The capitol

Arizona never had a state capitol building as such. The charming building at the end of Washington Street topped by a copper rotunda was opened in 1901. It was the territorial capitol. Designed by San Antonio architect James Riely Gordon, it was intended to convey the sense that Arizona was ready for statehood (which happened in 1912).

Gordon wanted a much larger building, with a more prominent rotunda and wings for both houses of the Legislature on each side of the building. Yet problems with funding meant the project had to be cut back in size with the massive segments for the Legislature discarded.

In 1918 and 1938, the building was expanded to the west employing the same architecture as the original territorial capitol. Some of the later construction was done by Del Webb's company. It increased the total square footage from the original 40,000 to a final 123,000.

It was home to the Legislature until 1960, when the current House and Senate buildings were constructed, and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, and attorney general until 1974.

In that year, the Brutalist Executive Tower was built (Brutalist is not a pejorative but rather a style in the architectural vernacular; it still has its champions) which now looms over the original capitol, which has been turned into a museum. The AG's office was consigned to a long, unworkable building on Washington east of the capitol before moving to Central Avenue.

By many measures, Arizona has one of the most modest — and with post-1938 additions — homeliest capitols in the country.

Such Intermountain West states as Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana — all wealthy from mining and ranching — enjoyed far more impressive capitols. But Arizona could never scrape together the funding, adequately tax such industries as copper and other mining, railroads, timber, and tourism. Much of those revenues went back east. By the time such monies were available, the golden age of classical architecture had passed.

Despite all that, the original capitol building carries an enduring charm.

The Capitol Gallery — Click on the photo for a larger image:

Gov. George W.P. Hunt strolls the capitol grounds. "Old Walrus" was the state's first governor and served seven terms. He was also chairman of the commission that wrote the state's constitution.

The north side of the capitol, with additions, in 1939 (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

The west side of the capitol building with additions nearly complete in 1938 (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

The Arizona State Building, at Adams Street and 17th Avenue, in 1937. Sometimes called the "Annex," the structure was built for additional offices near the capitol. Today it's the home of the state Agriculture Department (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

The capitol building circa 1940 (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

The capitol and legislative wings in 1960 (Brad Hall collection).

The state House building constructed in 1960. It's twin sibling across the walkway is home to the state Senate.

An overhead view of the shady, grassy capitol grounds with the capitol and its additions, along with the legislative buildings, circa 1960.

Frank Lloyd Wright floated the idea of a new state capitol in the 1950s, to be built in Papago Park. Fortunately, the scheme never happened.

The west side of the Brutalist Executive Office Tower, built in 1974 (Richard Johnson photo).

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My book, A Brief History of Phoenix, is available to buy or order at your local independent bookstore, or from Amazon.

Read more Phoenix history in Rogue's Phoenix 101 archive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Cal Lash]

Twynham huts erected on undisturbed desert would be sufficient!

[Bobson Dugnutt]

I find the Frank Lloyd Wright proposed capitol beautiful. I like the imagination in breaking from the tradition of the cupola to denote the seat of government.

His vision was realized in the Marin County Civic Center, which employs similar motifs. Johnny Sanphillippo has a photo-rich critique of the building at his blog, Granola Shotgun. https://granolashotgun.wordpress.com/2017/07/03/yesterdays-visions-of-tomorrow/

[Cal Lash]

Bobson, what is it with wanting to build palatial digs for corrupt politicians?
I cant ever recall calling a building beautiful.
Beautiful to me are places where not a human stucture cannot be seen.

My favorite building is 8 feet wide.
11 feet tall and 40 foot long with wheels. What more could i want?
A camping place for my dog Spot and i on the Serengity!

[Bobson Dugnutt]

@Cal Lash, your favorite building is a bus?

[Cal Lash]

"Bus"
Sorta.
Motor and wheels.
A/C
microwave
Queen bed
Inside bath and shower
Solar.
A generator
Water storage
Biodegradable toliet.
Clothes hanger for an Antenna.
Two pairs of Levis and Earth First T-Shirts.
Recondition VHS
Dvd machine
And
All of Taltons books.

[Cal Lash]

I'm currently taking a break from serious chit and Re-reading Katie Lee's
Ghosts of Dandy Crossing.
U might want to Google the book cover for Architecture.

[Joe Schallan]

Domes and symmetrical wings:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-28/america-s-state-capitols-an-architectural-explainer

[Cal Lash]

Joe, thanks for getting the column back on track. Interesting Bloomberg stuff but also a little stuffy.

[Cal Lash]

Texas may have the Biggest State Capitol building. Of course!

But Jeffersons Virginia capitol building is more "magnificent."
Did i just say magnificent?

Time to beddown

[Jim]

Thank you for writing. Noibody does that anymore.

[Cal Lash]

Jim, can one subscibe to Hermits Woodshed

Liked bicycles stuff

[Kirk Dooley]

The statue on the top of the dome was basically a weather vane, but it was discovered that the prevailing winds meant that the lady was "mooning" downtown Phoenix, so it was welded to correct this problem for a time. (It may have been restored to its original purpose later, however.)

[Kirk Dooley]

Every time they talked about building a newer, grander capitol, it was shot down because it would cost too much. Typical Arizona, where everything is done on the cheap, rinky-dink. (When people ask me why it took so long to build the freeway system in Phoenix, I usually reply, "Do you have any idea how long it took to get Ajo to return the state cement mixer?")