resident Abraham TERRITORIAL works to enact or execute laws. PLincoln signed the act BEGINNINGS The legislative branch makes creating Territory in the laws; they might make new 1863. The territorial capital contracts, and approve archi- or change old laws. The moved from Lewiston to Boise tectural plans for Idaho’s State legislature is comprised of in 1865. In 1886, at a cost Capitol. The commission senators and representatives. of $80,000, the Territorial was responsible for The judicial branch interprets Capitol building was acquiring the site and laws and settles disputes. The completed. The overseeing construction trial and appeals courts Norman-style building of the building. interpret laws in criminal and was made of red brick, civil trials. The Supreme Court had five floors, and had Idaho’s Constitution of Idaho is the state’s highest no indoor plumbing. gives our state three court. The Territorial Capitol branches of

was razed for government. Idaho’s Territorial Capitol ISHS 76-138.18; Lincoln, ISHS 477-c,; seal, ISHS 63-5.18b ISHS seal, 477-c,; ISHS Lincoln, 76-138.18; ISHS construction of the east For many wing of the new State years, all three Capitol. had offices in the Capitol. Idaho became the 43rd The executive state in the Union in 1890; branch carries out the President laws. With seven was in office at the time. In elected officers, 1905 the Idaho State Legislature including the created the Capitol Building Governor, and Commission with the power to seventeen depart- issue bonds, negotiate and sign ments, this branch ISHS 76-114.9 J. E. Tourtellotte surveys the city surveys J. E. Tourtellotte from the State Capitol. contracted to design the wings for the building. Construction on the wings began in 1919 and was completed in 1920. The Central School building was demolished to make way for the west wing, much as the Capitol building was Territorial of the razed for construction east wing.

ISHS 187-47 OF OUR OF OUR STATE CAPITOL STATE STATE CAPITOL STATE CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION included the central portion of included the central and the dome. the State Capitol J. E. architect Described by it is as neoclassic, Tourtellotte patterned after the Capitol in Washington, D.C. When the central section completed in and dome were Charles and 1912, Tourtellotte Hummel of Boise were

ISHS 60-52.204

ISHS 2347 he design, acquisition of acquisition he design, materials, and construction materials, T of Idaho’s capitol was of Idaho’s capitol a 15-year conducted over phase of period. The first in 1905 and began construction A SOLID FOUNDATION

he building’s deep Tfoundation rests upon river gravel more than 15 feet below ground. The concrete founda- tion holds a granite base which was shipped from Vermont. Barre (pronounced berry) granite has large grain, is hard, and has a notable salt-and- pepper appearance. Native sandstone from nearby Table Rock is the material used for most of the superstructure. Sandstone blocks weighing up to ten tons were transported by Idaho Penitentiary Above: gang saw convicts from the cutting stone for the state-owned Table central portion of the Rock quarry. Capitol building.

Right: Nick Sionis These tools belonged and his State Capitol to a mason who construction crew, worked on the State 1904-1905. Capitol. MARBLE cost and weight. An imitation AND SCAGLIOLA form of the stone came into use. This special art was crafted for our different types of the Capitol’s columns by an Fmarble were used in Italian family who traveled to creating the interior of Idaho’s Idaho from New York. In 1976, State Capitol. The red marble the pillars were repaired by is from Georgia, while the black drilling holes and injecting a you see is Italian marble. The liquid adhesive. A polyure- green swirled marble thane finish was then applied decorating the walls is from to the surface for protection. Vermont, and the grey marble comes from Alaska. You may The sixty-foot-high columns are be surprised to learn the pillars adorned with Corinthian are not made of marble at all! capitals featuring acanthus Rather they are composed of leaves. Doric and Ionic scagliola (pronounced columns are also found skalyola)—a mixture of throughout the building. The gypsum and glue, marble dust three styles represent different and granite dyed to look like time periods of Greek marble. Scagliola came from a architecture. special plastering art which originated in Italy during the sixteenth century. Polished marble was popular for building interiors; however, it was inconvenient to use due to Doric Ionic here are many impressive • Step into the center of the 1ST FLOOR Tfeatures to be seen on the rotunda on the ground floor, first floor of the State Capitol, and look upward to view the such as the symbolic sundial. Bunker Hill Mining Company breathtaking interior of the Designed and donated by Gys in northern Idaho. dome. Look down to see the Jansen van Beek, the sundial compass rose beneath your symbolizes Idaho’s abundance • Displays located in the east feet. of natural resources and its and west wings of the first floor major industries. highlight the diversity of the • The office of the State state and the talents of its Treasurer is in the east wing. • The statue of a miner, entitled people. An original vault containing a “The Patriot,” was large safe made by sculpted with a the Manganese Steel welding torch by Safe Co. of New miner Kenneth York is still in use. Lonn of the Silver Legislative Services Valley. It is dedi- also occupies office cated to the men space in the east and women of wing. The Division Idaho’s mining of Financial industry in memory Management of the 91 miners occupies offices who lost their lives located in the west in the 1972 wing. Sunshine Mine disaster. The statue is on loan from the ISHS 74-3.155 fter walking up the stairs, gifts to the capital cities in the 2ND FLOOR Ayou will see an equestrian United States. The “Merci statue of . Train” gifts were a gesture of This beautiful statue, crafted by island of Samothrace in the thanks to the U.S. from France German immigrant Charles Aegean Sea in 1863 and is following World War II. Ostner, was carved from pine. estimated to have been Idaho’s “Merci Train” gifts According to popular folklore, sculpted around 300 B.C. It were distributed among the it took Ostner four years to now stands in the Louvre in state’s 44 counties. The boxcar carve the figure using a Paris, France. In 1949, France itself is on exhibit at the Old postage-stamp likeness of sent 49 box cars laden with Idaho Penitentiary.

ISHS 138 Washington as reference. The statue was painted bronze and presented to the Territory of Idaho in 1869. It stood on display on the Capitol grounds until 1934 when it was brought inside to prevent further weather damage. It was refinished, covered with gold leaf, and placed in its glass case in 1966.

Moving around the rotunda, you will see a replica of the “Winged Victory of Samothrace.” The original The George Washington statue dedication is shown in this drawing by marble statue was found on the Charles Ostner, in the white hat at right below the statue. he Governor’s suite of of offices. These offices were 2ND FLOOR Toffices is located in the west used by the Idaho Supreme wing on the second floor of the Court until the new Supreme State Capitol. The Governor’s The Lieutenant Governor’s Court building and library official portrait may be seen office is located in the west were built in 1970. A devastat- here. A portrait gallery of all wing opposite the Governor’s ing fire occurred in this portion previous governors of the state office. Flags flown by the First of the Capitol on January 1, is displayed in the hallway Regiment Idaho Infantry in the 1992. Nearly all of the outside the offices. Philippines during the Spanish Attorney General’s suite was American War are presented in destroyed. Restoration of the Notice the display on the wall this office. The flag with the offices took two and a half opposite the offices. blue background and years. Great attention was It holds flags repre- a seal similar to our given to reproducing all of the senting Idaho state’s was designed building elements with regiments in France by these soldiers and historical accuracy. Mahogany during World War I. was the inspiration woodwork Each flag was carried for the Idaho flag. and decora- in a different offen- tive plaster sive. Also on this The office of the cornices are side of the hall is a display Secretary of State is in the present containing a setting of the east wing. The “official throughout Governor’s official china. All copy” of the Great Seal of the the struc- 26 place settings of the china, State of Idaho is kept in the ture. silver, and crystal were donated reception area. to the state by various groups Exterior and individuals. The second floor also houses damage from

the Attorney General’s suite State Historic Preservation Office, Idaho State Historical Society the 1992 fire. ISHS 62-86.58 Supreme Court Chamber. The 1929-30 Idaho Judicial Council meets in the All are elected for two-year and the Senate has 35 members. The House has 70 members offices surround each chamber. wing. Committee rooms and of Representatives in the east in the west wing and House legislative chambers, the Senate O n the third floor of the State Capitol are the committee room for the Joint Court Chamber. It is now the housed the Idaho Supreme side of the rotunda once The large room on the north session three months each year. terms. The legislature is in 3 3 RD FLOOR RD FLOOR Committee. The Appropriations Finance- to find up-to-the- public and media Center allows the the Information On the south side, Court justices. of the Supreme originally the seat of the room was bench at the front and mahogany dark green marble

the in 1898. The first women were elected to from this location. the legislators. Pages work information from the public to oversees distribution of Information Center also legislative session. The minute news during the ISHS 752 ISHS ISHS 60-66.67 leading to the galleries are through March. Hallways January and usually continues annual session begins in early lawmakers at work. The an interesting view of our open to the public and provide The gallery areas are usually are located on the fourth floor. B Senate and House galleries alcony entrances to the fourth floor are the Idaho In the rotunda area of the legislative staff. rooms for committees and floor also houses meeting Idaho legislators. The fourth lined with photographs of past 4 4 TH FLOOR TH FLOOR located next to each mural. future. Interpretive signs are story—past, present, and symbols, the murals tell Idaho’s history and culture. Using who have shaped the state’s communities and individuals These murals pay tribute to titled “A Legend of Dreams.” Historic Statehouse Murals is walled off. beneath the gallery; now this area had drapes covering the space The Idaho House chamber once Statehouse murals. painted fabric to create the Artist Dana Boussard used ON THE CAPITOL Steunenberg, who served Idaho PLANTS GROUNDS from 1897 to 1900. He was OF DISTINCTION assassinated in 1905. The people of Idaho dedicated the monument 1. Near the west entrance of the in 1927 in grateful memory of his A. On the west lawn is the Tree of Capitol is the Grand Army of the devotion to public duty. Guernica, brought to Idaho in 1981 Republic (The Union Army) from the Basque region in northern Monument. Donated in 1935 by 4. At the bottom of the ceremonial Spain. It was planted by the Ladies of the Grand entrance staircase is a representatives of Idaho’s Basque Army of the Republic, it replica of the Liberty community. honors the men of the Bell. It was presented

ISHS S:62-20.12086/c Union Army “who to Idaho as a gift from B. The Ruth G. Moon Memorial saved the union of the the United States Garden is located in front of the states” in the Civil War. Treasury to promote the Capitol building near the first-floor U.S. Savings Bond entrance. It honors the former 2. On the southwest independence drive of state treasurer, who served the corner is a “Model 1950. The bell doesn’t state from 1945-1946 and again 1840” cast iron cannon. have the famous crack from 1954 until 1959. It is a seacoast gun used of the original Liberty by the Confederacy in Bell, but the tone, C. Presidential trees are located on the Civil War. This dimensions, and the southeast side of the building piece was obtained by State symbolism are identical. near the sidewalk. A Water Oak, Treasurer S. A. Hastings with the planted by President Benjamin help of Senator to 5. On the southeast corner of the Harrison in 1891, still stands. It decorate the Capitol grounds. lawn is the Pioneer Monument. was Harrison, by the way, who 2,777 Boise schoolchildren donated had one year earlier signed a 3. Directly across from the main funds for the monument to proclamation for Idaho to become entrance of the Capitol in Capitol perpetuate the memory of the Old a state. Park is the Steunenberg Statue. Oregon Trail and the pioneers who The statue honors Governor Frank followed it. It was erected in 1906. F

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AERIAL VIEW OF STATE 6th Street 1 CAPITOL GROUNDS

8th Street B

2 D E C 4 5

Jefferson Street

3 D. An Ohio Buckeye was planted F. A Sunset Maple Tree is planted in 1911 by President William on the northeast corner of the Howard Taft. grounds in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. The tree was donated in E. A Rock (Sugar) Maple 1985 by the Boise and Pocatello was planted in 1903 by branches of the National President . Association for the Advancement of Colored People. daho’s State Capitol has a UNIQUE FACTS water. Boise sits atop a large, Itotal floor area of 201,720 naturally occurring geothermal square feet, including the four the only one in the United resource. The hot water is floors and basement. From the States heated by geothermal tapped and pumped from a first floor to the tip of the eagle source three thousand feet atop the dome, the building underground. In fact, the rises 208 feet. The corridors, entire Capitol Mall is heated by floors, wainscoting, and base this natural aquifer. throughout the building consist of 50,646 square feet of • The eagle atop the dome is artistically carved marble. The made of copper and is bronze plot on which the Capitol sits is plated and gilded with gold. It 4.69 acres, with a frontage of is perched on a twenty-six foot 680 feet. The original “lantern” which tops the dome appropriation was for only proper. Including the triple $250,000; however, when pedestal of sandstone, the eagle completed, the building measures 5 feet 7 inches. cost $2,098,455.05. The architect’s Replacement cost at drawings had today’s prices is estimated originally shown at over $100 million; many a flag atop the materials, such as the capitol dome, but scagliola, are in the course of irreplaceable. construction an eagle was • Idaho’s substituted. capitol building is Courtesy Hummel Architects PA STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS

Governor...... Dirk Kempthorne State Treasurer...... Ron Crane Lieutenant Governor...... Jim Risch Attorney General...... Lawrence G. Wasden Secretary of State...... Ben Ysursa Superintendent of Public Instruction.....Marilyn Howard State Controller...... Keith Johnson

STATE SYMBOLSSYMBOLS

STATE SEAL The Great Seal of the Idaho Legislature as the state song, is an intelligent, fast, hard-working State came into existence in 1891, renamed “Here We Have Idaho.” breed. Its distinct coat ranges from by act of the State Legislature. white-blanketed hips to a full Originally designed by Emma STATE FLOWER leopard. A sixth-grade class from Edwards Green, Idaho’s is the only The Syringa is a Eagle, Idaho, asked the legislature state seal designed by a woman. branching shrub to adopt the Appaloosa in 1975; it The translation of the Latin motto with clusters of did! on the seal, “Esto Perpetua,” is white flowers “May it endure forever.” similar to mock STATE TREE The Western White orange. Blossoms Pine is abundant north of the STATE SONG Sallie Hume have four petals. Syringa grows on Clearwater River. The tree can Douglas composed the music; it hills and along streams. It was grow to over 200 feet in height and was copyrighted in 1915. In 1917 adopted by the legislature in 1931. can live for hundreds of years McKinley Helm, a student at the (adopted 1935). , wrote the STATE HORSE The Appaloosa verse which became the chorus. was bred for centuries by the Nez STATE FOLK DANCE The 1989 Albert J. Tompkins wrote a set of Perce Indians. The breed was state legislature designated the verses for the song, and in 1931 brought back from near oblivion square dance as the state’s official “Our Idaho” was adopted by the beginning in 1938. The Appaloosa folk dance. The square dance was first associated with the American distinctive red to orange slash on STATE people, and it has been recorded in the underside of its lower jaw. The GEMSTONE history since 1651. 1990 legislature recognized the The Star Garnet fish’s role as an ideal environmen- is Idaho’s state STATE INSECT The Monarch tal barometer. Recognition as the gemstone. Butterfly is a great migrator; some state fish can help build the public Normally the travel from Canada and the awareness and support necessary Star Garnet has northern United States to Mexico. for thoughtful use of aquatic four rays, but The monarch butterfly is black, habitats and associated resources. some have six. orange, and white (adopted 1992). The color is usually dark purple or STATE FOSSIL The Hagerman plum and the star seems to glide or STATE BIRD The Mountain Horse Fossil was discovered in the float across the surface. The Star Bluebird ranges throughout the 1920’s near Hagerman, Idaho. The Garnet is found only in Idaho and West and as far north as Alaska. area is now a national monument India (adopted 1967). The Mountain Bluebird is about and one of the best Pleistocene- seven inches epoch fossil sites in the world. The long and Hagerman Horse fossil bed is nests in about 3.5 million years old hollow trees (adopted 1988). and rock crevices. It STATE FLAG A silk flag, with a eats insects blue field, 5 feet 6 inches fly, 4 feet and weed 4 inches on pike is bordered by a seeds gilt fringe 2 inches wide. The State (adopted Seal of Idaho is in the center, and 1931). the words “State of Idaho” are embroidered in 2-inch gold block MUSEUM AND STATE FISH The Cutthroat trout letters on a red band (adopted HISTORIC SITES DIVISION are native to Idaho. The 1907). 610 North Julia Davis Drive Cutthroat’s name comes from the Boise, Idaho 83702

Cover photo: ISHS 72-201.133/B Costs associated with this publication are available from the Idaho State Historical Society in accordance with Section 60-202, Idaho Code. 6/2005/5,000/01.