Alaska State Capitol

The Alaska State Capitol in Juneau is a six-story neoclassical building completed in 1931 as the Federal and Territorial Building. It houses the chambers of the Alaska Senate and House of Representatives.[1]

History

Sitka became the territorial capital in 1867 after the purchase of Russian America, and the capital later moved to Juneau, where the Legislature met in rented rooms. Congress partly funded the new building but refused additional funds, so local citizens paid for the land, which was then given to the government. Construction began on 18 September 1929, finished on 2 February 1931 and the building was dedicated on 14 February 1931. It hosted federal services until 1959, and the Alaska Statehood Act allowed the state to settle there; the Legislature has met there since.[1]

Design

The building is brick-faced reinforced concrete with an Indiana limestone facade on the first two floors, and a portico with four columns of Tokeen marble from Prince of Wales Island, which is also used for interior trim. It is one of eleven state capitols without a dome, and it lacks the large landscaped grounds of most capitols, so it can resemble an office building. A Liberty Bell replica stands outside.[1]

Interior

The lobby holds clay murals titled Harvest of the Land and Harvest of the Sea and a bust of Elizabeth Peratrovich. The Senate and House chambers are on the second floor, with photographs by early Juneau photographers Lloyd Winter and Percy Pond and busts of senators Bob Bartlett and Ernest Gruening. The third floor holds the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor and the Hall of Governors, the fourth floor more legislative offices, and the fifth floor the finance committees in rooms that originally held federal courtrooms.[1]

Renovation and relocation

Many areas, especially the second and fifth floors, have been restored to their 1930s appearance, and a four-year, $33 million seismic upgrade began in 2012. A statue of William H. Seward was erected in front in 2017 to commemorate the 1867 Alaska Purchase. Proposals to move the capital, including one in 1960 and the most recent in 2002, have not succeeded.[1]

FAQs

When was the Capitol built? 1929 to 1931.

What was it originally called? The Federal and Territorial Building.

What stone are the columns? Tokeen marble from Prince of Wales Island.

Does it have a dome? No.

Sources

1. Wikipedia: Alaska State Capitol

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue