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Gleaming and gold, the Iowa State Capitol building is a must-see destination for any Des Moines visitor or resident. The Capitol is home to many governmental groups and assemblies, but it is also a historic site and a symbolic building for our state. Why is this building so notorious to not only Iowa, but the country itself? 

Though constructed in 1886, the Iowa Capitol,  also referred to as the Iowa Statehouse, is shockingly not the original statehouse. The original statehouse was constructed in Iowa City, located in the center of what is now the University of Iowa’s campus. This building was erected in the 1840s and has been named a U.S. National Historic Landmark since 1976. Though the building is not in the current capital of Des Moines, the original Iowa constitution was created in the Old Capitol Building and the first governor of the state, Ansel Briggs, was inaugurated there. After ten years, the state decided to move the seat of the state government westward, making its location more centralized in Monroe City.  

The second statehouse was a three-story brick building which simply served as a temporary Capitol whilst the permanent Capitol building was being planned and constructed by the General Assembly. The temporary state house was destroyed by fires after 30 years. Around the same time, the budget for a permanent state house had been approved for 1.5 million dollars – however this budget was far exceeded – and the head architects, John C. Cochrane and Alfred H. Piquenard, had laid out the plans for this brilliant building. The Capitol building was completed in 1886 after many years of construction.  

The Iowa Capitol building is the only five-domed Capitol in the United States. In fact, it is one of only 10 golden domed capitol buildings in the nation. These glistening, 23-karat gold covered domes are not the only astounding features of the Capitol. The artwork and detailed architecture make this building a prominent piece of history and excellence. Costs to maintain this landmark have continually skyrocketed because as the years have progressed, the building began to deteriorate and also withstood serious damage from a fire in 1904. About every 25 years, the gilded domes are renovated in order to keep this prominent building glistening, catching the eye of everyone in the downtown Des Moines area. Though the exterior is, indeed, eye-catching, many people are drawn to tour the interior of the capitol, learning more about the building itself. 

The Capitol hosts tours for people wanting to learn more about the structure and the overall role the building plays in our government. According to Serena Adams, the tour guide supervisor at the Iowa State Capitol, roughly 75,000 people visit annually for tours.  

“Typically, everyone says this is one of the best capitals in the nation. We have visitors that make it their mission to visit all of the state capitols and this is always at the top of the list,” Adams said.  

The Iowa State Capitol offers walk-in tours Monday to Saturday from 8am to 5pm. These tours are roughly 90 minutes long and free. Visitors are led by tour guides through the building, admiring the architecture, artwork, and displays. One of the favorite aspects of this tour is the opportunity to climb the 90-step spiral staircase to the base of the center dome. Here, tourists are able to look down about 100ft into the center rotunda. Though visitors are not granted access, a surprising fact that many visitors are not aware of is that the Capitol has a system of intricate tunnel systems beneath the grounds. These tunnels connect to the different buildings on the grounds, allowing workers to easily access the other structures in the winter months. These tunnels can also serve as a safe and efficient way for higher up officials to move around the capitol property.  

It is no surprise that these tours are so popular. Adams gave a descriptive look into some of the interior features of the capitol.  

“Our law library is a favorite of a lot of people and it’s a very beautiful room. If you were to look at various lists, it would come up as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. It’s a five-story building with cast iron, spiral staircases on each end that houses about 100,000 law books,” Adams said.   

This room is shockingly beautiful. Guests are able to photograph each room and admire the library on their walk through.  

Something to keep in mind about this building is the attention to detail and labor that was put into its design. Everything was done by hand. From the hand paintings and hand stenciling, to the hand carved marble and wood.  

The artwork in this building provides visitors the opportunity to not only appreciate, but to jump back in time.  

According to Adams, the Westward mural is at the head of the grand staircase. It is 14ft tall and 40ft wide. It holds a lot of symbolism, depicting pioneers coming into Iowa and traveling with a large stagecoach. It shows what Iowa looked like and the pioneers cultivated the land.  

The artwork is a jump back in time. When people come to visit this building, they are not only looking at the gorgeous interior, but are able to learn more about the beginnings of Iowa and some of the key moments in Iowa history. Additional artwork that stands out to Adams is the overall attention to detail. There are lunettes, or semi-circular arches, around the center rotunda, statues, and mosaics that were crafted from half a million small tile pieces. The amount of detail in this building is what sets it apart from the other state capitols in the United States. 

The Iowa State Capitol reflects the values of the state and its history.  

“From the very start, Iowa has been a very progressive state. Our motto is ‘Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain,’” Adams said.  

This was created by members of the Senate committee and was even incorporated into the design of the state’s seal. The artwork suggests the overall idea of the state being progressive, as there are many works depicting women with rights and freed slaves. This artwork, from the early 1880s when it was added to the capitol, proves that the state has had very forward-thinking ideas, unlike many other states at that time.  

This historic landmark is a functioning and vital piece of government. Today, the Iowa State Capitol houses important groups and assemblies such as the Iowa Senate, the Iowa General Assembly, the Iowa House of Representatives, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Treasurer, and the Office of the Governor. This building also stands as a living museum, offering tours for visitors to learn more about the building and its architecture, artwork, and the artifacts on display. The primary use of this building today is to be a house for the legislative branch, where all Iowa laws are proposed. 

The Iowa State Capitol is a public building. The general public has access to not only tours, but actual events held inside the capitol.  

“The public is always welcome. They are welcome to sit in on committee meetings. They are welcome to sit in on debates. We do have rallies and protests with some of our more controversial bills that will happen or people that are just trying to get the attention of legislatures for their personal agendas. So yes, it’s a public building… The public is always welcome,” Adams said.  

This gives the public access to understand the process of passing or denying certain bills and allows them to hear the debates between the members of the various branches. The state capitol, and the branches of government it houses, is the key building to not only Iowa’s past, but the future of the state.  

The Iowa State Capitol has a long and impressive history. Holding countless events, tours to the public, and serving as the home to Iowa law, it is important to keep the building well maintained so it can continue to be a functioning piece of government and be accessible to people wanting to learn more about the state.  

Thanks to careful teams of local architects, there are plans already in place to make sure that this notorious building is left gleaming and gold for the future generations to admire.