{"id":2182,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:13","latitude":46.585773799999998345811036415398120880126953125,"longitude":-112.01844490000001997032086364924907684326171875,"title":"Montana State Capitol Building","subtitle":"Montana State Capital Campus Historic District","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/8b775fa1d971c2c5e48e527f9b659715.jpg","address":"1301 East 6th Avenue, Helena, Montana","all_locations":[],"zoom":17,"creator":["Montana National Register Sign Program"],"description":"The gentle rise overlooking the Helena Valley enhances the stately character of the &quot;People’s House.&quot; It is Montana’s grandest public space and a stunning example of high style public architecture. Iowa architects Charles Bell and John Kent designed the center portion in the Neoclassical style to reflect the “American Renaissance” of the late nineteenth century. The state had few financial resources, so mining magnate Thomas Cruse bought all the bonds that financed its construction. Completed in 1902, the Capitol embodies the optimism, financial reality, and political climate of the time. The soaring Rotunda, beneath the copper-clad dome and figure “Montana,” sculpted by Pennsylvania artist Edward VanLandeghem, serves as the real and symbolic axis of government. Montana architects John Link and Charles Haire designed the wings, added in 1909. Classical elements carry through the interior, but the artistic expression speaks distinctly to Montana. A kaleidoscope of details and stained and art glass set the stage for a theatrical “history pageant.” Exquisite paintings by Montana artists Charles Russell, Ralph DeCamp, and Edgar S. Paxson visually dramatize Montana’s colorful past.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"Publicly accessible. See also, The People's House virtual tour of the Capitol or Visit the Montana Capitol","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/8e725821-c5d7-41de-b5cc-aada6ef2f4dd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read about the Montana State Capitol Building</a>","<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/5a0a645f-7706-4d34-b10d-d1275c62449a/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">See photos of the Montana State Capitol Building</a>"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/8b775fa1d971c2c5e48e527f9b659715.jpg":{"id":374,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana State Capitol Building","description":"Montana State Capitol with the east and west wings added. Catalog #952-710<br />\r\n | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | July, 1932 | L.H. Jorud; photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/8b775fa1d971c2c5e48e527f9b659715.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/2afc752518379e741af0343dfde24243.jpg":{"id":367,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Capital victory, 1894","description":"Thomas Cruse residence, corner of Benton Ave. and Lawrence Street, after victory of Helena for Capitol vs. Anaconda, November 1894.<br />\r\nThe following individuals are present W. A. Clark, Butte; Thomas Cruse, Helena; William Quinn, Butte; Dr. Thompson; M. M. Holter; Mrs. Cruse; Laura King et al. Catalog #951-978 | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | November 1894 | Addy Murphy; Photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/2afc752518379e741af0343dfde24243.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/77367011fbb87930678881a9bfaf5c32.jpg":{"id":368,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cornerstone laying","description":"Laying of the cornerstone, Montana state capitol building, Helena, Montana. Man in silk hat (left) identified as Charles W. Pomerory, Grand Master, Montana Masonic lodges. Catalog #957-626 | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | July 4, 1899 | J.P. Ball &amp; Son; Helena; Mont.","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/77367011fbb87930678881a9bfaf5c32.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/34b4998566880305c9b76d166d8ee5e8.jpg":{"id":369,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Construction of the dome","description":"Montana State Capitol Building Under Construction. Catalog #952-636 | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | ca. 1901 | Photographer Unidentified","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/34b4998566880305c9b76d166d8ee5e8.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/362b75ea1ce16f5d3bc47e7fe52f8838.jpg":{"id":371,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Dedication of the capitol","description":"Capitol building, Helena, Montana. Catalog #952-643<br />\r\n<br />\r\n | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | July 4, 1902 | Photographer Unidentified","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/362b75ea1ce16f5d3bc47e7fe52f8838.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/ef878bb0907b1d12a79cecad9694c47e.jpg":{"id":372,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Unveiling of statue, Capitol building","description":"Unveiling of Thomas Francis Meagher Statue in front of State Capitol. Catalog #952-680 | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | ca. 1905 | Photographer Unidentified","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/ef878bb0907b1d12a79cecad9694c47e.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/47c23a0a1e592b5bd1dd3d5fc42822e2.jpg":{"id":370,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Capitol construction","description":"Construction of west Wing, Montana State Capitol, Helena, Montana. Catalog #952-672 | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | October 26, 1910 | Edward M. Reinig photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/47c23a0a1e592b5bd1dd3d5fc42822e2.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/902bfdaa91ea45adb5ea298c0ce9e875.jpg":{"id":373,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Capitol building, Helena","description":"North elevation of the capitol Catalog #952-697 | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | 1918 | Edward M. Reinig, photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/902bfdaa91ea45adb5ea298c0ce9e875.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/e96e312827f53decd4473b653de57a68.jpg":{"id":444,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Meagher Statue looking north","description":"Meagher Statue looking north from north entrance of Capitol. | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, MT | [no date] | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/e96e312827f53decd4473b653de57a68.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/449727c5f292a497d93ce4f6f2a54b2a.jpg":{"id":445,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana State Capitol Building","description":"South side of Capitol | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena MT | [no date] | Photographer unidentified","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/449727c5f292a497d93ce4f6f2a54b2a.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/original/efed6ab223ae3f8f3aa7078e075dfd9b.mp3":{"id":354,"mime-type":"audio/mpeg","title":"Building the Montana State Capitol","description":"Audio recording about the construction challenges of the Montana State Capitol. Prepared and recorded by Montana Historical Society staff member Ellen Baumler. Presented on the <a href=\"https://soundcloud.com/montana-historical-society/building-the-montana-state-capitol?in=montana-historical-society/sets/history-on-the-go-1\">Soundcloud</a> channel \"Montana History on the Go\" 2015. | Montana History on the Go | 2015 | Ellen Baumler"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/52fe1c87f4feafee50187fd82a077e54.jpg":{"id":3444,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana State Capitol Building","description":"Montana State Capitol Building. Front view of the building and entry of the building, facing east to southeast from the legislative parking lot. Digital photograph. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | 2006 | Photographer unidentified","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/52fe1c87f4feafee50187fd82a077e54.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/e1caffa5d68c0c7bc0f5625348000a0d.jpg":{"id":3445,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana State Capitol Building","description":"Montana State Capitol Building. Close view of the architecture above the front entry to the building, facing southeast from the legislative parking lot. Digital photograph. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | 2006 | Photographer unidentified","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/e1caffa5d68c0c7bc0f5625348000a0d.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/6dde760224f92eb68be7615b9244f9db.jpg":{"id":3446,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana State Capitol Building","description":"Montana State Capitol Building. Side view of the building, facing east on North Montana Avenue. Digital photograph. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | 2006 | Photographer unidentified","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/6dde760224f92eb68be7615b9244f9db.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/9dce10edfcc24e6423acba894b48bad8.jpg":{"id":3447,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana State Capitol Building","description":"Montana State Capitol Building. Rear view of the west wing of the building, facing north near Broadway Street. Digital photograph. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | 2006 | Photographer unidentified","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/9dce10edfcc24e6423acba894b48bad8.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/7392e6910fe6253b612709a20ba6b3b4.jpg":{"id":3448,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana State Capitol Building","description":"Montana State Capitol Building. View of the rear entry to the building, facing north from the employee parking lot. Digital photograph. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | 2006 | Photographer unidentified","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/7392e6910fe6253b612709a20ba6b3b4.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/1f2ac3539718a2c9f7768e779813d8f3.jpg":{"id":3449,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana State Capitol Building","description":"Montana State Capitol Building. Rear view of the east wing of the building, facing north near East Lockey Avenue. Digital photograph. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | 2006 | Photographer unidentified","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/1f2ac3539718a2c9f7768e779813d8f3.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/8815a6f816a0a09ff417c84f2acdf3e6.jpg":{"id":3450,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana State Capitol Building","description":"Montana State Capitol Building. Front view of the building, facing south to southwest on East 6th Avenue. Digital photograph. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | 2006 | Photographer unidentified","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/8815a6f816a0a09ff417c84f2acdf3e6.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/6152605b765f8aed91553fb0bd4b1e56.jpg":{"id":6066,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Capitol Building","description":"Photo of Capitol building with tribal flags in front.  | Montana Historical Society | 12 August, 2021 | Tom Ferris, photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/6152605b765f8aed91553fb0bd4b1e56.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/a9c45e51b0d0906fd23d58c809ac99c0.jpg":{"id":6067,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana State Capital Building","description":"Photo of Capitol Building ceiling details.  | Montana Historical Society | 12 August, 2021 | Tom Ferris, photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/a9c45e51b0d0906fd23d58c809ac99c0.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/f9bae90aebe6256d42f07d3dc7a68b1a.jpg":{"id":6068,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana State Capitol Building","description":"Photo of building entrance. | Montana Historical Society | 12 August, 2021 | Tom Ferris, photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/f9bae90aebe6256d42f07d3dc7a68b1a.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/72284c576b036e5e78c350786d85f83f.jpg":{"id":6069,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana State Capitol Building","description":"Photo of Capitol Building interior staircase.  | Montana Historical Society | 12 August, 2021 | Tom Ferris, photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/72284c576b036e5e78c350786d85f83f.jpg"}}}