CINXE.COM
A Commemorative History
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "https://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> <HTML><HEAD><TITLE>A Commemorative History</TITLE> <LINK REL="SHORTCUT ICON" HREF="https://www.wvlegislature.gov/images/home_link.gif"> <meta name="description" content="The West Virginia Capitol: A Commemorative History"> <meta name="keywords" content="West Virginia Legislature, West Virginia, Legislature, WV, State Capitol, Capitol History, WV History, west virginia history, state capitol building, west virginia facts, charleston, charleston wv"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <style type="text/css"> /*#hist_toc {position:absolute; top: 125px; left: 630px;} #hist_title {width: 580px;} #title_pic {position:absolute; top: 155px; left: 15px; border: 1px solid black;}*/ </style> </HEAD> <link href="../../styletest1.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"> <link href="../../print.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="print"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <script async src="https://cse.google.com/cse.js?cx=5c3144a0752ec82d3"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function MM_reloadPage(init) { //reloads the window if Nav4 resized if (init==true) with (navigator) {if ((appName=="Netscape")&&(parseInt(appVersion)==4)) { document.MM_pgW=innerWidth; document.MM_pgH=innerHeight; onresize=MM_reloadPage; }} else if (innerWidth!=document.MM_pgW || innerHeight!=document.MM_pgH) location.reload(); } function _autoLayers() { //v1.4 by PVII var g,b,k,f,args=_autoLayers.arguments;a=parseInt(args[0]);if(isNaN(a))a=0; if(!document.setc){c=new Array();document.setc=true;for(var u=0;u<10;u++){ c[u]=new Array();}}for(k=0;k<c[a].length;k++){if((g=MM_findObj(c[a][k]))!=null){ b=(document.layers)?g:g.style;b.visibility="hidden";}}for(k=1;k<args.length;k++){ if((g=MM_findObj(args[k]))!=null){b=(document.layers)?g:g.style;b.visibility="visible";f=false; for(var j=0;j<c[a].length;j++){if(args[k]==c[a][j]) {f=true;}} if(!f){c[a][c[a].length++]=args[k];}}} } function _Snap() { //v2.65 by PVII var x,y,ox,bx,oy,p,tx,a,b,k,d,da,e,el,tw,q0,xx,yy,w1,pa='px',args=_Snap.arguments;a=parseInt(a); if(document.layers||window.opera){pa='';}for(k=0;k<(args.length);k+=4){ if((g=MM_findObj(args[k]))!=null){if((el=MM_findObj(args[k+1]))!=null){ a=parseInt(args[k+2]);b=parseInt(args[k+3]);x=0;y=0;ox=0;oy=0;p="";tx=1; da="document.all['"+args[k]+"']";if(document.getElementById){ d="document.getElementsByName('"+args[k]+"')[0]";if(!eval(d)){ d="document.getElementById('"+args[k]+"')";if(!eval(d)){d=da;}} }else if(document.all){d=da;}if(document.all||document.getElementById){while(tx==1){ p+=".offsetParent";if(eval(d+p)){x+=parseInt(eval(d+p+".offsetLeft"));y+=parseInt(eval(d+p+".offsetTop")); }else{tx=0;}}ox=parseInt(g.offsetLeft);oy=parseInt(g.offsetTop);tw=x+ox+y+oy; if(tw==0||(navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 4")>-1&&navigator.appVersion.indexOf("Mac")>-1)){ ox=0;oy=0;if(g.style.left){x=parseInt(g.style.left);y=parseInt(g.style.top);}else{ w1=parseInt(el.style.width);bx=(a<0)?-5-w1:-10;a=(Math.abs(a)<1000)?0:a;b=(Math.abs(b)<1000)?0:b; x=document.body.scrollLeft+event.clientX+bx;y=document.body.scrollTop+event.clientY;}} }else if(document.layers){x=g.x;y=g.y;q0=document.layers,dd="";for(var s=0;s<q0.length;s++){ dd='document.'+q0[s].name;if(eval(dd+'.document.'+args[k])){x+=eval(dd+'.left');y+=eval(dd+'.top'); break;}}}e=(document.layers)?el:el.style;xx=parseInt(x+ox+a),yy=parseInt(y+oy+b); if(navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 5")>-1 && navigator.appVersion.indexOf("Mac")>-1){ xx+=parseInt(document.body.leftMargin);yy+=parseInt(document.body.topMargin);} e.left=xx+pa;e.top=yy+pa;}}} } function _hideDiv(evt) { //v1.3 by PVII var b,relT,mT=false; if(document.layers){b=evt.target;if(b.aHide){ b.visibility="hidden";}else{routeEvent(evt);} }else if(document.all&&!window.opera){b=event.srcElement; while(b!=null){if(b.tagName=="DIV" && b.ahD){mT=true;break;}b=b.parentElement;} if(!b.contains(event.toElement)){b.style.visibility="hidden";} }else if(document.getElementById){b=evt.currentTarget;relT=evt.relatedTarget; while(relT!=null){if(b==relT){mT=true;break;} relT=relT.parentNode;}if(!mT){b.style.visibility="hidden";}} } function _autoHide() { //v1.3 by PVII var i,g,args=_autoHide.arguments; for(i=0;i<args.length;i++){if((g=MM_findObj(args[i]))!=null){ g.aHide=true;if(document.layers){ g.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEOUT);}g.onmouseout=_hideDiv;g.ahD=true;}} } function MM_findObj(n, d) { //v4.01 var p,i,x; if(!d) d=document; if((p=n.indexOf("?"))>0&&parent.frames.length) { d=parent.frames[n.substring(p+1)].document; n=n.substring(0,p);} if(!(x=d[n])&&d.all) x=d.all[n]; for (i=0;!x&&i<d.forms.length;i++) x=d.forms[i][n]; for(i=0;!x&&d.layers&&i<d.layers.length;i++) x=MM_findObj(n,d.layers[i].document); if(!x && d.getElementById) x=d.getElementById(n); return x; } function MM_swapImage() { //v3.0 var i,j=0,x,a=MM_swapImage.arguments; document.MM_sr=new Array; for(i=0;i<(a.length-2);i+=3) if ((x=MM_findObj(a[i]))!=null){document.MM_sr[j++]=x; if(!x.oSrc) x.oSrc=x.src; x.src=a[i+2];} } function MM_preloadImages() { //v3.0 var d=document; if(d.images){ if(!d.MM_p) d.MM_p=new Array(); var i,j=d.MM_p.length,a=MM_preloadImages.arguments; for(i=0; i<a.length; i++) if (a[i].indexOf("#")!=0){ d.MM_p[j]=new Image; d.MM_p[j++].src=a[i];}} } // function hov(loc,cls){ // if(loc.className) // loc.className=cls;} //--> function init() { _autoHide('subs1','subs2','subs3','subs4','subs5','subs6','subs7','subs8') } window.onload= init; </script> <!-- Google tag (gtag.js) edited 12-11-2023 JDT//DO NOT TOUCH--> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-EED2LTLF4G "></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-EED2LTLF4G '); </script> <!-- edited 12-11-2023 JDT//DO NOT TOUCH--> </head> <body> <div id="navskip"><a href="#main" name="begin">skip navigation</a></div> <div id="mainsearch"> <div class="gcse-searchbox-only" data-resultsUrl="https://www.wvlegislature.gov/search.cfm" data-enableHistory="true"></div> </div> <div id="logo"><img src="/images/header.png" usemap="#m_header" alt="header" name="header" width="878" height="80" onMouseOver="_autoLayers(0)" > <map name="m_header"><area shape="rect" coords="126,10,515,53" href="/index.cfm" alt="header"></map></div> <div id="trigger1"><a href="#" onKeyPress="_autoLayers(0,'subs1');_Snap('mb1','subs1',1,22)" onMouseOver="_autoLayers(0,'subs1');_Snap('mb1','subs1',1,22)">SENATE</a></div> <div id="subs1" class="submenus"> <a href="/Senate1/president.cfm">PRESIDENT</a> <a href="/Senate1/roster.cfm">SENATORS</a> <a href="/committees/senate/main.cfm">COMMITTEES</a> <a href="http://www.wvlegislature.gov/live.cfm">VIDEO/AUDIO</a> <a href="/redistricting.cfm">DISTRICT MAPS</a> <a href="/Senate1/clerk.cfm">SENATE CLERK</a> <a href="/Senate1/rules.cfm">SENATE RULES</a> </div> <div id="trigger2"><a href="#" onKeyPress="_autoLayers(0,'subs2');_Snap('mb2','subs2',0,22)" onMouseOver="_autoLayers(0,'subs2');_Snap('mb2','subs2',0,22)">HOUSE</a></div> <div id="subs2" class="submenus"> <a href="/House/speaker.cfm">SPEAKER</a> <a href="/House/roster.cfm">DELEGATES</a> <a href="/committees/house/main.cfm">COMMITTEES</a> <a href="http://www.wvlegislature.gov/live.cfm">VIDEO/AUDIO</a> <a href="/redistricting.cfm">DISTRICT MAPS</a> <a href="/House/clerk.cfm">HOUSE CLERK</a> <a href="/House/rules.cfm">HOUSE RULES</a></div> <div id="trigger3"><a href="#" onKeyPress="_autoLayers(0,'subs3');_Snap('mb3','subs3',1,22)" onMouseOver="_autoLayers(0,'subs3');_Snap('mb3','subs3',1,22)">JOINT</a></div> <div id="subs3" class="submenus"> <a href="/committees/interims/interims.cfm">INTERIM COMMITTEES</a> <a href="/Joint/admindivision.cfm">ADMINISTRATION DIVISION</a> <a href="/Interims/judicial_comp.cfm">JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION</a> <a href="/Joint/budget.cfm">BUDGET DIVISION</a> <a href="/Joint/fiscal-regulatory.cfm">DIVISION OF REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS</a> <a href="//claims.wvlegislature.gov/">CLAIMS COMMISSION</a> <a href="/Joint/victims.cfm">CRIME VICTIMS</a> <a href="/Joint/computercenter.cfm">LASD</a> <a href="/Joint/legis_services.cfm">LEGISLATIVE SERVICES</a> <a href="/Joint/perd.cfm">PERD</a> <a href="/Joint/postaudit.cfm">POST AUDIT</a> <a href="/Joint/legisinfo.cfm">PUBLIC INFORMATION</a> <a href="/Joint/rule_making.cfm">RULE-MAKING REVIEW</a> <a href="/Joint/csi.cfm">SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS</a> <a href="/Joint/rules.cfm">JOINT RULES</a> <a href="/redistricting.cfm">REDISTRICTING</a> <a href="//staff.wvlegislature.gov/"><strong>STAFF INFO</strong></a></div> <div id="trigger4"><a href="#" onKeyPress="_autoLayers(0,'subs4');_Snap('mb4','subs4',1,22)" onMouseOver="_autoLayers(0,'subs4');_Snap('mb4','subs4',1,22)">BILL STATUS</a></div> <div id="subs4" class="submenus"> <a href="/Bill_Status/bill_status.cfm">BILL STATUS</a> <a href="/billstatus_personalized/persbills_login.cfm">BILL TRACKING</a></div> <div id="trigger5"><a href="#" onKeyPress="_autoLayers(0,'subs5');_Snap('mb5','subs5',1,22)" onMouseOver="_autoLayers(0,'subs5');_Snap('mb5','subs5',1,22)">STATE LAW</a></div> <div id="subs5" class="submenus"> <a href="//code.wvlegislature.gov">WEST VIRGINIA CODE</a> <a href="/Educational/publications.cfm#acts">ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE</a> <a href="/Educational/publications/WVCode1931.cfm">CODE OF 1931</a> <a href="/WVCODE/WV_CON.cfm">WV CONSTITUTION</a> <a href="/WVCODE/US_CON.cfm">US CONSTITUTION</a> </div> <div id="trigger6"><a href="#" onKeyPress="_autoLayers(0,'subs6');_Snap('mb6','subs6',1,22)" onMouseOver="_autoLayers(0,'subs6');_Snap('mb6','subs6',1,22)">REPORTS</a></div> <div id="subs6" class="submenus"> <a href="/Reports/Agency_Reports/agencylist_all.cfm">AGENCY REPORTS</a> <a href="/SAGA/Agency.cfm">AGENCY GRANT AWARDS</a> <a href="/Joint/PERD/reports.cfm">PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS</a> <a href="/Joint/Postaudit/reports.cfm">POST AUDITS</a> </div> <div id="trigger7"><a href="#" onKeyPress="_autoLayers(0,'subs7');_Snap('mb7','subs7',1,22)" onMouseOver="_autoLayers(0,'subs7');_Snap('mb7','subs7',1,22)">EDUCATIONAL</a></div> <div id="subs7" class="submenus"> <a href="/Educational/citizens/guide.cfm">CITIZEN’S GUIDE</a> <a href="/Educational/internship.cfm">INTERNSHIP PROGRAM</a> <a href="//joint.wvlegislature.gov/page-program/">PAGE PROGRAM</a> <a href="/Educational/publications.cfm">PUBLICATIONS</a> <a href="/photos" title="Visit the Legislature's Capitol Photo Gallery">PHOTO GALLERY</a> <a href="/Educational/Capitol_History/cap.cfm">CAPITOL HISTORY</a> <a href="/Educational/Bill_Becomes_Law/Bill_Becomes_Law.cfm">HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW</a> <!--<a href="/Educational/Kids_Page/kids.html">Kids’ Page</a>--></div> <div id="trigger8"><a href="#" onKeyPress="_autoLayers(0,'subs8');_Snap('mb8','subs8',1,22)" onMouseOver="_autoLayers(0,'subs8');_Snap('mb8','subs8',1,22)">CONTACT</a></div> <div id="subs8" class="submenus"> <a href="/Senate1/roster.cfm">SENATE ROSTER</a> <a href="/House/roster.cfm">HOUSE ROSTER</a> <!--<a href="/Contact/capmail.cfm">All Members List</a>--> <a href="/Joint/legisinfo.cfm">PUBLIC INFO.</a> <a href="/News_release/news.cfm">NEWS RELEASES</a> <a href="/Contact/Links/links.cfm">HELPFUL LINKS</a></div> <div id="triggerhome"> <img name="Home" src="/images/Home.gif" usemap="#m_Home" alt="home" height="21" width="26"></div> <map name="m_Home"> <area shape="rect" coords="0,0,26,21" href="/index.cfm" alt="home" onMouseOut="MM_swapImage('Home','','/images/Home.gif',1);" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Home','','/images/Home_f2.gif',1);_autoLayers(0)"> </map> <a name="main" id="main"></a> <div id="wrapper"> <h2>The West Virginia Capitol: A Commemorative History</h2> <div id="wraprightcol"> <span class="noprint"><h1>Contents</h1> <A HREF="pg4-5.cfm">› The Early Capitol Locations</A><br> <A HREF="pg6-7.cfm">› Planning the Capitol Complex</A><br> <A HREF="pg8.cfm">› West Virginia Executive Mansion</A> <br> <A HREF="pg9-14.cfm">› Building the Capitol: Part 1 </A><br> <A HREF="pg14-16.cfm">› Building the Capitol: Part 2</A><br> <A HREF="pg16-20.cfm">› Building the Capitol: Part 3</A> <br> <A HREF="pg21-32.cfm">› The Architect's Description</A><br> <A HREF="biog.cfm">› Biographical Sketch of the Architect</A><br> <A HREF="commission.cfm">› Capitol Building Commission Members</A><br> <A HREF="5gov.cfm">› The West Virginia Capitol: Project of Five Governors</A><br> <A HREF="myth.cfm">› Mythological Figures in the Carved Heads</A><br> <A HREF="facts.cfm">› Summary of Facts Concerning the Capitol</A> <br> <A HREF="gloss.cfm">› Glossary of Architectural Terms Used</A><br> <A HREF="biblio.cfm">› Bibliography and Photographic Credits</A><br></span> </div> <div id="wrapleftcol"> <img src="history_pics/Capitol1.jpg" width="510px"> <br><br> <H1>Preface</H1> The purpose of this publication is to chronicle and salute the tremendous efforts of all those individuals involved in the planning, construction and maintenance of the West Virginia State Capitol. It is hoped that the ensuing narrative, facts and data, as well as archival pictures and recent photographic work, appropriately detail the construction progress and classic beauty of this monument to the State's citizenry. <br><br> Much that is published was drawn from materials at the archives search room in the Cultural Center at the Capitol. Advice and support of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History staff proved invaluable. Old editions of the West Virginia Blue Book provided historical perspectives, and bound editions of past Acts of the Legislature and Journals from both houses were important references. Recent publications by regional historians were also consulted freely. Credit for this document is extended to Robert A. Damron for research and writing and to Karl C. Lilly for editorial and printing guidance. <br><br> <a href="pg4-5.cfm"> next »</a> </div><!--wrapleftcol--> </div><!--wrapper--> <div id="footer"> <div class="footerlinks"> <a href="/bill_status/bill_status.cfm">Bill Status</a> | <a href="/billstatus_personalized/persbills_login.cfm">Bill Tracking</a> | <a href="/wvcodeentire.htm">Legacy WV Code</a> | <a href="https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bulletin_Board/Bulletin_Board_menu.cfm">Bulletin Board</a> | <a href="/redistricting.cfm">District Maps</a> | <a href="/Senate1/roster.cfm">Senate Roster</a> | <a href="/House/roster.cfm">House Roster</a> | <a href="/live.cfm">Live</a> | <a href="//blog.wvlegislature.gov/">Blog</a> | <a href="//jobs.wvlegislature.gov/">Jobs</a> | <a href="/Contact/Links/links.cfm">Links</a> | <!--<a href="/FAQs/FAQ.cfm">FAQ</a> | <a href="/site_map.cfm">Site Map</a> | --> <a href="/index.cfm">Home</a> </div> <div class="social"> <span> </a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wvlegislature"><img src="/images/SOCIAL-ICON-SET/512x512/facebook.png" alt="Find on Facebook" width="24" height="24" align="absmiddle" title="Find on Facebook"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/wvlegislature"><img src="/images/SOCIAL-ICON-SET/512x512/twitter.png" alt="Follow on Twitter" width="24" height="24" align="absmiddle" title="Follow on Twitter"></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/wvlegislature/"><img src="/images/SOCIAL-ICON-SET/512x512/utube.png" alt="Watch on YouTube" width="24" height="24" align="absmiddle" title="Watch on YouTube"></a> </span> </div> </div> <div class="baseline">This Web site is maintained by the <a href="/Joint/legisinfo.cfm">West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.</a> | <a href="/termsofuse.cfm"> Terms of Use</a> | <a href="mailto:webmaster@wvlegislature.gov"> <img src="/images/mail_icon.png" alt="Email Webmaster" align="top" title="Email Webmaster">Webmaster</a> | © 2024 West Virginia Legislature *** </div><br /><br /> </BODY> </HTML>