Beneath the rosettes that adorn the ceilings that lead to the House and Senate chambers, lawmakers, visitors and employees move and hustle through the maze of people that line the 535,000 square feet of halls and floors. The walls stand still, made from the finest marble, and those who walk by barely notice the tiny details translated from architectural design into art. Amidst the blue and red panels of color that contrast from the Rotunda’s center, all find themselves concerned with the legislative process, while the visible architecture and hidden details of the building are lost in the background to the business of the day.
The Capitol, in fact, contains just as many intricacies as a piece of legislation, but instead of being written on paper, these complexities are etched in stone and carved in wood.
It is in this historic building, designated in 1994 as one of the greatest state capitol buildings in the United States by the Building Owners and Managers Association International, that workers and legislators – busy with the day’s work – often overlook the complexities and quirks of the building in which West Virginia’s Legislature is housed. In fact, there are many sights and details that when noticed or revealed, are followed by an, “I’ve worked here all these years, and I never knew that.”
For instance, construction on the State Capitol began in 1924 and was completed in 1932, taking eight years to construct Cass Gilbert’s design, full of marble columns, rich paints and ceiling rosettes. The West Wing, which houses the Senate, was completed after one year of construction that began in 1924 and ended in 1925. The East Wing was the next section of the Capitol to be constructed, beginning in 1926 and ending in 1927. Capping off the Capitol’s completion was the installment of the Capitol’s center – the Rotunda – which was built from 1930-1932.
The final price of building the complex was $9.5 million, a price paid in full upon completion. If West Virginia were to rebuild the Statehouse in its entirety, exactly as it stands now, it would come at a price that is unaffordable – as one Cultural Center worker stated, the Capitol is literally “priceless.” As she noted, the price of a marble coffee tabletop can run from $200-$1,000. But marble pillars are different than coffee tabletops, especially when they are weighed in tons instead of pounds. Two-hundred train carloads of marble were needed to construct the interior of the Capitol building. Moreover, the two support columns in front of both the House and Senate weigh 34 tons. Ultimately, two-thirds of the Capitol’s interior is composed of seven different types of marble – literally priceless. The Statehouse is insured for $200 million.
However, before these details can be noticed and the architecture can be appreciated, lighting is needed. Lining the halls that lead to both the House of Delegates and the Senate are 55 column lights, representing each of West Virginia’s 55 counties. These black and gold Belgian marble columns are capped off by translucent alabaster sconces – emanating a soft and golden glow.
Lighting is an important and expensive feature for both houses and the Rotunda area, as well. Although the ceilings in the House and Senate may differ in style and structure, the chandeliers that dangle from the center of the room are equal in grandiose proportion and price. Together, both chandeliers are worth $500,000.
The chandelier in the center of the Rotunda, though, is on a much more grand scale than those lights that hang in both houses. The central light measures in at eight feet in diameter and weighs 4,000 pounds. It takes 96 light bulbs to illuminate the 10,080 Czech Republic Crystals that make up the chandelier. Every four years, the chandelier is lowered for cleaning; then the panels of crystal are removed and dipped into a warm rinse.
The dome that encases the Rotunda is just as noteworthy. The recently remodeled, gray and gold-leafed dome is the fourth largest dome in the United States. And, although the dome is smaller in diameter than the U.S. Capitol, West Virginian’s Capitol dome in Charleston is 4 1/2 feet taller than the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
In his design, Gilbert not only decorated and embellished the walls, floors and Rotunda areas of the Capitol, but he also made sure that the ceilings that lead to the both House chambers were equally as extravagant. Visitors see plaster molded rosettes that appear to be blossoming from the ceiling. These medallions, though, are more than a decoration for the ceiling; they are a reflection of the state’s environment. Carved from plaster, the rosettes are sculpted to resemble the leaves of three prominent pieces of foliage: Sugar Maple (the state tree), Magnolia and Red Oak.
Unlike the sights that can readily be viewed and aesthetically appreciated, behind the Capitol’s walls lie items – treasure chests of yesteryears. In the well of the Rotunda, marked with a bronze plaque, is a time capsule that was sealed away during the Rockefeller administration in 1982. Pop culture meets politics as the contents of the capsule showcase political speeches and 80s memorabilia. Among the contents of the chest are a copy of Governor Rockefeller’s 1982 State of the State Address, a road map, a congratulatory message from Cass Gilbert’s grandchildren, a Rubik’s Cube and a 45-rpm record of “Roseanna” by Toto (the number one album from the Top 40). In 2032, marking the 50th year that the capsule has been locked away, the past will be opened and seen by those in the present.
The Capitol is a complex building, all of its 333 rooms. In “Trivial Pursuit” fashion, every aspect of its architecture could be the answer to a West Virginia history question. For example, Anna Jarvis’ bust is the only statue of a female on the Statehouse grounds. Moreover, two U.S. Presidents are honored within the Capitol Grounds: Abraham Lincoln is featured in a statue that faces the Kanawha River, and a plaque in the stairwell that leads to the Capitol basement features an excerpt from John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address.
Another fact: Before 1995, when the House Chamber was remodeled, three electrical outlets were all that were provided for the state’s 100 delegates. After the remodeling was complete, each Delegate was allotted two outlets – one for a computer and one for a lamp. The elevators in the center part of the building are numbered in European fashion beginning with Basement, Ground (as compared to first), First (often thought of as second), and Second (which is more like the third). Some of the Capitol’s greatest charm exudes from its little quirks – either etched in stone or painted on an edifice. This isn’t always noticed.
Despite the detailed halls and ceilings, floors and doorways of the West Virginia Capitol, Gilbert’s overall scheme will forever be incomplete – on the brink of being fully realized. He designed the U. S. Supreme Court building and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, but the West Virginia Capitol is not completely finished. In the Rotunda’s center, blue panels that were originally intended to feature murals of the Mountain State encircle the upper well. Before his vision was fully realized, Gilbert passed away. The panels will remain empty and blue, honoring Gilbert’s design and the murals he envisioned when he first drew the blueprints in 1924. Even without them, the building, itself, is full of just as much history as it has marble – a priceless Statehouse.
