State Historical Society of Iowa

Architect's Drawing of the Iowa State Capitol, ca. 1880

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Architect's Drawing of the Iowa State Capitol, ca. 1880
Courtesy of State Historical Society of Iowa, ca. 1880

Description

With the influx of settlers to Iowa, citizens felt the state's capital should be moved to a more central location. The Iowa General Assembly chose Des Moines as the new city. The Iowa State Capitol is also called the Iowa Statehouse. As the seat of the Iowa General Assembly, the building is home to the Iowa Senate, Iowa House of Representatives, the Office of the Governor and the Offices of the Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer and Secretary of State. The building also includes a chamber for the Iowa Supreme Court, although court activities usually take place in the neighboring Iowa Supreme Court building. The building was constructed between 1871 and 1886, and is the only five-domed capitol in the country.  

Source-Dependent Questions

  • With the influx of settlers to Iowa, citizens felt the state's capital should be moved to a more central location. Why is it important for a state capitol to be in a central location within a state?
  • The Iowa capitol building is home to the Iowa Senate, Iowa House of Representatives, the Office of the Governor and the Offices of the Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer and Secretary of State. Why is it beneficial for these offices to be in the same building?