DES MOINES
Illustrated Souvenir Album (1895)
LOCATION OF ROOMS AND OFFICES.
Standing in the basement beneath the dome and facing south, the first office to the right is that of the State Labor Commissioner, the second, the State Mine Inspector, and last on the same side is found the Iowa State Board of Health; and from the same place of observation and looking south the first door to the left opens into the State Pharmacy Commissioner's office, the second to the apartment of the Dairy Commissioner, and the third gives the visitor access to the Historical Department of the State, where may be found a great many historical and interesting relics representing the growth and development of the State.
Then looking north from the same place will be found, by entering through the first door to the right, the State Land Commission, and the second office on the same side is that of the State Horticultural Society; on the left hand side the first office is that of the clerk of the Executive Council, and the second is that of the G. A. R. headquarters, and the third is the department of the Geological Survey.
Then looking north from the same place will be found, by entering through the first door to the right, the State Land Commission, and the second office on the same side is that of the State Horticultural Society; on the left hand side the first office is that of the clerk of the Executive Council, and the second is that of the G. A. R. headquarters, and the third is the department of the Geological Survey.
STATUE OF ST. CECILIA. In Library.
THE PERI STATUE. Situated in State Library. By Iowa's Sculptress, Harriet Ketcham.
THE FT. DEARBORN MASSACRE. Located in the corridor of the second floor at the
Capitol, just East of the rotunda.
THE PIONEER MONUMENT. Situated at the West entrance to the grounds,
at the head of Locust street.
IOWA SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
Second, or Office Story.--Stand in the rotunda facing the grand stairway. First door to the left is the Custodian and Commissioner of Labor; first to the right, elevator; second, Horticultural Society; face to the right, looking south, first door to the left is Attorney General's office; second, State Treasury Department; third, Superintendent of Public Instruction; first to the right is the Governor's private office; second, Clerk's office; third, Auditor of State. Face to the right, looking west, first door to the left is Governor's Private Secretary; second, Governor's reception room; to the right is Secretary of State's suite of rooms. Looking to the north, the first and second doors to the left are the Supreme Court rooms; third, is Judges' private consultation room. On the right, second door, is the Clerk of the Supreme Court; third, Railroad Commissioners' fourth, Agricultural Society.
Passing up the grand stairway, on the right is the hall of the House of Representatives, and opposite it, to the south, is the Senate Chamber, which is 58 feet by 91 feet 4 inches, and 41 feet 9 inches high. It is lighted by five large windows on each side; has a gallery in each end for spectators, and is lighted by four large chandeliers. The wainscoting is of marble, but the large columns are a fine specimen of scagliola work. The finish is all of mahogany. The walls are elegantly decorated with frescoes, including some very fine figure work representing Industry, Law, Agriculture, Peace, History, and Commerce.
Back of the Senate Chamber is the Lieutenant Governor's suite of rooms, clerks' rooms and committee rooms, all finished and furnished in keeping with the uses for which they are employed.
In the north wing is the House of Representatives, which is 74 feet by 91 feet 4 inches, and 47 feet 6 inches high. It is larger than the Senate Chamber, but designed to correspond with it in other respects. The finish and furniture of this room are of black walnut, with marble wainscoting. The frescoing is of a brighter tone, and instead of the allegorical paintings which decorate the Senate ceiling, there has been introduced here the portraits of the following persons: Presidents, Washington and Lincoln; Governors, Robert Lucas and James W. Grimes; Justices of the Supreme Court, Caleb Baldwin and Charles Mason; Speakers of the House of Representatives, Rush Clark and James P. Carlton; Generals, M. M. Crocker and S. R. Curtis.
There are one hundred desks for members of the House, and fifty for members of the Senate.
Passing up the grand stairway, on the right is the hall of the House of Representatives, and opposite it, to the south, is the Senate Chamber, which is 58 feet by 91 feet 4 inches, and 41 feet 9 inches high. It is lighted by five large windows on each side; has a gallery in each end for spectators, and is lighted by four large chandeliers. The wainscoting is of marble, but the large columns are a fine specimen of scagliola work. The finish is all of mahogany. The walls are elegantly decorated with frescoes, including some very fine figure work representing Industry, Law, Agriculture, Peace, History, and Commerce.
Back of the Senate Chamber is the Lieutenant Governor's suite of rooms, clerks' rooms and committee rooms, all finished and furnished in keeping with the uses for which they are employed.
In the north wing is the House of Representatives, which is 74 feet by 91 feet 4 inches, and 47 feet 6 inches high. It is larger than the Senate Chamber, but designed to correspond with it in other respects. The finish and furniture of this room are of black walnut, with marble wainscoting. The frescoing is of a brighter tone, and instead of the allegorical paintings which decorate the Senate ceiling, there has been introduced here the portraits of the following persons: Presidents, Washington and Lincoln; Governors, Robert Lucas and James W. Grimes; Justices of the Supreme Court, Caleb Baldwin and Charles Mason; Speakers of the House of Representatives, Rush Clark and James P. Carlton; Generals, M. M. Crocker and S. R. Curtis.
There are one hundred desks for members of the House, and fifty for members of the Senate.
CITY HALL--N. W. CORNER SECOND AND LOCUST STREETS.
FIRE DEPARTMENT--S. W. CORNER SECOND AND GRAND AVENUE.
Back of the House of Representatives are rooms for the speaker, clerks, and committees.
The Library is situated in the west wing and is 52 feet 6 inches by 108 feet 4 inches, and 44 feet 9 inches high. It is finished in ash and chestnut, with marble wainscoting and pilasters, and has an encaustic tile floor. There are now about 60,000 volumes in the library, but it is designed to meet the wants of many years, and will accommodate 150,000 volumes without crowding. In the east wing is the legislative post-office and committee rooms.
The Library is situated in the west wing and is 52 feet 6 inches by 108 feet 4 inches, and 44 feet 9 inches high. It is finished in ash and chestnut, with marble wainscoting and pilasters, and has an encaustic tile floor. There are now about 60,000 volumes in the library, but it is designed to meet the wants of many years, and will accommodate 150,000 volumes without crowding. In the east wing is the legislative post-office and committee rooms.
ITEMS.
The building covers 58,850 square feet of ground. The girth of the outside wall is 1,300 feet. The total length, 363 feet 8 inches, and the total width is 246 feet 11 inches. The height to top of the dome is 275 feet. There are 398 steps from the ground up to the dome platform or lookout. There are 787 yards of carpet in the Senate Chamber and 994 yards in the House of Representatives. There are twenty-nine- kinds of marble in the building. The kinds of wood employed in the building are: ash, red oak, white oak, black walnut, butternut, chestnut, cherry, mahogany, poplar, yellow pine, white pine and catalpa. Cost of the building to July 1, 1885, $2,615,170.87. Cost of furniture to July 1, 1885, $82, 789.89.
STATUARY.
Beginning with north of Library door: History, Science, Law, Fame, Literature, Industry, Peace, Commerce, Agriculture, Victory, Truth and Progress.
The first door to the left as you enter the Senate Chamber is the entrance to the stairway leading to the dome.
All the rooms on third floor are committee rooms, of which there are twenty-nine in number.
The dome is covered with a gold leaf, at a cost of $3,500.
The pictures on the ceiling of the Supreme Court room are of the type of the Greek Mythology.
No. 1. North end, the leading figure, Justice on her throne. To here left stands Columbia, ever ready to sustain her decisions by word or deed. The figure to the right of Justice rejoices that the decision is in her favor. The sitting figure on the right denotes sorrow as the decision is rendered against her, but is content when she finds by examing the law that the decision is according to law. To the left is a mother explaining to her son the laws.
No. 2. Columbia reigning on her throne. Above the Globe, in unity with the Goddess of Justice, the patrons of the State come to pay them their homage, bringing with them little children, which represent the Territories. Iowa, who is a special favorite in Columbia's household, is seen sitting on the steps of the throne with club and coat of arms, ever ready to defend her friend, (the Union) Columbia, in case of need. In front of the throne is chiseled in everlasting rock the memorial date 1776, the foundation of the republic. The American Eagle is proudly soaring over all, holding in his talons the historical emblem and in his beak a streamer on which is inscribed, "E. Pluribus Union."
No. 3. Justice and Peace represented as ruling over the land, bringing prosperity and plenty, culture and happiness; while on the other, Rebellion is restrained and smitten down by Justice's strong arm (General Grant).
No. 4 represents Ceres, the Goddess of Agriculture.
The small pictures are simply agricultural scenes, by Fritz Melzer, Berlin, Germany.
The first door to the left as you enter the Senate Chamber is the entrance to the stairway leading to the dome.
All the rooms on third floor are committee rooms, of which there are twenty-nine in number.
The dome is covered with a gold leaf, at a cost of $3,500.
The pictures on the ceiling of the Supreme Court room are of the type of the Greek Mythology.
No. 1. North end, the leading figure, Justice on her throne. To here left stands Columbia, ever ready to sustain her decisions by word or deed. The figure to the right of Justice rejoices that the decision is in her favor. The sitting figure on the right denotes sorrow as the decision is rendered against her, but is content when she finds by examing the law that the decision is according to law. To the left is a mother explaining to her son the laws.
No. 2. Columbia reigning on her throne. Above the Globe, in unity with the Goddess of Justice, the patrons of the State come to pay them their homage, bringing with them little children, which represent the Territories. Iowa, who is a special favorite in Columbia's household, is seen sitting on the steps of the throne with club and coat of arms, ever ready to defend her friend, (the Union) Columbia, in case of need. In front of the throne is chiseled in everlasting rock the memorial date 1776, the foundation of the republic. The American Eagle is proudly soaring over all, holding in his talons the historical emblem and in his beak a streamer on which is inscribed, "E. Pluribus Union."
No. 3. Justice and Peace represented as ruling over the land, bringing prosperity and plenty, culture and happiness; while on the other, Rebellion is restrained and smitten down by Justice's strong arm (General Grant).
No. 4 represents Ceres, the Goddess of Agriculture.
The small pictures are simply agricultural scenes, by Fritz Melzer, Berlin, Germany.
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