The capital of Minnesota is Saint Paul. The Capitol is the building in the capital where the state government meets. The current building is the third Capitol of the state. The project started in 1893 with approval for a new building. The cornerstone was laid in 1898 and the building opened in 1905. As the government grew, other building were created in the area. The building itself was expanded and the latest restoration effort was from 2013 to 2017, repairing the exterior marble, replacing the roof, and updating electrical and mechanical systems. They also restored much of the 1905 look to the interior.
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| Minnesota State Capitol |
Over the entrance is
The Progress of the State, often referred to as the "Quadriga." It's a Roman chariot that represent the forward motion of civilization, with the horses representing the four elements and the two women represent industry and agriculture. Together, they show the prosperity of the state.
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| The Progress of the State |
The dome is 223 feet high over the main rotunda.
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| Dome |
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| View of the second floor walkway |
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| More of the second floor walkway |
Under the dome is a large marble star representing the state's motto, "The North Star State."
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| Star in the floor |
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| View from the third floor |
Display cases in the rotunda show battle flags carried by Minnesotans during the
American Civil War and the
Spanish-American War.
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| Minnesota unit's flag |
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| Civil War flag--not much left! |
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| Flag pole carried by Civil War soldier |
In the early 1800s, the area of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio was called the Northwest Territory. Minnesota became a state in 1858, just before the Civil War broke out.
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| Northwest Territory plaque |
Another plaque commemorates those who died during the Civil War at the Battle of Gettysburg.
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| Gettysburg memorial |
Allegorical frescos and painting are all over the building.
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| A random fresco |
The Governor's Reception Room is on the first floor and is used to impress guests, hold press conferences, and provide workspace for meetings. The decor has been restored to the 1905 grandeur, including several paintings of Civil War scenes.
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| Governor's Reception Room |
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| One corner |
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| Second Minnesota Regiment at Mission Ridge by Douglas Volk |
The basement has a cafeteria called the Rathskeller. We were fascinated by the information here. A rathskeller was typical in German government buildings--a bar or restaurant was put in the basement where legislators could relax and interact with the public. The builders imitated this bit of German history (since many immigrants to Minnesota were German). A lot of mottos and sayings were put up in German, some promoting the joy and camaraderie from drinking together. The popularity of Germany tanked during World War I and of drinking during Prohibition, so the decor was changed considerably. By 1999, a restoration project was started to give it back its original flavor.
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| Rathskeller |
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| Patriotic ceiling decor |
On the second floor, the Minnesota House of Representative and the Senate meet in magnificent chambers. The house has 134 representatives who have two-year terms of office; the senate has 67 members who have four-year terms.
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| House of Representative |
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| Seating chart |
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| Skylight |
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| Senate Chamber |
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| Seating chart |
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| Fresco in the Senate |
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| Another Senate fresco |
The hallways have lots of paintings, sometime of common people at their professions.
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| Lumberman |
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| Milk maid |
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| Tomorrow, Today, and Yesterday |
The Minnesota Supreme Court has a chief justice and six associate justices. Their chamber is also on the second floor.
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| Supreme Court chamber |
Back outside, we discovered that it had started to rain. I took one last picture looking over at the
Cathedral of Saint Paul in the not too far distance.
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| Separation of church and state! |
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