Vermont
The smallest state capitol (building) is located in the smallest state capital (city) , Montpelier,VT. The building was opened in 1859 making it the 8th oldest capitol in the country. Also, it is the only capital city without a MacDonalds. The first photo is dated ca.1870.
North Carolina
North Carolina’s statehouse is located in Raleigh. It was built in 1840, making it the 7th oldest. The Senate moved out in 1881, and The General Assembly moved in 1961. The statehouse is currently occupied by the Governor’s office. Raleigh is notable for having the first Historically Black College in the South, Shaw University established in 1865. Shaw was the first to admit women and also the first to offer a four-year medical degree. The first photo is dated 1861.
Colorado
The Colorado capitol is located in Denver. Construction of the building took 15 years, beginning in 1886 with the ground breaking. The cornerstone was laid four years later, and the building opened after another four years. However, it was not considered complete until 1901, 30 years after the land was donated by Henry Brown. Oddly, Denver is the site of the most beer brewed in a U.S.city: 200+different kinds per day. The first photo is dated ca.1895.
Tennessee
The Tennessee capitol is located in Nashville and was another long-term construction, 1845-1859. It is one of twelve dome-less capitols and the tenth oldest still in use. Nashville is known as “The Athens of the South” owing to it’s large number of colleges and universities. It has the only full-scale replica of the Parthenon and houses a 42 ft. statue of Athena–the largest indoor statue in the country. The first photo, showing a Union encampment, is dated 1862.
Michigan
The Michigan capitol is located in Lansing. It was built between 1873-78 and designed by the same architect who did Colorado and Tennessee statehouses. Lansing was chosen because so many larger cities were endlessly arguing about being the chosen one. The first photo is dated 1899.
