Kentucky's Old State Capitol
(This information was gathered from the Kentucky Historical Society and Staff of the Old State Capitol)

Kentucky's "Old State Capitol" building is a national historic landmark. The building served as the capitol of the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 1830 to 1910. Here Kentucky's leaders decided the course the state would take through the turmoil of the nineteenth century.

This was the only pro-Union state capitol occupied by the Confederate army during the Civil War. Plans to swear in a Confederate governor and set up a Confederate state government were ruined by the approach of the Union army just days before the Battle of Perryville in 1862.

In the aftermath of the bitterly contested election for governor in 1899, the state legislature met here to decide the winner. An assassin, hiding in an office in the Old Capitol Annex next door, shot the Democratic claimant, William Goebel, as he approached the Capitol. Armed citizens and State Guard soldiers occupied the grounds and here for a time Kentuckians threatened to fight their own miniature civil war.

There have been four capitol buildings in Kentucky's history.  The first went into use in 1794 and remained in use until 1813. But in 1813, it burned down. The cost to build this capitol was $3,500.00; it was 86 feet by 54 feet. The architectural style was federal, with Georgian details.

The second capitol came into use in 1814 and remained in use until 1824. It also burned down. The cost to build this capitol was $40,000.00; it was 120 feet by 80 feet. The same architectural design was used for this building as for the first capitol.

The third capitol was occupied in 1830 and remained in use until 1910. This building is still standing, but in 1920, it was turned into the home of the Kentucky Historical Society. The cost to build this capitol was $85,000.00 and it measures 132 feet by 70 feet. The architectural style of this capitol is Greek Revival.

The fourth and current capitol was completed in 1910. It cost $1,750,000.00 and it measures 402 feet and 10 inches by 180 feet. This architectural style is Neoclassic Revival.

Click here to see descriptions of the artwork in the Old State Capitol.