of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 22-23
THE CAPITAL REMOVED TO DES MOINES. October 19, 1857, Governor Grimes issued a proclamation declaring the city of Des Moines to be the capital of the state of Iowa. The removal of the archives and offices was commenced at once and continued through the fall. It was an undertaking of no small magnitude. There was not a mile of railroad to facilitate the work and the season was unusually disagreeable. Rain, snow and other accompaniments increased the difficulties and it was not until December that the last of the effects--the safe of the state treasurer, loaded on two large "bob-sleds" drawn by ten yoke of oxen--was deposited in the new capitol. Thus Iowa City ceased to be the capital of the state after four territorial legislatures, six state legislatures and three constitutional conventions had held their regular sessions there.
In 1870 the general assembly made an appropriation and provided for a board of commissioners to commence the work of building a new capitol. The corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies, November 23, 1871. The estimated cost of the building was $2,500,000, and the structure was finished and occupied in 1874, the dedicatory exercises being held in January of that year. Hon. John A. Kasson delivered the principal address. The state capitol is classic in style, with a superstructure of buff limestone. It is 363 feet in length, 247 feet in width, with a central dome rising to the height of 275 feet. At the time of completion it was only surpassed by the capitol building of the state of New York, at Albany.
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