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List of state and territorial capitols in the United States
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A capitol, or seat of government, is the building or complex of buildings from which a government such as that of a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or the organized territories of the United States, exercises its authority. Although most states (39 of the 50) use the term capitol, Indiana and Ohio use the term Statehouse, and eight states use State House: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Vermont. Delaware has a Legislative Hall. The state of Alabama has a State Capitol, but since 1985 its legislature has met in the State House.
A capitol typically contains the meeting place for its state's legislature and offices for the state's governor, though this is not true for every state. The legislatures of Alabama, Nevada, and North Carolina meet in other nearby buildings, but their governor's offices remain in the capitol. The Arizona State Capitol is now strictly a museum and both the legislature and the governor's office are in nearby buildings. Only Arizona does not have its governor's office in the state capitol, though in Delaware, Ohio, Michigan, Vermont, and Virginia,[1] the offices there are for ceremonial use only.
In ten states, the state's highest court also routinely meets in the capitol: Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma (both civil and criminal courts), Pennsylvania (one of three sites), South Dakota, West Virginia, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The other 40 states have separate buildings for their supreme courts, though in Michigan, and Utah the high court also has ceremonial meetings at the capitol.[clarification needed]
Most U.S. capitol buildings are in the neoclassical style with a central dome, a style based on the U.S. Capitol, and are often in a park-like setting.
Eleven of the fifty state capitols do not feature a dome: Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Virginia.[2]
Forty-four capitols are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, marked with NRHP. Nineteen of those are further designated as National Historic Landmarks, marked with NHL.
State capitols
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Territorial and federal district capitols
[edit]| Photograph | Capitol name | Location | Years of current capitol construction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
American Samoa Fono Building | Fagatogo 14°16′42″S 170°41′20″W / 14.27833°S 170.68889°W |
1973 | Demolished in 2017; replacement is under construction. |
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|
John A. Wilson Building District Building |
Washington, D.C. 38°53′41″N 77°1′54″W / 38.89472°N 77.03167°W |
1904–1908 | NRHP
Originally called the District Building until renamed in 1994 after district councilor John A. Wilson |
|
Guam Congress Building | Hagåtña 13°28′30″N 144°45′8″E / 13.47500°N 144.75222°E |
1949 | NRHP |
|
Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature Building | Capitol Hill 15°12′42″N 145°45′17″E / 15.21167°N 145.75472°E |
1948 | |
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|
Puerto Rico Commonwealth Capitol | San Juan 18°28′8″N 66°6′22″W / 18.46889°N 66.10611°W |
1921–1929 | NRHP |
|
United States Virgin Islands Legislature Building | Charlotte Amalie 18°20′24″N 64°55′46″W / 18.34000°N 64.92944°W |
1828 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Virtual Tour of the Virginia State Capitol". Virginia Capitol.gov. May 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ "State Capitols and Domes". National Conference of State Legislatures. Archived from the original on January 7, 2013.
- ^ Daniel, Jean Houston; Daniel, Price (1969). Executive Mansions and Capitols of America. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Country Beautiful. p. 145.; "Alabama State Capitol, Montgomery". Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ "Alaska State Capitol, Juneau". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Original Arizona State Capitol, Phoenix". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.; The branches of the state government have relocated from the original capitol to adjacent buildings and additions.
- ^ "Arkansas State Capitol, Little Rock". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "California State Capitol, Sacramento". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Review of Colorado State Capitol". Frommers. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Connecticut State Capitol and Legislative Office Building" (PDF). Government of Connecticut. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ Estimate of 70 based on photograph
- ^ "New Florida State Capitol, Tallahassee". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ Edwin L. Jackson, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia. "The Story of Georgia's Capitol and Capital Cities". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ This appears to be an estimate that is used in Hawaii. "Cupolas of Capitalism". Cupola Consulting. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ^ "Idaho Capitol Building". Idaho Public Television. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "IL State Capitol". Historic Sites Commission of Springfield, Illinois. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "IDOA: The Statehouse Story". IN.gov. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
- ^ "Indiana's Third State Capitol Building Design Released to the Hoosier Public". Indiana Historic Newspaper Digitization Project. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Capitol Facts". The Iowa Legislature. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Kansas State Capitol, Topeka". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Capitol, Frankfort". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "The Louisiana State Capitol Building". State of Louisiana. Archived from the original on September 8, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "The State House". State of Maine. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ History of the State House and Its Dome. msa.maryland.gov (Maryland State Archives), 2007. Retrieved on April 5, 2014.
- ^ "The Maryland State House". State of Maryland. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ Estimate based on photograph
- ^ Kerry Chartkoff (February 28, 1992). "National Historic Landmark Nomination—Michigan State Capitol" (pdf). National Park Service.
- ^ "Facts About the State Capitol". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Mississippi State Capitol". Mississippi State Legislature. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Missouri's State Capitol". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Montana State Capitol, Helena". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Nebraska State Capitol". Nebraska State Government. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Nevada State Capitol, Carson City". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ Norma Love (July 14, 2013). "N.H. Statehouse Dome Getting a Golden Makeover". Concord Monitor. Archived from the original on December 6, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "New Jersey State House, Trenton". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ Estimate based on photograph.
- ^ "New York State Capitol, Albany". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Capitol". North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "History of the State Capitol Complex". North Dakota State Department. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Ohio Statehouse". State of Ohio. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Capitol, Oklahoma City". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Oregon State Capitol". Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ Pennsylvania Manual p. xiv
- ^ Caffin, Charles Henry (1906). Handbook of the New Capitol of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg: Mount Pleasant Press. p. 13. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ Parker, J. Fred (1914). State of Rhode Island Manual. Providence: State of Rhode Island. p. iii. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ "Tour Outside the State House (The State House)". State of South Carolina. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ "The South Dakota State Capitol Building". State of South Dakota. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ "Not-so-ordinary State Capitol is 150". Associated Press. October 5, 2009. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ Green, William Elton (December 2, 2015) [June 12, 2010]. "Capitol". Handbook of Texas (online ed.). Texas State Historical Association.; "Texas State Capitol, Austin". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 22, 2013.; "Capitol Views". City of Austin Library. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ "Utah State Capitol Building". Utah Travel Industry. Archived from the original on October 11, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ "Vermont State House, Montpellier". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ "Cupolas of Capitalism". Cupola Consulting. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^ "Capitol Facts & History". Washington State Department of Enterprise Services. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ James E. Harding (April 11, 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: West Virginia Capitol Complex / West Virginia State Capitol, West Virginia Executive Mansion" (PDF). West Virginia Capitol Complex. State of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Historic Preservation. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ "State Capitol Building". Wisconsin Department of Administration. Retrieved September 22, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Wyoming State Capitol Field Trip". Wyoming State Historical Society. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
External links
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List of state and territorial capitols in the United States
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The capitols of the states and territories of the United States comprise the official buildings housing the legislative branches and often executive offices of subnational governments, with one such structure designated for each of the nation's 50 states and its five permanently inhabited unincorporated territories.[1][2] These buildings, typically located in the respective capital cities, embody the decentralized federal structure established by the U.S. Constitution, which reserves significant powers to the states while territories operate under congressional oversight.
Most state capitols feature neoclassical or Beaux-Arts architecture inspired by the federal Capitol in Washington, D.C., with prominent domes symbolizing authority and many constructed in the late 19th or early 20th centuries during periods of statehood expansion and economic growth.[2] At least 20 current state capitols hold National Historic Landmark status due to their architectural merit and role in American governance history, though not all reflect uniform design—exceptions include modern or regionally influenced structures like Hawaii's open-air legislature evoking volcanic forms or Louisiana's Art Deco skyscraper-style capitol, the tallest state capitol at 450 feet.[2] Territorial capitols, such as Puerto Rico's Capitolio in San Juan, similarly function as hubs for local assemblies but vary in scale and style, often incorporating colonial-era elements adapted to island contexts. Relocations of capitals have occurred historically for strategic reasons, such as security or economic centrality, with examples including New York's shift from Kingston to Albany post-Revolution and multiple moves in early California before settling in Sacramento.[3]
These capitols underscore causal factors in U.S. political geography, including compromises during state admissions—like Ohio's 1803 selection of Columbus to balance frontier interests—and practical considerations such as flood-prone sites prompting rebuilds, as in Jackson, Mississippi. No major systemic controversies define the structures themselves, though individual buildings have hosted pivotal events, from civil rights legislation in Southern capitols to territorial debates on self-governance. Public access for tours highlights their role in civic education, with variations in security reflecting post-9/11 adaptations while preserving open democratic symbolism.[4]
Overview
Definition and Role
A state capitol constitutes the primary building or complex of buildings designated as the physical seat of a state's legislative authority in the United States.[5] These structures house the meetings of the state's bicameral legislature—typically comprising a lower house of representatives and an upper senate—facilitating the enactment of laws through debate and voting processes.[6] Beyond legislative functions, many capitols also contain offices for the governor and key executive agencies, thereby integrating elements of the executive branch while underscoring the separation of powers doctrine embedded in state constitutions, which mirrors the federal model by dividing government into legislative, executive, and judicial realms to prevent concentration of authority.[7] This distinguishes capitols from mere administrative offices, positioning them as central hubs for policy formulation and oversight rather than routine bureaucracy.[8] The functional role of state capitols embodies the federalist structure of American governance, as affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reserves to the states or the people all powers not expressly delegated to the federal government.[9] In this capacity, capitols enable the exercise of state sovereignty over matters such as taxation, public education, criminal justice, and land use, promoting localized decision-making that responds to regional needs without federal preemption.[10] By convening elected representatives in a dedicated venue, these buildings symbolize self-governance and the diffusion of power inherent to the republic, allowing states to adapt laws to demographic, economic, and cultural variances across the nation.[8] Territorial capitols perform an analogous role for U.S. unincorporated territories, serving as loci for local legislative assemblies—often unicameral or advisory in nature—under ultimate federal oversight, thereby extending federalist principles to non-state jurisdictions while accommodating their limited sovereignty.[6] A critical distinction exists between "capitol," denoting the edifice or ensemble of structures, and "capital," referring to the city itself as the designated governmental seat; for instance, while Sacramento is California's capital city, its capitol encompasses multiple interconnected buildings for legislative and executive operations.[11] Such complexes often incorporate provisions for public access and ceremonial events, reinforcing transparency and civic engagement without compromising operational security.[12]Historical Evolution
During the Revolutionary era, state legislative seats were often temporary and located in coastal cities to facilitate governance amid wartime disruptions and proximity to ports for communication and defense. For instance, many of the original thirteen colonies operated from established seats like Philadelphia in Pennsylvania or Boston in Massachusetts, but frequent shifts occurred due to British threats, with legislatures convening in multiple venues across states like New York and South Carolina between 1776 and 1783.[13] These provisional arrangements reflected the instability of the period, prioritizing accessibility over permanence. Following the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1789, states increasingly established permanent capitals, often relocating inland to better represent growing interior populations and mediate sectional rivalries. No fewer than eleven of the original thirteen states shifted their capitals within the first three decades of independence, driven by democratic imperatives to align governance with demographic centers rather than coastal elites.[14] This pattern extended into the nineteenth century, as westward expansion prompted further adjustments; by 1861, thirty-five state capitals had been designated, with relocations tracking migration flows to ensure political equity amid territorial growth.[15] The architectural influence of the U.S. Capitol, constructed starting in 1793 under neoclassical designs evoking republican ideals, became evident in state capitols after 1800, shaping a wave of emulative buildings. Many state legislatures commissioned structures modeled on the federal prototype, incorporating domes, columns, and central rotundas to symbolize continuity with national governance, particularly in expansions post-1830.[16][17] By the twentieth century, capital locations stabilized, with no major relocations occurring after the 1959 establishment of seats upon Alaska's and Hawaii's statehood, attributable to entrenched demographics, high relocation costs, and diminished incentives for disruption in mature states.[2] This era marked a departure from earlier fluidity, as settled populations and infrastructure investments reinforced existing sites against political pressures for change.State Capitols
Current Listings
The capitol facilities for the inhabited U.S. territories house their unicameral or bicameral legislatures, functioning as the primary venues for local lawmaking under federal oversight. These buildings have remained stable in location and primary use since the late 20th century, with no major relocations recorded after the 1990s; updates have been limited to renovations for maintenance, accessibility, and security, such as Guam's 2016 rehabilitation and the U.S. Virgin Islands' 2018 restoration of its hall.[18][19] For the District of Columbia, local governance distinct from federal operations occurs in the John A. Wilson Building, completed in 1908, which accommodates the Mayor's office and the 13-member Council of the District of Columbia; the U.S. Capitol handles congressional oversight of the district but is not its local capitol equivalent.[20][21]| Territory/District | Capital | Capitol Building | Year Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | San Juan | Capitol of Puerto Rico (El Capitolio) | 1929 |
| Guam | Hagåtña | Guam Legislature Building (Guam Congress Building) | 1949 (renovated 2016)[22][23] |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas) | Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall | 1990s (restored 2018)[24][19] |
| American Samoa | Pago Pago (Fagatogo) | Fono Legislative Building (Fale o le Laulau) | 1970s[25] |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Saipan | CNMI Legislature Building (Capitol Hill) | 1978[26][27] |
| District of Columbia | Washington | John A. Wilson Building (local council) | 1908 |
Historical Relocations
Nineteen states relocated their capitals before 1900, often driven by the need to centralize governance amid rapid population growth and westward expansion, shifting from coastal or riverine sites to more interior locations that balanced geographic accessibility with political equity.[28] These moves countered the influence of early urban ports, prioritizing sites with improved transportation links for legislative assembly and administrative efficiency. Economic factors, such as proximity to emerging trade routes, frequently intersected with political compromises to prevent dominance by the largest cities.[29] In New York, the capital shifted from Kingston—selected in 1777 for its relative safety from British forces during the Revolutionary War—to Albany in 1797, establishing the latter as permanent after years of alternating sessions between New York City and Albany.[30] This relocation favored Albany's position as the farthest navigable point on the Hudson River, facilitating commerce and defense while serving as a compromise between downstate commercial interests and upstate agricultural ones, avoiding over-reliance on the port of New York City.[31] Illinois exemplified frontier-driven centralization: Kaskaskia, a Mississippi River settlement serving as capital from 1818 to 1820, was abandoned due to its southern isolation and vulnerability to floods, with the Mississippi River's course shifting dramatically by 1881, eroding much of the town.[32] The government moved to Vandalia (1820–1839) as a temporary inland compromise, but population growth in the central prairies prompted relocation to Springfield in 1839, selected for its centrality in the expanding state and lobbying by figures like Abraham Lincoln, who represented Sangamon County interests.[33] This pattern reflected broader causal dynamics, where early river-based sites proved inadequate for states whose demographics migrated inland, reducing exposure to external flood risks and enhancing representational balance.[34] Post-Civil War relocations, such as Georgia's 1868 move from Milledgeville to Atlanta, tied into railroad expansion, positioning the capital at a burgeoning rail hub that symbolized industrial rebirth and integrated the state into national markets, though such shifts were rarer after Reconstruction.[35] Overall, these changes empirically favored sites with defensible geography and economic viability over prestige, with interior locations enabling policies less tethered to coastal commerce, as evidenced by sustained rural-majority legislative influences in relocated states.[36]Territorial and Federal District Capitols
Current Listings
The capitol facilities for the inhabited U.S. territories house their unicameral or bicameral legislatures, functioning as the primary venues for local lawmaking under federal oversight. These buildings have remained stable in location and primary use since the late 20th century, with no major relocations recorded after the 1990s; updates have been limited to renovations for maintenance, accessibility, and security, such as Guam's 2016 rehabilitation and the U.S. Virgin Islands' 2018 restoration of its hall.[18][19] For the District of Columbia, local governance distinct from federal operations occurs in the John A. Wilson Building, completed in 1908, which accommodates the Mayor's office and the 13-member Council of the District of Columbia; the U.S. Capitol handles congressional oversight of the district but is not its local capitol equivalent.[20][21]| Territory/District | Capital | Capitol Building | Year Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | San Juan | Capitol of Puerto Rico (El Capitolio) | 1929 |
| Guam | Hagåtña | Guam Legislature Building (Guam Congress Building) | 1949 (renovated 2016)[22][23] |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas) | Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall | 1990s (restored 2018)[24][19] |
| American Samoa | Pago Pago (Fagatogo) | Fono Legislative Building (Fale o le Laulau) | 1970s[25] |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Saipan | CNMI Legislature Building (Capitol Hill) | 1978[26][27] |
| District of Columbia | Washington | John A. Wilson Building (local council) | 1908 |