Welcome to the Legislative Building
In this guided tour you can navigate the site with
the arrows either forward or back. You can also use the
navigation index at the top right corner.
Links to further information, including primary sources and
research material, are available at your fingertips. Take a
quick look at the Washington State Capitol or use this site
as a resource for your research paper—either way, we are
glad you are here.
Enjoy the Washington State Capitol!
The Legislative Building
The largest on the Capitol Campus, the Legislative
Building, stands at 287 feet tall. The structure is the
tallest free-standing masonry dome in North America. Built between
1922-1928 for $7.4 million, the building is the crown jewel
of the Capitol Campus. Funds to construct the building were
raised through timber sales on state lands, gifted by the
federal government upon statehood. The Legislature still continues to dedicate
this revenue to campus buildings.
Legislators did not occupy the Legislative Building until
January 1929. Commemorating Washington’s admission to the
union as the 42nd state, 42 granite steps at the North
Portico lead into the Legislative Building. The granite was
quarried in Index, Washington while the building’s “skin” is
sandstone, quarried in Wilkeson, Washington.
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See other Legislative buildings of Washington's past.
• Read the description of the Legislative building written by the architects before it was built.
Exterior
The Legislative Building has many design elements and
influences from the past. The architects, Walter Wilder and
Harry White, were influenced by the City Beautiful movement
at the end of the 19th century. The City Beautiful movement
was an outgrowth, in large part, of the World Columbian
Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. The movement stressed a
return to older European elements, a call for balance,
symmetry, order and the depiction of an ideal city.
The building’s overall design elements hark back to
ancient Greece and Rome. The lower portion of the building
is reminiscent of a Greek temple. The upper portion has a
magnificent dome, a building technique that the Romans
perfected.
The carved stone of the Legislative Building is both more
numerous and decorative than any other building in the
group. The north and south entrances feature columns with
Corinthian capitals, which are mimicked by the columns on
the colonnade. Columns with Doric capitals complete the
north and south façade. Anthemion cresting tops the main
roofline and pediment of the north entrance. One mini-dome
rests at each corner of the drum, just below the colonnade
and dome proper. These mini-domes feature intricate carvings
and decoration.
Entrance
Entry to the 250,000-square-foot structure is gained
through three sets of massive bronze doors with bas-relief
representations of early Washington state history, including
a sailing vessel, logging activity, natural landscapes and
the Territorial Capitol.
Gazing up from this location the viewer will find
intricately carved sandstone rosettes and Corinthian
capitals.
Foyer
The foyer is the beginning point for public tours of the
Legislative Building. Public tours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
During the school year several hundred students visit the
Capitol Campus each day. State Capitol Tours offers
education tours and a hands-on experience of the three
branches of government -- legislative, judicial and
executive. Student groups spend an average of 3.5 hours
exploring the campus.
Two statues grace the foyer of the Legislative Building—
Marcus Whitman and Mother Joseph. In 1999, the Legislature
recognized the contributions of these two pioneers by
establishing Mother Joseph Day (April 16) and Marcus Whitman
Day (September 4), the fruition of a campaign led by a
sixth-grade EXCEL class of 27 students from the Evergreen
School District in Vancouver, Washington.
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Click on the speaker icon to hear tour guide Tom Doyle
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Marcus Whitman
Marcus Whitman (1802—1847) was a medical missionary and
early pioneer of the Oregon Territory. He made great
contributions to state history through the establishment of
missions. He also created opportunities for more settlers to
migrate westward. Whitman led the first large party of wagon
trains along the Oregon Trail, establishing it as a viable
route for the thousands of emigrants who used the trail in
the following decade. Whitman’s mission site, established in
1836, is located near present day Walla Walla. Whitman
College and Whitman County also honor his legacy in
Washington history. Designed by Avard Fairbanks and
dedicated in 1953, the statue of Marcus Whitman is one of
Washington’s selections to appear in the Hall of Statues in
Washington, D.C.; Mother Joseph is the state’s second
selection by the Legislature in 1980.
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Read more about
the Marcus Whitman statue
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Click on the speaker icon to hear tour guide Tom Doyle
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Mother Joseph
Mother Joseph (1823-1902) is remembered for her
tremendous contributions to the Pacific Northwest through
her work with children, the infirm, aged and mentally ill.
In 1856 Mother Joseph was chosen to lead a group of five
missionaries from Montreal to the Pacific Northwest
Territories of the United States. The five nuns incorporated
in 1859 as the Sisters of Charity of the House of Providence
in the Territory of Washington, one of the oldest existing
corporations in Washington. Over the next 46 years, she
designed and/or supervised construction of more than 30
schools, orphanages and hospitals, including Olympia’s first
hospital. She is recognized as one of the first architects
in Washington Territory. Mother Joseph also initiated the
popular Providence "ticket," a pioneer form of medical
insurance, which for $10 per year guaranteed full hospital
coverage for its owners.
Her statue was created by Felix W. de Weldon, who also
sculpted the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington,
D. C., which commemorates the raising of the flag at Iwo
Jima during World War II.
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Read more about
the Mother Joseph statue
•
Click on the speaker icon to hear tour guide Tom Doyle
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Office of the Governor
As the primary elected official of Washington, the
governor has numerous responsibilities, duties and powers:
• Communicate the affairs and condition of the state to
the Legislature
• On extraordinary occasions, convene the Legislature by
proclamation
• Be commander-in-chief of the state military
• Ability to pardon as prescribed by law
• Veto powers; every act which passes the Legislature
shall be, before it becomes a law, presented to the governor
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View the Constitution
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View the Governor’s Web Site
•
Past Governors of Washington State
Governor’s Conference Room
The Governor’s Conference Room is used for a variety of purposes. News conferences, bill signings and gubernatorial meetings are the majority of assemblies in this room. The room has a large conference table and the governor’s chair, the tallest of 14, is at the head of the table on the side closest to the viewer. Fredrick and Nelson window treatments, made of velvet with a hand-stitched Seal of the State of Washington in gold thread, complement the room.
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Under the state constitution, the lieutenant governor is
the presiding officer of the Washington State Senate and
performs the duties of the governor when the governor is out
of the state or otherwise unable to serve. The lieutenant
governor is charged with a number of additional duties, both
by statute and by personal interest based on the background
and experience of the incumbent. The Office of the
Lieutenant Governor supports and coordinates these numerous
activities in a number of ways.
The office currently concentrates on international trade and
the development of goodwill with foreign countries, economic
development, promoting safe and healthy communities, the
prevention of alcohol and harmful substance abuse, the
mentoring of youth and constituent services. The lieutenant
governor makes frequent speeches and public appearances
before a variety of groups across the state.
• Visit the Lieutenant Governor’s Web Site
Senate Rules Room
This is the meeting space for the Senate Rules Committee.
The Senate Rules room is in the lieutenant governor’s
office; the lieutenant governor serves as the chair on this
committee. All bills that pass through the Senate must go
through the Senate Rules Committee.
Pictured on the back wall are past lieutenant governors.
Office of the Secretary of State
The Office of the Secretary of State was established with
the adoption of the Washington State Constitution in 1889.
The Secretary of State is elected every four years and is
second in the line of succession to the Office of the
Governor. There have been 14 Secretaries of State since
statehood.
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Explore the Secretary of State’s web site
Office of the State Treasurer
The primary constitutional duty of the state treasurer
and the Office of the State Treasurer is to manage the
state’s financial resources.
As the state’s chief fiscal officer, the state treasurer is
responsible for keeping the books and managing taxpayers’
money from the time it is collected until it is spent on
programs the Legislature approves. The office provides
banking, investment, debt issuance, and accounting services
for state government. It also plays a major role in
providing financial services to local governments.
The office also offers cashing of state warrants, according
to statute. State employees or any recipient of a state
warrant can redeem their warrant at the Legislative Building
office.
• Visit the
State Treasurer's web site
View of Interior Dome
From the Rotunda floor the interior dome rises 175 feet.
The interior dome is one of two domes — an interior dome
visible from the floor of the rotunda, and the stone
exterior dome . Within the two domes is a conical-shaped
concrete structure that carries the weight of the cupola and
lantern fixed atop the Legislative Building. 33 million
pounds of brick and concrete are above visitors when viewing
the dome from the rotunda floor.
Massive concrete arches carry the weight of the domes and
are clearly visible in the Rotunda. These lower portions of
these arches are covered by Alaskan Tokeen marble, which
also is the majority of marble in the building public
spaces.
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Click on the speaker icon to hear tour guide Tom Doyle
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State Reception Room
The State Reception room has a variety of historic furnishing and displays:
• World's largest single-loom carpet, 1928, Mohawk Company
• Seven-foot circular table, a gift of the architects to
the state. The table features intricate carvings on the base
• Italian picture book marble
• Tiffany glass-bead chandeliers
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Click on the speaker icon to hear tour guide Tom Doyle
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State Reception Room
On the west wall of the Reception room a forty-two star
flag, remaining from statehood celebrations in 1889, is on
display. This flag is one of four 42-star flags in
Washington’s possession. The 42-star flag was never an
official flag of the United States due to Idaho’s admission
on July 3, 1890. The following day July 4, 1890, the
Official Flag of the United States of America was christened
with 43 stars. This particular flag was donated by the
Thomas Wade Marsh family of Olympia.
On display in the State Reception Room is the original
Washington state flag design. On February 21, 1929 the
Daughters of the American Revolution, Lady Sterling Chapter,
presented this state flag to a joint session of the
Legislature. The flag/banner was received by Governor Ronald
H. Hartley in behalf of the State. Considerable debate
surrounds the design of the original State Flag including
deliberation by the legislature. The original green
background has faded over time, but the gold fringe and
paint remain vibrant. The flag has changed considerably
since this rendition.
•
Read a
period news article
about the state banner
•
Read the Legislative History of the Washington State Flag
Senate Chamber
The Senate chamber walls are lined with German marble.
Forty-nine mahogany desks sit atop a decorative carpet
featuring small English Dogwood flowers and large
Rhododendrons.
The rostrums at the front of the chamber serve as a location
for the lieutenant governor to preside over the Senate and
for Senate staff to carry out operations.
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Learn more about the Senate
• See group photos of Senators
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Click on the speaker icon to hear tour guide Tom Doyle
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Senate Galleries
Senators are elected to 4 year terms of office by the
constituents of their legislative district. One senator from each legislative district occupies a
desk on the chamber floor when the Senate is in session.
Each legislative district represents 130,000 people. These
constituents also have two representatives in the House of
Representatives.
Caucus rooms for the Democrats (who sit on the north side of
the chamber) and Republicans (who sit on the south side of
the chamber) are underneath the public viewing galleries.
A reader board, near the front of the chamber, displays
information pertaining to floor action.
Members of the Senate vote by roll call.
• Take a video tour of the Washington State Senate
•
Click on the speaker icon to hear tour guide Tom Doyle
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House Chamber
The floor of the House and Senate drop two feet
gradually, from back to front, to provide a theater style
view of the rostrums.
House members vote electronically. Two large electronic
display boards on the west wall of the House include all of
the members' names. When voting, each member’s name appears
in either green for a yes vote or red indicating a no vote.
In the center is the House status board. This center board
shows the total of votes. This center board also details the
status of bills under discussion and the current status of
the House (if in caucus or when they will return to the
floor).
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Learn more about the House of Representatives
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See group photos of House members
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Learn more about Legislative History
•
Click on the speaker icon to hear tour guide Tom Doyle
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House Galleries
In the House of Representatives the carpeted floor has a
Rhododendron and Trillium flower motif. The walls in
the House are French marble.
The House of Representatives has 98 representatives, two
from each legislative district. Each representative has a
desk on the floor of the House. The rostrums at the front
are for the Speaker of the House and House staff to manage
operations. Representatives are elected to 2 year terms
of office by the constituents of their legislative district.
Hear a roll call vote in the House of Representatives:
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Thank You
Thank you for visiting the Washington Capitol Campus. For
information on tours, or questions about this tour, contact
State Capitol Visitor Services:
State Capitol Tours
Legislative Building
P.O. Box 41034
Olympia, Wa 98504
(360) 902-8880
or visit our
Homepage
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Sources: Capitol Committee/Commission, General Correspondence and Subject Files 1893-1985,” Washington State Archives.
Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee, “National Register of Historic Places—Inventory, Department of General Administration, September 8, 1994.
