Alaska State Capitol

The Alaska State Capitol was originally the Federal and Territorial Building, but under provisions of the Alaska Statehood Act (approved July 7, 1958), became the property of the State of Alaska.

Ground was broken September 18, 1929. The building was completed on February 2, 1931, and formally dedicated on February 14, 1931.

Funds appropriated by Congress in 1911 to pay for the purchase of the capitol site were sufficient to pay for only half of the block on which the building is located. The citizens of Juneau raised the additional money needed to buy the remainder of the site, and presented the property to the government. The site and completed building represent an investment of approximately $1 million. Construction is of brick-faced concrete. The lower facade is faced with Indiana limestone. The four columns of the portico and the interior trim are of light and dark Token marble from quarries at Tokeen, Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska.

The building provided the first permanent chambers for the Alaska Legislature. The chambers of the State Senate and House of Representatives are located on the second floor. The executive office of the governor, on the third floor, was remodeled in 1967 to give it a modern Alaskan atmosphere. Double doors with hand-carved panels of Alaskan scenes separate the office from the third floor. In 1980, under the direction of the legislature, extensive restoration of certain areas of the building was accomplished.

Fifth floor finance committee rooms were refurbished in the style of the early years of the House Speaker's conference room on the second floor has received similar treatment, and the ground floor entrance hall has been returned to its original decorative design.