Tennessee State Capitol

Tennessee's State Capitol building is one of the most unique in the United States and is also one of the oldest. Construction began on the building in 1845 and was not completed until 1859. The site chosen for the State Capitol building was located on a hill in the northern section of downtown Nashville. The site had previously been occupied by the Holy Rosary Cathedral. Renowned Philadelphia architect William Strickland was chosen to design and oversee construction of the building. Strickland designed the building after a Greek Ionic temple. The prominent lantern structure located above the roof line is a design based upon the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens that honors the Greek god Dionysus doing battle with Tyrrhenian pirates. Commercial labor was used to construct the building, but slave and convict labor was used as well. The limestone used in the building's construction was fired, cut, and hauled in from approximately one mile away. William Strickland died five years before the Capitol was completed. He was entombed within the building's walls. He is one of two to be entombed within the building, with the other being Samuel Dold Morgan, chairman of the State Building Commission. The building is completely symmetrical, with full height entry porches on the elevations, and full facade entry porches on the facades. Each of the four porches are supported by columns. On the grounds of the Capitol are statues of prominent figures in Tennessee history such as Andrew Jackson, Alvin C. York, and Edward Ward Carmack. Former President James K. Polk and his wife are buried on the Capitol grounds. Today the Capitol houses the Governor's office, and also the State Senate and State House of Representatives. In 1970 the Tennessee State Capitol was added to the National Register of Historic Places. A year later, in 1971, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The State of Tennessee should be commended for the wonderful job that they did in preserving their State Capitol building. At Moore Historical Consulting my #1 priority is historic preservation. Do you own a historic home, commercial building, or farm? If so contact me today to learn more about the historic preservation strategies I offer. These include nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, nominations for a Permanent Conservation Easement, nominations to the Century Farms program, and writing text for historic makers. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring and preserving your past fun and easy.

During the Civil War the State Capitol served as a fort and campsite for Union troops, and was also significant during the Battle of Nashville. Tennessee was one of the first states to fall during the Civil War, and the Capitol remained in Union hands for the entire war.

Statue of Alvin C. York at the State Capitol.

Tennessee Historical Commission historic marker at the State Capitol. This is one of the few "wall mounted" historic markers around. Contact Moore Historical Consulting for more information about the historic markers program.

Come back next week for another Throwback Thursday presented by Moore Historical Consulting.