Published by Bill Graves Secretary of State K ,,W |

*•»•» ‘^W-5br*nf i. ... ■ >®:p tn ^o• »a. SELECTION OF A CAPITAL CITY

From the organization of Kansas as a territory on May 30, 1854, to its admission as a state on January 29, 1861, seven locations served as its capital.

The state government of Kansas is based in Topeka, the state capital since 1861. The first capital of Kansas was Fort Leavenworth, where territorial Gov­ ernor Andrew Reeder had his headquarters. Other state capitals during the territorial period were Shawnee Mission, Pawnee, Lecompton, Minneola Leav­ enworth and Lawrence. Some of those towns served as the capital several times—the capital changed whenever the territorial leaders decided to move it

Kansas became a state January 29, 1861. In November of that year an election was held to decide on a capital and Topeka was selected over Lawrence and several other cities. In later years there were several attempts to move the capital to a more central location, but none came close to succeeding.

The East Wing around 1880 Notice the live-board, pig-tight fence in the foreground

— 2 — BUILDING THE CAPITOL Capitol Square consists of twenty acres donated by C K Holliday and accepted by the legislature February 7, 1862. The legislature then authorized E. Townsend Mix's building design of French Renaissance architecture with Corinthian com­ posite details. The Board of Statehouse Commissioners on March 26, 1866 approved a resolu­ tion which provided that the wings of said building proiect east and west from the central building and that the construction of the east wing be com­ menced immediately . . No sooner had the appropriation been made than there was controversy among those desiring to furnish materials. It was decided to use a brown sandstone, obtained from the bluffs along Deer Creek, near Vinewood, in Shawnee County.

EAST WING The Cornerstone was laid October 17. 1866 It was yellow limestone placed in the northeast corner of the building (now east wing). According to one, the stone under the skillful manipulation of the workmen, presents a beautiful appearance The Topeka Weekly Leader described the ceremony as a day to be long remembered for the pleasing associations which cluster around it, ‘or it marks another milestone in Kansas history which passers-by will read years hence when we shall have shuffled off this mortal coil and have gone down into that bourne from whence no traveler returns.” The foundation was erected, but because of both a severe winter and the fact that this sandstone is a form of shale, it had crumbled to a mass of mud by 1867. One source opined two eminent scientists had approved it for building material, but they got their eyes opened when protests began pattering about their heads like hail on a tin roof It cost the state $40,000 to put in this foundation and a like amount to take it out The sandstone foundation was replaced by limestone from Geary County. Kansas Some newspapers suggested that ‘‘the cornerstone crumbled because the names of state officials had been chisled into it ” Its location was unknown until uncovered by major building repairs in 1950 In December 1869 the state officers were moved from Old Constitution Hall, now 427-429 Kansas Avenue, and the legislature of 1870 met in the new Capitol. The Senate and the House of Representatives both met in the hall, now used as a Senate Chamber, with a wall dividing the room The east wing was completed in 1873. Capitol Square stood well out over the edge of a great prairie in the 1870’s. A stone fence was built for protection against the village cows and other animals. As Topeka grew there was a clamor for the removal of the “unsightly stone fence.” Citizens insisted it should be replaced with an “ up-to-date fence,” so a “five-board pig-tight fence was constructed around Capitol Square. On Apn 22. 1875 Topeka mayor T J Anderson proclaimed Kansas Arbor Day. Topeka citizens responded by planting approximately 800 trees on Capitol Square. Regrettably, however, most died that summer. Droughts and tornadoes also caused damage, and little survived from the Mayor’s efforts.

— 3 — Construction of the West Wing in the early 1880's with its Cave of the Winds providing a walkway between the East and Wesf wings

WEST WING The Board of Statehouse Commissioners was recreated in 1879 and work was started on the west wing The legislature made an appropriation of $60,000 and provided a one-half mill levy for west wing construction. The west wing is architecturally similar to the east wing, except it is four feet wider and six feet longer The limestone used was from Cottonwood Falls Kansas. By 1880 this wing was enclosed The House of Representatives met in the new hall, although “ it was unplastered and . . . had a temporary roof. A covered wood bridge, referred to as the “Cave of the Winds' was built from the Senate to the House for messages to be taken from one to the other The cost of the west wing was about $300,000 compared to $500,000 for the east wing. The difference in the cost of the two wings, which were substantially the same size and design, was attributed to the depreciation of the currency after the great rebellion.

— 4 — CENTRAL BUILDING The 1881 legislature authorized the construction of the central portion of the Capitol and appropriated additional funds for the completion of the west wing Also during that session approval was given to the Topeka Library Association for construction of a building on the northeast corner of Capitol Square. The Topeka library was dedicated April 20, 1883, and was in use until 1953. The building was razed in 1961. Work began in 1885 on remodeling of the Senate Chamber and construction of the central portion of the building The excavations for the foundations, which support the dome, extend more than 25 feet into the ground, to a bearing strata of natural bedrock Workmen doing the excavation work discovered a spring m the rock The spring still flows beneath the Capitol. The contract for roofing the main building and dome was let in May of 1889 and a crack in the mam arch of the north entrance developed. The crack, caused by differ­ ences m the initial settlement of the foundations, was repaired by May of 1890. The original blueprints and architectural drawings of the Capitol show that the second floor was designed as the executive floor, and included the constitu­ tional offices of the State Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Secretary of State Governor, Attorney General and State Treasurer Offices of the Gov­ ernor, Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State still occupy the second floor.

This view ooks west toward the Capitol Exterior of the central portion of the Capitol was completed by the turn of the century. Thirty-seven years after construction started the Capitol was completed This view faces northwest THE CAPITOL COMPLETED Thirty-seven years after construction began, the state on March 24, 1903 paid its final voucher for the "completed” Capitol. Total cost was $3,200,588 92 The Capitol is 399 feet north and south and 386 feet east and west and 304 feet from the ground to the top of the cupola The dome is 66V2 feet in diameter at the bottom of the copper dome and 541/2 feet from the beginning of the copper dome to the cupola floor. The cupola height is 231/2 feet. The interior consists of a basement and five floors in the central portion of the building and a basement and four floors in the east and west wings

The Capitol in the 1890 s THE CAPITOL GROUNDS

The Pioneer Woman memorial The Abraham Lincoln statue

7 ne well-kept park-like grounds surrounding the Capitol invite the visitor to linger. Trees, shrubs and flowers add to the beauty of the area, and stone benches are located several places Also situated on the grounds are four special monuments. The statue of Abraham Lincoln southeast of the Capitol was sculpted by Robert Merrell Gage When Gage sculpted this monument, about 1915, he was just out of school and still living with his parents. The figure of Lincoln was made in the barn at his parents' home. Just southwest of the Capitol is a monument dedicated to the pioneer women of Kansas also done by Robert Merrell Gage Dedicated on May 11, 1937, it was a ; ft from the Kansas Pioneer Woman's Memorial Association, a corportion formed in 1929 A bronze replica of the Statue of Liberty, in the northwest section of Capitol Square, was dedicated on April 29 1950 by the Boy Scouts of Kansas. It is one of several copies of the famous statue that has become a symbol of freedom throughout the world. A Liberty Bel which stands on the east side of Capitol Square is a replica of the ‘amous bel m Philadelphia On July 4 1950 the bell, one of fifty-two assigned to the states and territories of the United States, was given to the people of Kansas as an nspirational symbol of the 1950 Independence' savings bond drive It toured the state during the drive and afterwards was placed in the rotunda of the C^pito' in July 1952 it was moved to Is present location on a permanent concrete pedestal. FIRST FLOOR

The flooring and wainscoting on the first • • | |t < M II* *1 floor are Georgian marble The west wing • i *H M * rt m r • • • wainscoting is Tennessee marble with in­ • | •«.* |* I I* • f » » • % sert panels of Mandual tile, capped with a chair rail of Italian marble and a base of Belgium Black marble The floor and wain­ scoting in the central portion are of Ten­ nessee marble

A plaque indicating that the Capitol is on the National Register of Historic Places hangs above one of the many beautiful marble panels on the first floor

The rotunda murals were designed and executed by David H Overmyer, a native of Topeka He was commissioned to paint eight murals on October 13, 1951 and they were completed September, 1953. “Lewis and Clark in Kansas’’ Following the purchase of Loui­ siana from France in 1803, Presi­ dent Thomas Jefferson directed Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the Missouri River to its source Several Kansas streams which flow into the Mis­ souri River were noted and named by Lewis and Clark

Battle of Mine Creek’’ "The Coming of the Spaniards The only major Civil War battle In 1541, Coronado and a band of fought in Kansas occurred at Mine 30 followers, lured by the myth of f Creek in Linn County October 25, the Seven Cities of Cibola, led f 1864 This battle, involving 25,000 an expedition into present day I men led by Generals Curtis. Blunt central Kansas, but probabi. nortf ■ and Pleasanton from the Union of the Arkansas River Va ey the forces and Generals Marmaduke weary Spaniards turned back to ’ and Price from the Confederate rejoin the main force They had Army resulted in the Southern found a land of great riches but« troops being routed, ending the not the golden land of Quiv ra and threat of a Confederate invasion cities paved with gold of Kansas — 8 — Battle of Arlkaree September 17, 1868. marks the date a large band of renegade Sioux Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians attacked a group of 49 scouts commanded by Colonel George A Forsyth Retreating to a sandy island in the Arikaree River the scouts fought off the Indians until a relief column from Ft Wal­ lace arrived to save the remaining men

"Arrival of the Railroad" A more auspicious phase of the history of 1860's to 1880's was the rapid growth and extension of the railroad which contributed greatly to the development of the mid­ lands Speedy and efficient pas­ senger and freight transportation contributed much to the settle­ ment of the Midwest

“Westward Ho" Ox drawn wagons traveling across hardship-ridden trails of the west, brought thousands of families to new homes in the west With each wagon tram was the ever vigilant scout showing the way across the land which the native Indian was reluctant to re­ linquish

After the Civil War over two million Texas Longhorns were left on the southern plains without a market The cattle were driven up the Building a Sod House Chisholm Trail from Texas to markets in Kansas, which took its The Prairie offered little timber for name from Indian Trader. Jesse building, so pioneers often turned Chisholm Stampedes, flooded to the soil itself Sod was cut into nvers extreme heat and lawless­ rectangular pieces which served ness added to the dangers of the as bricks in building the one and trait The era of the “ long drive" two room houses The soddy' was a picturesque one became a common sight in Kan­ sas

— 9 — AMERICAN LIBERTY BELL REPLICA A replica of the American Liberty Bell was donated to the State in 1976. It was given as a U S Bicentennial gift by the Depart­ ment of Kansas American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary.

THE VIEW ABOVE Looking straight up from the middle of the first floor, the viewer sees the inside of the Capitol dome In the foreground is a flag display depicting the six different countries that have claimed Kansas land throughout history Featured are a flag of England (1497-1763); a French fleur-de-lis flag (1682-1762), a flag of the French' Republic (1800-1803); flags of Mexico (1821-1836); and Spain (1492-1821) the flag of the Texas Republic (State of Texas after 1845) (1836-1850); the 34-star United States flag, symbolizing the admission of Kansas to the Union as the 34th state; and the 1927 Kansas flag.

— 10 — CAGE ELEVATOR An old-fashioned “cage ’ elevator is still used in the Capitol The elevator is run by operators, although automatic elevators have been installed else­ where in the capitol. In 1976, the legislature adopted a resolution declaring the elevator to be a historic item, and requesting state officials to preserve it in operating conditon

SECOND FLOOR—OUTSIDE

NORTH DOORS The north exterior doors on the second floor level have copper inlaid reproductions of the Great Seal of Kansas. It is believed that the north entrance was in­ tended to be the front of the building, since none of the other entrances has such inlay work. SECOND FLOOR Second floor east wing wainscoting and floor are Georgian marble The north, south and Rotunda areas have insert panels of Rose St Xavier with Rose DeBringnoles wainscoting North and south floor areas are of Georgia and Tennessee marble. Base and capstones are Belgium dark red marble and the mopboard and base of niches are rouge Royal marble from Italy Tennessee marble wainscoting and Belgium black base decorate the west wing Eleven fireplaces in the central portion of the building make the second floor unique These fireplaces can generally be characterized as having hand carved white oak mantels, fascia boards, and architraves The surrounds are ceramic tile. The only other fireplaces in the building were located in the House of Represent­ atives, but these have been closed with marble. Three Constitutional Officers are housed on the second floor Governor, Lieuten­ ant Governor and Secretary of State. The Lieutenant Governor’s Office, finished in white oak, has several points of interest In the outer office is a portrait of Samuel J Crawford, third Governor of Kansas, and a brass hall tree believed to be one of the original furnishings of the Capitol.

This fireplace in the Secretary of State s Office is characteristic of those in the Capitol Note the hand carved architraves, fascia board and mantel

— 12 — GOVERNOR S OFFICE The Governor’s conference room and office are finished in Mexican white mahogany. George Stone of Topeka painted the two pictures in these offices The painting on the west wall in the office area depicts settlers crossing the Kansas prairie in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. The Kansas seal, which is inlaid in the carpet, was hand-woven during the 1950s by an artist from India. Because of the nat­ ural Indian dyes that were used, the colors are more muted than those generally used in the great seal.

On the east wall of the Governor’s conference room is an allegorical painting of Justice, called “ Spirit of Kansas An interesting feature is an empty beer bottle at her feet, a tipped-over whisky demijohn and the broken shackles of slavery. Top of the inlaid hand carved table m the office of the Secretary of State The design indicates the artist’s interest in music and the sea, as well as his patriotism

OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE The office of Secretary of State is the most historically preserved office in the Capitol. A unique table, built by an inmate at Lansing State Penitentiary, was completed around 1899 It is a modified octagon which contains over 2.000 pieces of wood, has the U S Seal in the center with the four corners bearing circles containing the Kansas Seal, American Flag, eight-pointed star and forty-four stars, representing the number of states when the artist began the table Also of great interest is the large walnut Victorian mirror in the Secretary of State's office It was restored by the late Paul R Shanahan and believed to be from the original furnishings of the Capitol. The antique mirror is called a pier glass, a Victorian architectural term, which means a mirror designed to be between two windows. It has a marble stand at the base During the Populist period when bathtubs were part of the Capitol s household furnishings, it may have been used in the washroom

The Populists in the 1890 s, installed handsome porcelain bathtubs and white marble wash basins in most offices The bathtubs have all been removed and the marble basin in the Secretary of State s office is the only one remaining in the Capitol.

— 14 MURALS "he murals on the second floor were painted by artist John Steuart Curry (1897- 1946) who was born near Dunavant in Jefferson County, Kansas. There have been many controversies in the history of American art, but the most famous in recent art history is that which surrounded the John Steuart Curry murals on the second floor of the Capitol The first debate was between those who believed the painter’s portrayal of Kansas should be “raw, rough and true, and those who preferred “waving wheat fields, sunflowers and scenes of industry.” Curry spoke frankly about his ideas for the murals—to tell . . the story of the pioneer's coming into Kansas . . to paint this war with nature and . . to paint the(se) things . . . as a native of Kansas.” Other controversies bordered on triviality one was that “the Hereford bull was too red and not natural like . another that “ pigs tails don’t curl when they eat” ; and even disagreement over the pioneer woman’s skirt length because it "stopped at the knees.” However the controversy which eventually prohibited Curry from finishing his work was caused by Italian marble in the rotunda. Curry had planned to tell the story of the state in three acts The settlement of Kansas, including the conquistadores the plainsmen and John Brown, the life of the homesteader; and pastoral prosperity, including modern Kansas with its farms and industry.

Curry s Kansas Pastoral with its themes The Riches of the Land, '' “ The Kansan" and The Kansas Mother A John Steuart Curry mural entitled The Settlement of Kansas ' including The Conquistadores. The Plainsman and John Brown

He asked that eight marble panels in the rotunda be moved to the third floor for the painting of the life of the homesteader. The Kansas Council of Women opposed removal of the marble because the murals . . do not portray the true Kansas. Rather than revealing a law-abiding, progressive state the artist has emphasized the freaks in its history—the tornadoes, and John Brown, who did not follow legal procedure . . Kansas newspaper editors however, attempted to persuade the council to let Curry complete his work, but the marble remained, and the works are unfinished. Curry’s own words best summed up both his work and the controversy. . . the east wing is the first chapter of the book beginning with Coronado, the plainsman, and the epoch of John Brown and his era the west wing is the farm family of today in a setting of modern Kansas These two are the first and last chapters of the book The eight panels in the rotunda which comprise the book itself I have not been allowed to accomplish because of the order of the Executive Council forbidding the removal of eight small pieces of Italian mar­ ble . . . the work in the east and west stands as disjoined and un-umted fragments Because this project is uncompleted and does not represent my true idea, I am not signing these works . Of the John Brown mural he said, I have accomplished the greatest paintings I have yet done, and they will stand as historical monuments." The two-panel mural entitled The Settlement of Kansas occupies the east and north walls of the east transeptal corridor. It includes the themes John Brown "The Plainsman," and "Coronado ' On the south side of the archway. Coronado and Padre Padilla, the Franciscan missionary, look out across the Kingdom of Quivira, above which float the omnipresent buzzards North of the archway stands the figure of the plainsman and buffalo hunter, the slam buffalo and the thundering herds of buffalo pursued by Indians—in the background a lurid sun which lights the scene on both walls. The mural is 22 feet long and 111/2 feet high

— 16 — Centered on the north wall is the gigantic figure of John Brown. In his out­ stretched left hand is the word of God and in his right hand a "Beecher Bible” (r fie) Flanking him facing each other, are contending free soil and proslavery forces and at their feet two figures symbolic of the 1 5 million Civil War dead and wounded In the background are the pioneers with their wagons on the endless trek to the west and the tornado and the raging prairie fire, fitting symbols of the destruction of the coming Civil War This mural (31 feet by 11' feet) expresses the fratricidal fury that first flamed on the plains of Kansas, a tragic prelude to the last bloody feud of the English-speaking people. In the west transeptal corridor off the rotunda is located ‘‘Kansas Pastoral,” which includes as themes “The Riches of the Land,” “The Kansan” and “The Kansas Mother On the north wall there is portrayed the industry of the oil fields. Here is shown the oil rig demonstrating the tremendous resources of Kansas. On the west wall stand the ten-foot figures of a young farmer, his wife and children, and in the background the farm house, the night and evening sky. The south mural is a great reach of the Kansas landscape—in the foreground are the Hereford Bull, wheat field, feeding steers and hogs, and doves in Osage orange trees In the background are the fields of corn and grain running back to the distant hills and the setting sun framed by a great turreted cloud to the north.

1 hn Steuart Curry s dramatic painting of John Brown is quite famous and often reproduced

— 17 — WINTER MURALS In 1976, the decided to take action to have murals commis­ sioned for the second floor rotunda area where the Curry murals which were never painted were to have been placed Curry had completed sketches from which he planned to do his murals, and the legislature directed the new artist to "refer to" those sketches in preparing original designs for the new murals. A Capitol Murals Committee was created, and the committee selected Lumen Martin Winter, a native Kansan and noted sculptor, painter and muralist to do th* paintings. Winter’s murals were installed and dedicated in 1978 The murals depin eight subjects, as described by Winter

COL. JOHN C. FREMONT addressing Indians in SACKING OF LAWRENCE. May 21 1856 The the territory later to be called Kansas Fremont slavery issue sparked human nature to its highest accompanied by his aides, experienced famine and pitch in which newspaper presses were wrecked, hardships during his expeditions through the West homes plundered, property damaged and de­ stroyed, men wounded, and women and children intimidated

THRESHING. This scene depicts Kansas agricul­ SOWING. Winter wheat brought new hope • the ture before the introduction of massive machine heart-breaking disappointments of the praine n the operations In the early years of agriculture horse- 1870 s An early farmer applies a sod bus'mg plow powered threshing was a common sight in the to the Kansas soil The girl at the left wi^1 the wheat fields of Kansas sunlight in her hair, dreams of a new era

— 18 — Ci 'MMERCE For twenty years following the civil WELL DIGGING. A well was a necessity for Kan­ a cattle were driven along various trails from sas pioneers, particularly those on the high plains T<

EC UCATION. A teacher leads her students from a GOVERNOR'S MANSION at Lecompton Travel­ on. room school house to a storm cellar as a ers braced against the blizzard, approach the ttv itening storm approaches The tremendous Governor s Mansion at Lecompton This was the for -i of nature was often overwhelming to the early site of the Territorial Capitol in 1857 se*’ ers.

— 19 — ROTUNDA STATUES

EISENHOWER WHITE CAPPER EARHART

Four eight-foot niches in the second floor rotunda stood empty for almost 100 years. In 1981, they were filled with larger-than-life-size statues of four famous Kansans. Artist Peter F. Felten, J r , of Hays, Kansas, sculpted the statues in Silverdale limestone from southern Kansas. The statues depict U S President and military leader Dwight D Eisenhower of Abilene; noted Emporia newspaper publisher ; Topeka publisher, Kansas Governor and U S Senator Arthur Capper; and famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart, Atchison

TIME CAPSULES Four time capsules have been placed in the second floor rotunda a Kansas Centennial capsule in 1961, a U S. Bicentennial capsule in 1976, a U S Con­ stitution Bicentennial capsule in 1987, and a Dwight D Eisenhower Centennial capsule in 1990.

EISENHOWER, CURTIS AND McCABE PORTRAITS A portrait of President Dwight David Eisenhower hangs on the second floor near the Governor's Office. Eisenhower, of Abilene, was President of the U S from 1953-61 The portrait was presented to the State of Kansas in 1978 by the Edith and Harry Darby Foundation. Also on the second floor, hanging near the office of the Secretary of State, is a portrait of Charles Curtis, Topeka, Vice-President of the U S from 1929-33 He was the only American Indian to be Vice President, and also served as a U S. Representative and U S. Senator from Kansas. Across the hall from Curtis’ portrait is a portrait of Edward P McCabe who served as state auditor from 1883-87. McCabe was the first African-American to be elected to state-wide office in Kansas. McCabe was a prominent figure in an effort to bring blacks west. He came to Kansas in 1878 during the Exodus Movement” and set up a law and real estate office in Nicodemus, a predom­ inantly black community in Graham County.

— 20 — BICENTENNIAL STAINED GLASS WINDOWS Stained glass windows above the South doors were a 1976 U S Bicentennial gift to the State from the Kansas Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Topeka artist Patrick McKinney created the windows. They depict the contributions of the military to historical and contemporary Kansas life.

THIRD FLOOR The Senate and the House of Representatives are located on the third floor—the Senate in the east wing and the House of Representatives in the west wing The orridors on the third floor are Tennessee marble on the wainscoting and the floor m the rotunda is Georgian marble, installed by the Populist party as its memorial.

The Senate Chamber with its elegant marble and woods

— 21 — Ornate marble and hand-hammered copper columns at the entrance to the Senate chamber add to the beauty and elegance of the chamber The visitors gallery is situated above the entrance, as seen here

The Senate chamber is a work of art, as this close-up photo shows Detailed designs in plaster appear throughout the chamber

SENATE CHAMBER The Senate Chamber was criticized by those who considered the expenditures excessive. However, the Senate Chamber is one of the finest in the United States and was decorated at a cost of nearly $141,000 in 1885. The round windows, imported from France, on each side are a combination of faceted stained glass. In theory the glass was to accentuate the rays of light to appear as rays of the sun, but most of the glass had to be painted over because the light was not satisfactory. Costly marbles and woods richly decorate the Senate Chamber The lower wall, just above the baseboards, is a grayish blue marble from Belgium and is a very unusual color for marble. Above this, running horizontally around the room, is a panel of onyx from Old Mexico, referred to as precious stone White marble above the onyx is Italian Carrara Marble over the door is from Ten­ nessee and is very ornate. There are twenty-eight bronze columns, all hand-casted with designs of morning glories and roses. The bases of the columns are black cast iron grill work The senators’ desks and chairs are hand-made from native Kansas woods and stained dark oak The president’s rostrum is made of Honduras Mahogany as are the double doors at the entrance of the chamber

— 22 — HOUSE CHAMBER Marble in the House of Representatives is from Tennessee. Wainscoting on the east wall is made of many kinds of imported marble trimmed with Italian Carrara. Panels of Brocelian marble with Belgian black marble are in the base of the olumns Several pieces of marble in the east wall are of jasper, a variety of quartz, mentioned in the Bible— walls of jasper and streets of gold " The Speaker’s stand is made of walnut surmounted with hand-carved urns of solid walnut.

OLD SUPREME COURT CHAMBER Also located on the third floor is the old Supreme Court chamber, which occupies the southern portion of the central building. The chamber, which was vacated when the Supreme Court moved to the Kansas Judicial Center in 1978, is now used as a legislative hearing room. In 1978 the legislature enacted a law declaring the chamber to be a “ place of unusual historic interest and requiring preservation of the chamber with many of its original furnishings. The court chamber features French Renaissance architecture with handcarved white oak paneling The court bench and most other furnishings remain in the room essentially as they were when the Supreme Court used the chamber. Included are photographs of all former court justices, and bronze plaques commemorating members of the Kansas Bar who served in World Wars I and II.

*i tvs o/ desks in the House of Representatives surrounded by marble walls and wainscoting

— 23 — FOURTH FLOOR Corridors of the fourth floor have wainscoting and floors of a combination of black and white Georgian marbles. The pleasant proportions of this wainscoting combined with the attractive oak doors and frames make this floor s motif quite comparable to that of the more elaborate lower floors. Legislative offices occupy most of the space of this floor These private offices have wainscoting of quarter sawn white oak which is similar to most of the finished woodwork in the Capitol. This technique of sawing wood from the rough log has fallen into disuse, making the Capitol even more historically significant

FIFTH FLOOR Fifth floor public corridor wainscoting, while simpler in design, includes the same combination of black and white Georgian marbles that appear on the fourth floor. Elaborate raised panel doors and carved molding door frames accentuate this floor’s motif. Legislative committee rooms and legislative offices occupy this floor. An oak chair rail and base within these hearing rooms and private offices reflect the simpler design theme of the fifth floor. The stairway to the dome originates on this floor, passes through the attic and opens into the rotunda on the observation gallery which is visible from the lower levels of the building.

FORD PLAQUE In February, 1975, then-President Gerald R. Ford visited the Capitol. A bronze plaque commemorating his visit is mounted on the landing of the east steps, where he stood as he made his public address.

LANDON PLAQUE A plaque on the landing of the south Capitol steps marks the spot where Kansas Governor Alf M. Landon accepted the Republican Presidential nomination on July 23, 1936. His casket was placed over the plaque during memorial services October 15, 1987.

— 24 — DOME MURALS Upward from the rotunda are murals on the curved soffit beneath the first observation platform under the dome In 1898 the . . . State Executive Council, controlled by the Populist Party, employed Jerome Fedeli, a skilled fresco painter to do the panels He provided a design which included partly nude Grecian women Politics was involved in the criticism of Fedeli’s work— Populism vs. Republicanism The figures were referred to as “ nude telephone girls” by the ritics. In 1902 the rival party Republicans, who had gained control of the state, had the murals replaced by painters from Crossman and Study of Chicago at a cost of $7,600 The frescoing was done under the supervision of Abner Crossman These paintings have a mosaic background and are allegorical in composition In 1978 an artist was hired to clean and re-touch the panels and frescoes. The artist repaired water damage and removed layers of grime which had obscured the beauty of the paintings. They depict: Knowledge—East Panel—This panel shows a stately woman with an open book in her lap On her right is Temperance'’ pour­ ing from a goblet, and on her left is Reli­ gion with Bible in hand, and a cross at her side

Power -South Panel—The central figure is a woman with a half drawn sword To her left a Civil War Veteran and to her right a Spanish-American War Veteran

Plenty—North Panel—The chief figure is a woman with a lap of small fruits. The man to her right represents ‘‘Labor,” lamp in cap with pick and shovel at his side To her left is a woman representing Agriculture'' with a sickle and a sheaf of wheat

Peace—West Panel—The principal figure is a seated woman with a sheathed sword entwined with roses To her left is Art, a young girl painting on the other side is Science, a girl measuring the globe with a compass

— 25 — PRESERVING THE CAPITOL

Every effort has been made to preserve priceless artistic decor in the Capitol, such as this hammered copper panel Sixteen of these are located at the top of the inner dome, but for years one was inexplicably missing Recently one which had come loose was taken down and used as the model for a new one, then both were replaced in their positions

In recent years state officials have become concerned about deterioration of the limestone exterior of the Kansas Capitol A study by the Kansas Geological Survey determined that deterioration has been caused by weather air pollution, de-icing compounds and other chemicals, and bird droppings. The study also found that much natural deterioration has occurred in poor-quality limestone which was taken from a ‘‘bad zone" at the edge of the limestone deposits. The state geologists noted that a lack of present-day knowledge during building of the Capitol caused the use of inferior limestone, and that modern quarrying and stone-cutting methods eliminate poor-quality zones. The study concluded that the Capitol’s exterior limestone is adequate, however. Renovation work and precautionary measures begun in the last few years have helped to retard deterioration and disguise the effects of decay. Since 1967 the legislature has appropriated funds for extensive renovation of both the exterior and interior of the Capitol. Central heating and air conditioning have been installed; the legislative chambers and offices have been remodeled and the Governor's suite and other executive offices have been remodeled Prior to 1970 there were air shafts surrounding the Capitol rotunda which contained interior fire escapes and those were converted to legislative offices. In the late 1970’s storm windows were installed to make the Capitol more energy-efficient. In 1981 the Legislature had some renovation work done in the Senate and House chambers. Worn carpet was replaced, the legislators desks were refinished to restore the natural beauty of the wood, and cracks in the plaster ceiling and walls were repaired. Modern security devices have been placed in the Capitol to protect state officials and employees. Bullet-proof glass has been installed in the windows of the Governor’s office, and unobtrusive security cameras at several locations aid the Capitol Area Security Patrol in its work. The Capitol was declared a National Historic Site on September 3 1971

— 26 — KANSAS JUDICIAL CENTER

The Kansas Judicial Center, directly south of the Capitol, houses the Attorney General and the state courts. The modern three-story structure, with 162.000 square feet of space, was completed in 1978. Building of the Judicial Center was authorized by the 1973 legislature. Constructed of native Kansas cottonwood limetone, the building has been called one of the finest examples of contemporary architecture in the state. The $14 million structure, featuring contemporary columns and entablature, is done in a "modern monumental" style of architecture. Located on the first floor is the Supreme Court Law Library, which has 225,000 volumes, including foreign and domestic law reports. The library serves the state’s courts, attorneys and other citizens. On the second floor are the offices of the Attorney General, the Judicial Council and the Court of Appeals. The third floor houses the Supreme Court and its adjunct offices. A Fountain of Justice' was constructed in front of the Judicial Center in 1987. The fountain was funded by a local organization, Future Heritage Topeka, Inc., that solicited donations from businesses and individuals to have the fountain installed.

The Kansas Judicial Center houses the Attorney General and the state courts. HALL OF JUSTICE The public area in the Judicial Center has been named the “ Hall of Justice." The area, a 60-foot cube of space, is three stories high and features oak, Vermont marble and South Dakota granite: enduring materials which are in­ tended to symbolize the permanence of justice. However, the most prominent item in the hall is a large sculpture titled “Justice.” The sculpture is a half­ kneeling woman holding aloft a prairie falcon, native to Kansas. A bronze plaque in front of the sculpture notes that the prairie falcon is the “swiftest creature on earth' and has vision power eight times that of the human eye. The sculpture was designed by the late Bernard E. “ Poco" Frazier, sculptor-in-residence at the . Frazier selected marble for the project in Carrara, Italy, but he died soon after the rough carving was begun. His son, Malcolm Frazier was selected to complete the work. The sculpture was financed by a gift from Mr. A. B. Hudson of Maple Hill. A message on the north wall of the Hall of Justice reads, “Within these walls the balance of justice weighs equal.” Those words were written by Beckie Godsey of Dodge City, and her phrase was selected from messages submitted in a statewide competition for high school students.

“JUSTICE” The Justice' sculpture towers 30 feet high, in­ cluding the 8-foot base, in the 60-foot Hall of Justice

— 28 — The Alfred M Landon State Office Building is located directly east of the Capitol. LANDON STATE OFFICE BUILDING The Landon State Office Building, formerly the Santa Fe Office Building, is a recent addition to Capitol Square. The 1982 legislature authorized the purchase of the building when the Santa Fe Railroad Company began construction of its new building several blocks away. The state paid $11,245.000 for the purchase of the 10-story building and another $6 million for remodeling State agencies, which had been leasing office space elsewhere began to occupy the building in September of 1986. At the end of 1987. approximately 95 percent of the office space had been filled. The building was re-named the Alfred M. Landon State Office Building in a dedication ceremony April 15, 1987. Landon, who died October 12, 1987, was governor of Kansas from 1933 to 1937 and was the Republican Party’s pres­ idential nominee in 1936. DOCKING STATE OFFICE BUILDING The 12-story building is a modern structure completed in 1957 at a cost of $8.5 million. It is constructed of limestone and granite with metal panels and glass curtain walls. The building was re-named the Robert B. Docking State Office Building in a dedication ceremony January 9. 1987. The late Docking served as governor of Kansas from 1967 to 1975. Carved on the outside of the building are three large sculptures done by Bernard Frazier with designs symbolic of the state's history. On the east side of the building is a sculpture depicting the early French explorers who entered the state from the east and travelled up the rivers. The south carving illustrates a pioneer settler and his family with their trail wagon— the man has a rifle in his hand and the woman holds a sunflower. The sculpture on the west depicts the Spanish thrust into the state from the southwest: the captain and ever present priest along with an Indian group and lancer and bowman to symbolize the Spanish-lndian conflict.

— 29 — This sculpture by Bernard Frazier is on The Robert B Docking State Office Building is located be east side of the Docking Building. directly west of the Capitol. OTHER BUILDINGS The Governor’s Residence, Cedar Crest, is located on a hill in northwest Topeka Cedar Crest was built in 1928 by Topeka newspaper publisher Frank P MacLennan for use as his private residence The home was left to the State of Kansas for use as the governor’s residence at the bequest of MacLennan’s widow in 1955. The three-story residence includes private living quarters, a first-floor living room/dinmg area suitable for official entertaining as well as private living, a basement recreation area and an office for the use of the governor’s spouse.

Cedar Crest, the Governor’s Residence

— 30 — The Memorial Building, which houses the Kansas State Historical Society, is directly south of the Landon State Office Building and southeast of the Capitol. The So­ ciety has a large collection of items of historical interest, including newspapers, magazines, photo­ graphs, state records, and private letters and memoirs. The Memorial Building.

The Kansas Museum of History was opened to the public in 1984. Displayed in front of the museum is the sculpture. The Great White Buffalo, '' which is made of Italian marble. The sculpture, designed by artist Lumen Martin Winter, was completed by his son upon his father's death. The sculpture depicts an Indian overtaking a stampeding buffalo. The new Kansas Museum of History, built in 1983, is located on the west edge of Topeka on the grounds of the old Pottawatomie Indian Baptist Mission and Manual Labor Training School. The mission has been restored to appear as it did when built in 1850 Also on the grounds of the museum is the Stach School, a one-room schoolhouse built near Delia in the 1870s. The museum contains exhibits dating from prehistoric times to the present, and features such items as a reconstructed Southern Cheyenne teepee and a Wichita Indian grass lodge, a restored 1866 log house, an 1880 Santa Fe engine and a 1914 bi-plane. The museum also has a gallery featuring changing exhibits. The State Defense Building is located approximately two miles south of the Capitol and houses the Adjutant General's Department, including the Kansas National Guard and the Emergency Preparedness Division. The 70.000-square foot State Printing Plant, located in northwest Topeka, was completed in 1985 at a cost of approximately $3.5 million. The plant houses the State Division of Printing and State Central Duplicating. — 31 — ■ f . in A 4 Wk

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