Old Capitol Building and Museum, Iowa City
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Constructed in stages beginning in 1840, this former state capitol now stands as the most prominent landmark at the center of the University of Iowa's campus. The governor and state assembly met at this location from 1840, when the building was partially completed, to 1857 when the legislature voted to move the state capitol further west to the growing city of Des Moines. The building was almost complete when the legislature voted to move the state capital to Des Moines. From 1857 to 1863, the former state capitol served as the first and only building of the University of Iowa. From 1868 to 1910, this building held the university's law school. Following many years of renovation, the former capitol opened as a museum and a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
Images
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio