West Virginia Capitol building

The most recognizable icon of West Virginia would be its Capitol Building. Settled along the Midland trail, this stately construction welcomes everybody traveling along the I-77/I-60 into Charleston.

Though the Capitol construction was only complete in 1932, Charleston has been West Virginia's capitol for some years, though intermittently. When West Virginia has been declared a State through declaration by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the state Capitol has alternated in the middle of Wheeling, the site of the inauguration of its first governor, and Charleston, the selection for state capital. Wheeling was a fair length from Charleston and to replacement the state records, officials and the capital itself, a extra packet boat was utilized to float all down the Ohio River, through to Kanawha and into Charleston.

Bangkok Tour

That was in 1870. Five years later, someone else legislature was voted in favor of returning the capital back to Wheeling. Back up the river the capitol went, and back into the Lindley design building, where the state's first legislature was convened. Not long after, the capitol moved into a stone construction donated by Wheeling.

After only two years, there was a clamor to move the capital again. The Legislature of 1977 let the people vote for their selection of capitals. Among the cities up for voting was Clarksburg, Martinsburg and Charleston. Charleston won the beloved vote, and the capital moved back into Charleston.

It was in 1885 when the capital moved back into Charleston, to newly built capitol building. The construction served the state for 36 years, until it burned down in January of 1921. The capital moved into a temporary building, while a new capitol construction was being built. The temporary capitol, or the "pasteboard Capitol" as it was called, due to the structure being hastily put together, only served the capital for six years - it too, burned down.

Luckily, the Capitol construction was nearing its completion. In 1927, when the temporary capitol was destroyed by fire, the west wing was already finished, and the east wing was nearing completion. By 1932, the Capitol construction was finished, with the main wing, which along with the dome was finished. The Capitol construction that you see facing the Kanawha River in Charleston today was opened and dedicated in June 20, 1932 by West Virginia Governor, William G. Conley.

The West Virginia Capitol construction in Charleston spans 14 acres of floor space, and features a gleaming golden dome. Built with limestones on a steel frame, the majestic construction was designed by Architect Cass Gilbert, the man behind the Capitols of Arkansas and Minnesota and the United States supreme Court Building. The dome extends at 293-foot high - five feet higher than the United States Capitol in Washington, Dc.

West Virginia Capitol building