Retrospective: Montana State Capitol
Take a look at the history behind Montana's statehouse, the Montana State Capitol, from its original (and abandoned) design, to its status today as one of the state's iconic symbols.
Montana Territorial Legislature
This building in Bannack is where the Montana Territorial Legislature is said to have convened in 1864. Bannack served as the territorial capital for less than a year before Virginia City became the capital in February of 1865.
Montana State Capitol design by George R. Mann, 1896
In 1896, a design competition was held in order to choose a design for the Montana State Capitol Building. A design by architect George R. Mann was selected by the State Capitol Commission. Cass Gilbert, who designed the Minnesota State Capitol, took second place. Los Angeles-based Strange & Stent took third, while P.L. Lauritzen of New York took fourth.
Arkansas State Capitol
George Mann's winning design for the Montana State Capitol building was later rejected following accusations of corruption among the commission that selected the building's design. Mann's design later served as the basis for the Arkansas state Capitol building in Little Rock, Ark. The building is occasionally used in film as a stand-in for the United State Capitol due to its similar design.
Montana State Capitol design by Bell & Kent
After the first design for the Montana State Capitol was thrown out due to allegations of corruption on the selection committee, a new design competition was held to choose the final design. Iowa-based architects Charles E. Bell and John H. Kent submitted the winning design. Bell & Kent opened an office in Helena in order to fulfill a requirement that the architects be located within the state.
Montana State Capitol design by Bell & Kent, 1898
A color illustration shows the design for the Montana State Capitol by architecture firm Bell & Kent. Bell & Kent's design began with a more spherical dome, shown in this illustration, that was made taller during construction. Among other buildings designed by the firm was the South Dakota State Capitol (which incorporates the shorter dome that the Montana State Capitol was intended to). Bell & Kent also designed several county courthouses in Montana, including those in Deer Lodge and Flathead counties, as well as the Yellowstone County Courthouse that preceded the current one.
Joseph Kemp Toole
Joseph K. Toole was serving as the fourth governor of the State of Montana at the time of the dedication of the Montana State Capitol building in 1902. Toole previously served as Montana's first state governor from 1889 to 1893.
Laying of cornerstone at Montana State Capitol, 1899
The cornerstone of the Montana State Capitol was laid on July 4, 1899.
Montana State Capitol under construction, 1901
The Montana State Capitol is shown under construction in 1901. Officials compared sandstone from multiple Montana quarries before choosing Columbus as the source of the stone used. A rail spur had to be constructed in order to transport the stone from the quarry to the Northern Pacific railroad. The shorter interior dome of the rotunda can be seen within the frame of the exterior dome.
Dedication of Montana State Capitol, July 4, 1902
The Montana State Capitol was dedicated three years to the day after its cornerstone was laid, on July 4, 1902.
Montana State Capitol rotunda and east wing, 1902
The rotunda of the Montana State Capitol is pictured in 1902, the year the building was completed.
Grand Stairway at Montana State Capitol, 1902
The Grand Stairway at the Montana State Capitol is pictured in 1902. A handrail has since been added to the center of the staircase.
Governor's reception room at Montana State Capitol, 1902
The governor's reception room at the Montana State Capitol is pictured in 1902.
"State parlor" at Montana State Capitol, 1902
The Montana Capitol Building was said to be the first statehouse in the country built with electricity and elevators.
Montana State Capitol, circa 1902
Montana House of Representatives, 1903
The Montana House convenes for the first time within the then-new Montana State Capitol in 1903.
Montana Senate, 1903
The Montana Senate convenes for the first time within the then-new Montana State Capitol in 1903.
Unveiling of Thomas Francis Meagher statue, 1905
The statue of Thomas Francis Meagher, which stands on the north side of the Montana State Capitol in Helena, is unveiled in 1905. Meagher, an Irish nationalist who came to the U.S. after escaping from a prison colony in Australia, and served in the U.S. Army during the Civil War, was appointed Montana's territorial governor in 1865.
Montana State Capitol postcard, circa 1900s
A postcard from the early 20th Century shows the Montana State Capitol prior to the addition of its extra wings.
Montana State Capitol postcard, circa 1920s
A colorized postcard postmarked in 1927 depicts the Montana State Capitol. The east and west additions, completed in 1912, are visible. Unlike the original portion of the building, which was constructed from sandstone, the annex wings were constructed with granite. The primary architecture firm behind the wings, Link & Haire, also designed many of Montana's most iconic historic structures.
Montana House of Representatives, 1919
The Montana House of Representatives is pictured in 1919 during the 16th Legislative Assembly of Montana.
Gov. J. Hugo Aronson in front of Montana State Capitol, circa 1950s
J. Hugo Aronson, Montana's 14th governor, is pictured on the Montana State Capitol lawn in the 1950s or early 1960s. Aronson, who was born in Sweden, served as the state's governor from 1953 to 1961.
Women representatives to the Montana Constitutional Convention of 1971-72
The 19 women representatives elected to the Montana Constitutional Convention of 1971-72 are pictured on the staircase of the Montana State Capitol in November of 1971.
Bill of Rights Committee of the Montana Constitutional Convention of 1971-72
The members of the Bill of Rights Committee of the Montana Constitutional Convention of 1971-72 are pictured at the Montana State Capitol in February of 1972.
President George H.W. Bush at Montana State Capitol, 1989
Then-President George H.W. Bush addresses a crowd in front of the Montana State Capitol on Sept. 18, 1989.
Grand Stairway at Montana State Capitol, 2015
The Grand Stairway of the Montana State Capitol is pictured in 2015. A handrail was added to the center of the staircase for safety.
Montana State Capitol
The dome of the Montana State Capitol is shown in 2015. Atop the copper dome sits a statue of a woman, dubbed "Montana." The statue, which stands 12 feet tall, was sculpted by Edward J. Van Landeghem and was installed in 1901. Van Landeghem was commissioned to create the statue for the original George Mann Capitol design that was abandoned due to corruption among the Capitol commission. The statue's creator was unknown until 2006.
Montana State Capitol dome interior
The interior dome of the Montana State Capitol has portraits by the firm F. Pedretti's Sons depicting some of the archetypal figures of early Montana history: a prospector (Henry Edgar); a trapper (Jim Bridger); a Native American chief (Salish chief Charlo); and a cowboy, who was not based upon any particular person.
Skylights at Montana State Capitol
The Montana State Capitol features stained glass skylights. Work was done in 2016 to repair some of the skylights that were leaking and posed a threat to artwork below.
Montana State Capitol House Chamber skylights, 2016
The skylights of the House of Representatives at the Montana State Capitol is pictured in 2016. A large painting by Charles M. Russell, entitled "Lewis and Clark Meeting Indians at Ross' Hole," hangs on the wall. It's said that Russell had to expand the roof on his cabin in order to complete the painting, which is nearly twelve feet tall and nearly twenty-five feet wide.
Old Law Library at Montana State Capitol, 2016
The former law library at the Montana State Capitol, now used as a hearing room, is pictured in 2016.
Montana State Capitol, 2017
The Montana State Capitol is pictured in 2017.
"Yellowstone" TV set in Montana State Capitol, 2017
The Old Supreme Court Chambers of the Montana State Capitol were used as a set for Kevin Costner's "Yellowstone" television series in 2017. The Montana Supreme Court is now located in the Joseph P. Mazurek Justice Building, located to the east of the Capitol.
Montana State Capitol, 2017
The Montana State Capitol is seen in November of 2017.
Montana State Capitol, 2019
The Montana State Capitol is pictured in December of 2019.
"Montana" statue on top of the Montana State Capitol, 2001
In this file photo from 2001, Steve Lenneman of Merit Mechanical prepares to repair some copper panels on the Capitol dome, that had come loose. The statue of "Montana" atop the dome, sculpted by Edward J. Van Landeghem, is visible.
Montana State Capitol dome
The protective glass above the stained-glass ceiling of the Montana State Capitol's interior dome has signatures on its framework.
Montana State Capitol dome
The interior dome of the Montana State Capitol is significantly lower than the outer dome. This view from the space between the two domes shows the circular windows on the outer dome that allow sunlight in, and the opening in the shell of the interior dome that allows light through its stained-glass ceiling.
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