On January 26, the legislature voted to secede from the United State of America. In , the state government left the capitol and fled Baton Rouge in advance of Union troops.
The capitol was moved to Opelousas and then to Shreveport. Union troops quickly took over the capitol building and used it as a command post, prison and garrison. Union troops occupying the building allowed a fire in the northwest turret to rage ultimately causing a catastrophic fire that gutted the building.
The exterior walls were the only things that remained. In , with the Civil War now over, the state capitol was re-established in New Orleans and the building remained vacant.
The state constitutional convention of stated that Baton Rouge was once again to become the seat of government in Louisiana. Freret as architect. The newly reconstructed capitol building was complete in Search form Search. Find current Master Contracts. Department of Enterprise Services. Cherberg Building John L. Vatican City 20 times the Leg.
The earthquake of caused relatively minor damage to the much-distressed old building. Several studies were commissioned by the state in the s to determine what possible use the building could hold, what type of repairs this structure would have to undergo to remain in service, and to what extent such repairs could enhance and affect a renewed lease on life. The Legislature approved renovation money, but work was delayed because the state had no place to move the staff. The employee problem was finally solved when the workers were moved to temporary facilities at the Thurston Airdustrial Park in Tumwater, and in March the initial phase of the Old Capitol Building Renovation Project began.
This first phase included seismic reinforcement, rough-in and mechanical work, and cleaning of the building, including the exterior stone work.
Phase I also provided for the construction of two towers on the east side of the building, for air intake and exhaust, which replicate the two towers on the west side. The towers house a heat-recovery chiller as part of the new heating and cooling system. The sandstone slabs for the stonework came from a quarry in Wilkeson, a small town in Pierce County near Buckley. During the final phase of the project, which began in February , the walls were replastered, the ceilings hung, and two new elevators, a new skylight and copper roof were installed.
Originally, the building sported a copper shingle roof. It had been reroofed in slate tiles, but when the contract for remodeling was let, a plate copper roof was specified. The new roof, which is crimped on the outside and clipped on from the inside, was chosen because of its cost effectiveness and authenticity. The main stairs and corridors are once again open, as in the original design of the building. In the late 20 th century, as the number of visitors grew, Congress recognized the need for better visitor amenities and accessibility, improved safety and security, and better opportunities for citizens to learn about their Congress and Capitol.
The construction of the new Capitol Visitor Center began in Opening in , the Capitol Visitor Center fulfills the need as a place for visitors to gather and view exhibitions and films, participate in guided tours and special events, greet their members of Congress, and see up close their government at work.
Capitol is a landmark of neoclassical architecture. Its designs derived from ancient Greece and Rome evoke the ideals that guided the nation's founders as they framed their new republic.
Within the building you will find majestic paintings, sculptures, and other works of fine art that depict various periods in American history.
Visible through the eye of the dome, feet above the floor, is a massive fresco painted by Italian artist Constantino Brumidi. They are surrounded by maidens representing the first thirteen colonies. Around the perimeter, on the ground below, six groups of figures depict War, Science, Marine, Commerce, Mechanics, and Agriculture; in these scenes mythological gods and goddesses interact with historical figures. Brumidi also designed and started painting the frieze at the top of the Rotunda walls depicting events in American history.
The Rotunda is the major stop on the Capitol tour. National Statuary Hall was originally the Hall of the House of Representatives, but in , after the current House Chamber was built, it was dedicated to the display of statues. Each state was invited to contribute two statues to honor individuals of historical significance. There are now one hundred statues in the collection, which is displayed throughout the Capitol and the Capitol Visitor Center.
The Old Supreme Court Chamber has been restored to its 19th-century appearance. The Crypt, directly below the Rotunda, holds statues donated by the original thirteen states. Capitol is our national stage. Today the process of seeking solutions to the nation's problems and unleashing the nation's possibilities unfolds here. The activity that goes on in this building is the center of our experiment in political freedom.
The Capitol is the scene of some of the nation's most important public events, from solemn memorial ceremonies to exciting July Fourth concerts.
0コメント