Indiana State Capitol Building

Today we will visit the Indiana State Capitol Building
The current Indiana capitol building that graces downtown Indianapolis is the fifth capitol to house the legislature in the state. The act authorizing the construction of the building to replace the previous capitol passed the Indiana legislature on March 4, 1877.
The first capitol building, called the Red House, met in Vincennes until the capital moved to Corydon. The legislature used the Corydon building until it moved to Indianapolis in 1825. Legislature used the Marion County Courthouse as the third capital until workers completed construction of the fourth capitol building in 1835. The legislature met in this building until it became unsafe in 1877 and the legislature moved to a state office building constructed in 1865. The legislature met in this office building from 1877 until the workers completed the current capital in 1888.
From the Book
East Central Indiana Day Trips

Excerpt:

Greetings, today we will visit the Indiana State Capitol Building

March 4, 1877 – Act Passed Authorizing the Construction of the Current Indiana Capitol Building
The current Indiana capitol building that graces downtown Indianapolis is the fifth capitol to house the legislature in the state. The act authorizing the construction of the building to replace the previous capitol passed the Indiana legislature on March 4, 1877.

Greetings, today we will visit the Indiana State Capitol Building

March 4, 1877 – Act Passed Authorizing the Construction of the Current Indiana Capitol Building
The current Indiana capitol building that graces downtown Indianapolis is the fifth capitol to house the legislature in the state. The act authorizing the construction of the building to replace the previous capitol passed the Indiana legislature on March 4, 1877.
The Fourth Capitol Building
the first capitol building, called the Red House, met in Vincennes from 1805 until 1813, when it moved to Corydon, Indiana to the state capitol there. the legislature used the Corydon building until it moved to Indianapolis in 1825. The Legislature used the Marion County Courthouse as the third capitol until workers completed construction of the fourth capitol building in 1835. The legislature met in this building until it became unsafe in 1877 and the legislature moved to the a state office building constructed in 1865. The legislature met in this office building from 1877 until the workers completed the current capitol in 1888.
Unsafe
The capitol built in 1835 proved to be inadequate in both size and quality of construction. By the late 1860’s the building’s foundation began to fail. many feared the building would collapse. A ceiling collapse in 1867 proved these fears credible. Legislators first debated the feasibiltiy of saving the structure in 1873, but most felt this was not possible. By 1876 the legislature moved out of the deteriorating structure and into the state office buildings and the Marion County Courthouse. They had the building condemned and razed.
A New Capitol
The legislature passed legislation approving the construction of a new building. Workers would construct the new building on the site of the old one at a cost not to exceed two million dollars. Construction began in 1880.

At a ceremony on September 27, 1880, workers laid the ten ton limestone cornerstone for the new, fifth, Indiana Statehouse.

The legislature hired Indianapolis architech Edwin May to design the new building. May and his assistant Adolph Scherrer finished the building in 1888.
Edwin May (1823 – 1880)
Native of Boston, Massachusetts, May moved to Indiana and worked as an architech. His work includes several courthouses and public buildings in Indiana. May recieved the commission to design the new Indiana State House in 1878. During this, his final project he became incapicitated and died after traveling to Florida to recouperate.
Adolph Scherrer (1847 1925)
The architect Adolph Scherrer designed many important public structures and residences in the city of Indianapolis during the late 19th century. He was born in Switzerland and studied in Vienna and Budapest before coming to the United States about 1870. Practicing first in New York City and Chicago he moved to Indianapolis about 1873. His first position here was as a draftsman for Indianapolis leading architect Edwin May. In 1878 May was commissioned to design the new state capitol but died in 1880 soon after the project began. The building was completed by Scherrer in 1888. By 1891 he was appointed to the first Indianapolis Board of Public Works. Scherrer s sons, Anton and Herman, were also architects and worked in collaboration with their father and continued after his death as Adolph Scherrer and Sons. Some notable buildings designed by Scherrer besides the State House includes: Maennerchor Hall, Indianapolis City Hospital, the 34th Street entrance to Crown Hill Cemetery, the Old Pathology Building at Central State Hospital, the Independant Turnverein, and the Elks Club.

The Capitol
May and Scherrer used Indiana limestone from quarries in Lawrence, Owen, and Monroe Counties to veneer the building and Indiana oak throughout the building. The designers used a classical Renaissance Revival style, influenced by the United States Capitol in Washington. Design features include a stained glass dome, marble floors and steps, granite columns, an ornate balcony. Visitors will see many beautiful designs on the ceiling. Historic monuments depicting famous events and people inhabit the beautifully landscaped lawn outside the building.

• Cornerstone laid – Fifth Capitol Building for Indiana
  Workers laid the 10 ton limestone cornerstone for the capitol building on September 27, 1880.
  The Ceremony
  Indiana governor James Bluejeans Williams chaired the cornerstone laying ceremony which was also attended by many other dignitaries that included former governor and future Vice President, Thomas Hendricks and women’s suffragist Sarah Bolton. Sarah Bolton recited a poem that she had written. The ceremony was attended by two former governors and and lady poet and women’s suffragist Sarah Bolton,
  The legislature would move into the new capitol in 1887, before construction officially concluded in 1888.

The episode is based upon my book, East Central Indiana Day Trips, available on the web site, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com. The book is the fifth book in the 9 volume Road Trip Indiana Series. The books include all the historical markers, as of 2022, in Indiana with the text and back story. The books also include a nearly complete listing of virtually every tourism destination in the state. The destinations include parks, museums, drive in theaters, bowling alleys, wineries and much, much more. I encourage you to visit the web site and subscribe to it. If you like what I am doing, please purchase a book, as it helps fund my work.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast and thank you for listening.

Visitors may tour the structure on their own, or take a guided tour. For more information on a brochure or to schedule a tour, contact:
Indiana State Capitol
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-233-5293
touroffice@idoa.state.in.us
http://www.in.gov/idoa/2371.htm