Des Moines Capital Building


The Capitol Building
  • Year completed: 1886
  • Original cost: $2,873,294.59
  • Dimensions: 363 ft. 8 in. from north to south; 246 ft. 11 in. from east to west
  • Number of steps from the second floor to the dome: 298
  • Number of different types of marble used in the interior: 29
  • Weight of each brass chandelier in the Senate Chamber: 500 lbs.
  • Number of crystals in each chandelier in the House Chamber: 5,600
  • Number of fireplaces in the building: 24
 




The Golden Dome
  • Height of dome: 275 feet above the ground floor
  • Diameter of dome: 80 feet
  • Type of gold: 23 karat
  • Combined weight of gold: 100 troy ounces
  • Thickness of gold: 1/250,000th of an inch
  • Original total cost of gilding the dome: $3,500
  • Total cost of regilding the dome in 1905: $8,800
  • Total cost of regilding the dome in 1927: $16,500
  • Total cost of regilding the dome in 1965: $79,938
  • Total cost of regilding the dome in 1998-99: Approximately $400,000
Source:  https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Resources/Tour/CapitolFacts.aspx
 

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