Third time’s the charm: An overview of the Mississippi State Capitol

*First appeared in the Dec. 12 edition of the Laurel Chronicle

As a precursor to the quickly approaching legislative session, I have decided to focus my December columns on four main components of the session: The people; the place; the policies; and the politics. Last week in this space, we met some of the people running your state Capitol; this week, let’s learn a little about the building itself.

Located on the site of the old state penitentiary, the Mississippi State Capitol (also known as the “new” capitol) has been the seat of the state’s government since 1903. Although three capitol buildings have been erected in Jackson, only two of them remain: The current New Capitol and the Old Capitol, which, from 1839 to 1903, served as our official statehouse. It has since been turned into a lovely museum.

Fun fact about the Old Capitol Museum: In 2005, it sustained extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina and had to be closed while renovations were underway. To commemorate its re-opening, the 2009 Legislative Session gaveled in at this building.

The (new) State Capitol was designed by St. Louis-born architect Theodore Link, and its construction cost in excess of $1 million. Interestingly, the bill was paid by back taxes from a lawsuit settlement with the Illinois Central Railroad.

The New Capitol seems to live up to Gov. A.H. Longino’s famous description, in which he calls the building a “reflex of the State’s public spirit, pride, and integrity.”

Modeled after the U.S. Capitol building, the New Capitol is a Beaux Arts-style building designed to house all branches of Mississippi state government. These days, however, the Capitol is the Legislature’s playground (with the exception of the ceremonial office of the Governor on the third floor and a small office for the Secretary of State).

Given my background as a governor’s staff member, I have spent many days, nights, and early mornings in that ceremonial office. It’s a beautiful, if not gritty, office that has an unexpected elevator.

On to dimensions. According to the legislative website, the “Capitol has a width of 402 feet, and the dome has a height of 180 feet. The interior Rotunda dome contains 750 lights which illuminate the blind-folded lady representing ‘Blind Justice’ and four figures that played a role in Mississippi history: two Native Americans, a European explorer and a Confederate soldier. An eagle adorns the top of the central dome and is made of copper coated with gold leaf. The eagle is 8-feet high and 15-feet wide.”

Unofficially, I’ve always been told that the copper coated eagle on top of our Capitol dome faces south – not north – in a show of post-Civil War defiance against the U.S. Capitol. I have no idea if that’s true.

If you visit the New Capitol, you’ll walk into the “front” of the building (the front faces south, like the eagle) and enter the first floor. In addition to the Capitol Gift Shop (which you should really check out), the Hall of Governors is located on this level. Portraits of the state’s governors since the creation of the Mississippi Territory in 1798 adorn the hallways; you simply cannot walk down the corridor without feeling powerful and occasionally creepy gubernatorial stares.

Fun fact about two pictures in the hallways: Walter Leake, Mississippi’s 3rd governor, is an ancestor of the 63rd chief executive, Haley Barbour. Gov. Leake’s portrait is featured in the background of Gov. Barbour’s painting.

Going up a level, you’ll find my favorite floor, as it is home to the former State Library and former Supreme Court chambers which are both now used as committee meeting rooms. Primarily these rooms are used for money committees – that is, the Ways and Means and Appropriations committees in the House and the Finance and Appropriations committees in the Senate. The Rotunda area on floor two doubles as an unofficial lobbyist hangout.

On the third floor rests the power, as this level holds the Legislative chambers (both House and Senate); the ceremonial office of the Governor, and the offices of the Lt. Gov. and the Speaker of the House. The fourth floor is home to the Capitol press corps and entrances for public viewing of the House and Senate chambers.

I haven’t even mentioned some of the coolest Capitol features, such as the “stables” (literally the old horse stables – now the Capitol café area) and the myriad materials used throughout the building such as marble, faux marble (Scagliola), and beautiful stained glass. To appreciate these aspects fully, you’ll need to see it firsthand.

The New Capitol is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for self-guided tours. Free guided tours are offered each day at 9:30 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 2:30 p.m. If you’ve got a group, give the Capitol folks a call at 601-359-3114 to arrange a special tour (or email tours@house.ms.gov).

Making time to tour the statehouse is, well, a capitol idea.