Iowa Old Capitol Building
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Old Capitol
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Old Capitol, 2008
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| Location | Iowa City, Iowa, USA |
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| Coordinates | 41°39′40.84″N 91°32′8.33″W / 41.6613444°N 91.5356472°WCoordinates: 41°39′40.84″N 91°32′8.33″W / 41.6613444°N 91.5356472°W |
| Built | 1842 |
| Architect | John F. Rague |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP Reference # | 72000475 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 31, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | January 07, 1976 |
The Iowa Old Capitol Building is located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It was once the main government building for the state of Iowa, and it now stands as the most prominent landmark at the center of the University of Iowa's campus. It is a U.S. National Historic Landmark, and was depicted on the 1946 Iowa Centennial commemorative half dollar.
John F. Rague is credited with designing the Territorial Capitol Building, he had previously designed the 1837 capitol of Illinois and was supervising its construction when he got the commission to design the new Iowa capitol in 1839. He quit the Iowa project after five months, claiming his design was not followed, but the resemblance to the Illinois capitol suggests he strongly influenced the final Iowa design. One surviving 1839 sketch of the proposed capital shows a radically different layout, with two domes and a central tower. The cornerstone of the Old Capitol Building was laid in Iowa City on July 4, 1840. Iowa City served as the third and last territorial capital of Iowa, and the last four territorial legislatures met at the Old Capitol Building until December 28, 1846, when Iowa was admitted into the United States as the 29th state of the union. Iowa City was declared the state capital of Iowa, and the government convened in the Old Capitol Building.
The Iowa constitution was crafted in the Old Capitol Building. The first governor of the state of Iowa was inaugurated there, and the first six Iowa general assemblies met in the building. 59 days after being admitted into the union, the state of Iowa passed legislation in the Old Capitol Building authorizing the formation of the state's first public university, the State University of Iowa, which is known today as The University of Iowa.
After ten years of housing the government in Iowa City, the state decided to move the state capital to Des Moines, a city located more toward the center of the state. When the state government moved to Des Moines in 1857, the Old Capitol Building became the first permanent building owned by the University of Iowa.
The Old Capitol Building housed almost the entire university from 1857 to 1863. As the school grew, the Old Capitol remained the focal point of the university, serving as a library, chapel, and armory, and providing space for classrooms and offices. The state of Iowa authorized a major renovation of the building in the 1920s, and it continued to function as a classroom and office building until the 1970s. University presidents had their offices there until the 1970s.
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