible to run for the Senate, a person must be 25 years old, a resident of Wyoming and a United States Citizen. The Governor's appointments are confirmed by the Senate.
A view of the dome from the center of the rotunda.
A painting by Wyoming native Mike Kopriva. The art depicts "real Wyoming and also some secrets".
The lady at the visitor's information desk gave me a post card with this picture of this artwork on it; it makes a fine post card. She gave me the impression is was the most important item in the capitol; I thought I'd better include it here.
A replica of the Liberty Bell stands on the Capitol grounds at the corner of 24th and Carey.
Morris (August 8, 1814 – April 2, 1902) was a leader in the American woman's suffrage movement. She was also the first woman to serve as a justice of the peace in the United States. To promote the idea of giving women the right to vote, Morris organized a tea party (some people call this "The Wyoming Tea Party") for the electors and candidates for the first territorial legislature. With the national woman suffrage movement still being organized, Wyoming's enactment of such a law in 1869 was a legislative milestone. Laws were also passed giving married women control of their own property and providing equal pay for women teachers.
When appointed justice of the peace for the South Pass District on February 17, 1870, she became the first woman to hold judicial office in the modern world. During the statehood celebration in 1890 she was honored as a suffrage pioneer.
Conceived as a symbol to represent Wyoming's people, "The Spirit of Wyoming" depicts a cowboy and his horse at odds against nature and it's elements. This handsome bronze statue stands on the west lawn of the Capitol and is the work of national and international award winning sculptor and artist Edward J. Fraughton. The statue weighs nearly 4500 pounds and stands on a five-foot, pre-cast base for a combined height of over 18 feet.
Located across the intersection, southeast of the capitol.
On the east lawn of the Capitol grounds stands a bronze bison statue. It was a gift to the State of Wyoming made possible by donations from Wyoming citizens. The handsome statue is the work of Cheyenne native Dan Ostermiller.
