Tennessee State Capitol

Structure and architecture

The Tennessee State Capitol is modeled after an Ionic temple, incorporating Greek Revival architecture, and is composed of fossiliferous limestone quarried from nearby.^[1][5] Each stone block weighs between 6 and 10 short tons (5.4 and 9.1 metric tons).^[5] It measures 112 by 239 feet (34 by 73 m), and is approximately 206.6 feet (63.0 m) tall. The north and south porticoes each contain eight Ionic columns, and the east and west porticoes, which do not span the entire length of the structure, contain six.^[1] Each of these columns measures 56 inches (1.4 m) in diameter.^[6] The porticoes are based on the Erechtheion in Athens, and are located on the second floor.^[5] They are supported on the first floor by six-foot (1.8 m) wide square columns.^[6] All of the columns are capped by entablatures. On top of the roof is a 42-foot (13 m) tall round tower, modeled after the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, that sits on a square pedestal-like structure.^[1] The tower weighs 4,000 short tons (3,600 metric tons). Nashville architect Kem Hinton notes an irony between the design of this tower, as the Choragic Monument honors Lysicrates, an Ancient Greek choral leader; and Tennessee would ultimately play a major role in the development of popular music, with Nashville being known internationally as "Music City".^[7] The tower contains eight Cornithian columns, and is topped by a 37-foot (11 m) tall finial, which in turn is topped by a flag pole.^[1] The rafters that compose the trusses supporting the roof are made of wrought iron, and span the entire width of the building.^[5] Their connections are made of cast iron. The attic underneath the roof reaches a height of 14 feet (4.3 m), and is used for storage.^[8]

From left to right: Historic American Building Survey schematics of the basement, first floor, second floor, and side of the Tennessee State Capitol.

The first floor of the capitol building, also referred to as the basement level is crisscrossed by halls, and contains the office of the Governor, the original Supreme Court chamber, and offices of other state officials including cabinet members.^[5] The ceiling is approximately 18 feet (5.5 m) tall.^[8] The principal stairway, which is 30 feet (9.1 m) wide, leads from the basement to the second and principal level on the west side of the building. It is surrounded by reddish-brown marble handrails and balustrades. Each step is carved out of a single block of mottled limestone with a curved underside. The bottom half of the staircase is 10 feet (3.0 m), and leads from the first floor to a landing situated against the west wall. This landing consists of three slabs of limestone supported by Doric columns. The second part of the staircase consists of double stairwells that connect the landing to the second floor. These stairwells are cantilevered into the north and south walls of the stairwell, and are sided with cast iron facing.^[9]

The House of Representatives Chamber, known as the Hall of Representatives in its early years, takes up the entire south end of the building. This two-story room is 74 by 100 feet (23 by 30 m) wide, and 40 feet (12 m) tall, and is flanked by spectator galleries on the third floor on the east and west side. The galleries are accessible from staircases connecting to the second floor hallway,^[10] and are located atop eight smaller offices, which originally served as committee meeting rooms.^[9] Both galleries are fronted by eight fluted Ionic columns that measure 32 inches (0.81 m) in diameter,^[10] and are each carved out of a single block of limestone. These columns represent Tennessee's status as the sixteenth state admitted to the Union. They are topped by elaborate capitals designed in Composite order, and on each side of the chamber, support entablatures that are more than seven feet (2.1 m) thick.^[9]

The Senate Chamber is located on the northeast corner of the second floor. It measures 35 by 70 feet (11 by 21 m) wide, and its ceiling is 43 feet (13 m) tall. A 12-foot (3.7 m) wide spectator balcony surrounds the east, south, and west side of the chamber on the third floor, and is supported by 12 marble Ionic columns.^[11] The ceiling design is that of a lacunaria that radiates outward from the front of the chamber directly above the front platform. The chamber is surrounded by a full entablature, and Ionic pilasters are located in the walls.^[12] On the northeast corner of the building, opposite the Senate Chamber, is the State Library room. This room measures 35 by 35 feet (11 by 11 m) wide,^[13] and is flanked on the north and south sides by smaller rooms that originally served as senate committee rooms. A wrought iron spiral staircase connects the east side of the room to third and fourth floor balconies above, which extend atop the rooms. These balconies are surrounded by elaborate wrought iron hand railings. This room along with the original senate committee rooms, originally housed the contents of the state library on all three floors, and still contains many books.^[14] It is primarily used as a legislative lounge and meeting room in the present day.

Background and planning

Lick Branch, later known as French Lick Creek, was a stream that flowed through the bottomlands immediately north of the site of the capitol building. It contained numerous salt licks and springs along its banks, including the McNairy Spring. Herds of bison, deer, turkey, bears, and other game wildlife were attracted to this stream, and Native American peoples including Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Shawnee made use of animal trails in the area. Due to constant territorial disputes, the area was held by no single Native American group when European settlers first arrived.^[44] French traders under the command of Charles Charleville established a trading post along the French Lick in 1714, which was the first European settlement in what is now Nashville and became known as French Lick.^[45] The French Lick and spring attracted settlers from East Tennessee to the region in 1779, who established Fort Nashborough, the namesake of Nashville, along the Cumberland River, and founded the Cumberland Association the following year.^[46]

When Tennessee was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796, as the 16th state, Knoxville was its first capital. Over the next thirty years, the seat of government alternated between Kingston, Nashville, Knoxville, and Murfreesboro, before being moved to Nashville in 1826. No permanent statehouse was constructed during this time, and the legislature instead met in courthouses and other meeting places.^[8][47] The 1835 state constitution mandated that the General Assembly choose a permanent capital by 1843.^[48] On October 7, 1843, the Tennessee General Assembly declared Nashville as the state's permanent capital, and planning for a statehouse began shortly thereafter. The prominent hill on which the capitol would be constructed was known initially as Cedar Knob, and later Campbell's Hill after Judge G. W. Campbell, who owned it at the time.^[49] It was previously occupied by the Holy Rosary Cathedral, a cathedral which was the first Roman Catholic church in Nashville.^[50][51][52] The property had been purchased by the city of Nashville for $30,000, and was conveyed to the state government for $1 on December 11, 1843.^[I][54][55]

Design and early construction

On January 30, 1844, the Tennessee General Assembly established the Tennessee Capitol Commission to oversee the design and construction of the statehouse and made an initial appropriation of $10,000 for the project.^[II][56][57] This act also mandated that prisoner labor from the nearby penitentiary in Nashville be used to save money, and specified that the structure be "built of smooth hewn or cut stone",^[8] with the ornamental portions constructed of Tennessee marble. In January 1845, Samuel Watkins, who owned a quarry less than one mile (1.6 km) west of the site, agreed to a three-year lease at a cost of $1,500.^[III][58] The commission first met on February 12, 1844, and their first task was to locate an adequate quarry site. They immediately decided to search for a location near the capitol site, and on March 16, 1844, instructed the penitentiary keeper to examine sites near the prison.^[57] The commission, who were not allowed to hold a design competition, chose to seek out qualified architects and engineers. The commission learned that renowned Philadelphia architect William Strickland was interested in the project. On June 14 or 16, 1844, the commissioners discussed Strickland's offer to design and supervise construction at a cost of $2,500 per year.^[IV] They also resolved to offer Strickland $500^[V] and the position of construction superintendent if his plan was adopted, and agreed to pay for his travel expenses if he chose to visit Nashville. Other architects, including Gideon Shryock of Louisville, Kentucky, James H. Dakin of New Orleans, and local architect Adolphus Heiman also expressed interest in the project. Strickland did not visit Nashville until April 29, 1845, when he began surveying the site. On May 20, 1845, Strickland was hired and his plans and report were adopted by the commission.^[b][60][61]

Strickland chose to model the capitol building on Greek and Roman architecture, similar to his previous projects, and decided to construct the edifice almost entirely of limestone. Strickland specified that the roof trusses be constructed of wrought iron, understanding that iron can be an effective fireproof structural member. It is also speculated that he may have wanted to take advantage of wrought iron's greater tensile strength. This was considered somewhat groundbreaking, as it was one of the first uses of structural iron. Most structures in the United States at the time, including bridges, were still being built with wooden structural members. In his initial report, Strickland estimated that the project would initially cost $340,000,^[VI] or between $240,000 and $260,000 if constructed with convict labor.^[VII][8][62] Preliminary work to prepare the site, which included clearing of debris, and blasting and digging for the foundation, began around January 1, 1845. Strickland prepared an estimate for "scalping" the brow of the rocky hill to a depth of six feet (1.8 m) and excavating the crypt to a depth of seven feet (2.1 m), requiring nearly 8,000 cubic yards (6,100 m³) cubic yards of dirt and rock to be removed. This was later revised to a depth of slightly over four feet (1.2 m), and cost 36 cents per cubic yard,^[VIII] for a total cost of $2,500.^[IX] Excavation was largely completed by June 25, 1845.^[62] The cornerstone of the Tennessee state capitol was laid on in a ceremony on Independence Day, July 4, 1845, that began in the nearby city square, and proceeded to the site.^[63][64]

Shortly after taking office in October 1845, Governor Aaron V. Brown reported that the project was on schedule and on budget, but that this was likely at risk of changing due to the massive scale. A protest was held one month later against the use of convict labor by local artisans interested in working on the project, but the majority of state legislators insisted on using convict labor to reduce costs. On January 5, 1846, the legislature appropriated of $32,000 for the years 1846 and 1847,^[X] and authorized the capitol commission to employ 150 convicts to quarry stone, but did not allow them to work on the capitol grounds.^[8][65] Slave labor was also used in the construction of the capitol building, which is believed to be "the most significant project where the [Tennessee] state government rented slave labor".^[66] The first use of slave labor was reportedly in the excavation of the site and carting away of debris before construction began.^[54][66] In September 1845, Secretary of State John S. Young recommending purchasing 15 or 20 African American slaves for the project. Sometime in 1846, the commissioners signed a contract with Nashville stonemason A. G. Payne at a cost of $18 per month^[XI] for the labor of fifteen enslaved Black men, and agreed to provide them with housing. By the end of 1847, only the floor line of the ground floor had been constructed, and in October of that year, the commission requested an annual appropriation of $100,000 for the next two years in their biannual report.^[XII] They also reported that the quarries were understaffed, and the stonemasons on the capitol grounds were often short of stone. As a result, 20 to 30 slaves were sent to work at the quarries. Strickland complained to a member of the legislature that the site was become a target for vandalism in November 1847, and requested permission to remove vandals, which was granted by the legislature.^[8][65] On January 24, 1848, the legislature appropriated $50,000 per annum for 1848 and 1849, and authorized the governor to issue bonds to raise these funds.^[67]

Strickland had set a goal of completing the building by the end of 1850 in late 1847, but the project would be plagued by several additional setbacks. On March 31, 1848, the commission authorized Strickland to use brick instead of limestone on the inside facing of the exterior walls and inside the interior partition walls. This resolution was overturned four months later, and replaced with a resolution authorizing brick and plaster walls in the basement offices and committee rooms.^[68] This resolution was also later revoked, but it is unknown when this took place.^[67] The project was delayed by the Tennessee cholera epidemic in the summers of 1849 and 1850, and work was essentially suspended during this time. In October 1849, the commission reported that the first floor had been partitioned into the state offices and Supreme Court chamber, and the entire story had been arched over, and work had begun on the walls of the second floor. Much of the stone for this floor, including the 16 columns in the house chamber, had also been quarried by this time. At this time, the workforce included 233 people, including 112 prisoners. Shortly thereafter, new Governor William Trousdale recommended that the building be finished as soon as possible to reduce the cost, and asked the legislature to appropriate additional funds. On February 9, 1850, the legislature voted to appropriate $150,000 for the next two years, which proved to be more productive than all of the previous years combined.^{[XIII][8][69]} During this time, massive wooden derricks were used to hoist some of the columns into place.^[70] In November 1850, a contract was awarded to Woods, Stacker & Co. to furnish the roof trusses.^[71] On October 17, 1851, Strickland reported that the walls of the principal story were nearly complete, and the cornice had been prepared and was ready to be installed atop the walls. The iron trusses were furnished by Cumberland Iron Works in Stewart County, Tennessee, and assembled by convicts. The copper for the roof covering had been delivered to the site from Pittsburgh, and was ready to be grooved and assembled.^[8][69]

Later construction and completion

Shortly after Strickland delivered his report in October 1851, the legislature appointed a committee to investigate the slow progress of construction. This committee reported that construction had proceeded as fast as had been possible, and that the funds had been expended properly. They also recommended that Strickland remain the architect and that the legislature allocate an additional $250,000,^[XIV] which was done on January 31, 1852. One week later, the commission appointed a special committee to award contracts for the interior marble work and wood and iron work on the roof, and decided to construct the doors and window sashes from wood instead of cast iron to reduce expenses.^[71] On February 17, 1852, a $12,839 contract was awarded to James Sloan of Knoxville for the marble work.^[XV] On February 26, 1852, a contract was awarded to Maxey McClure & Co. to assemble the copper sheets and attach them to the roof at a rate of $2.50 per 10 square feet (0.93 m²).^[XVI] Two days later, the legislature passed a resolution asking the commission to ensure that the house and senate chambers and other important rooms would be ready by the next general assembly.^[72] That year, the building was completely enclosed and roofed.^[9] In January 1853, the commission accepted a proposal by William Stockell of Nashville to plaster the principal level for a cost of $4,000, which initially included the arched ceilings but later moved to the legislative chambers.^[XVII] A proposal for furniture from the South Furniture Manufacturing Company was accepted by the commission on July 15, 1853. The commissioners then solicited proposals for oak desks for senators and representatives, which were scheduled for delivery on October 1, 1853. On October 3, 1853, the Tennessee General Assembly met in the new statehouse for the first time. During this meeting, the legislators paid homage to the new structure, and declared that Tennessee had joined the top ranks of U.S. states in terms of wealth and prestige.^[9] While it was considered habitable for ceremonial congregations by the legislature, the building was deemed unsuitable for the inauguration of Governor Andrew Johnson two weeks later.^[8][72]

Tennessee State Capitol depicted on an 1864 Confederate $20 banknote

In late 1853, work on many of the exterior features of the capitol had not been completed, and very little progress had been made on the tower and stone terraces, since construction had focused on the legislative chambers and offices.^[8][73] The legislature appropriated $200,000 on February 28, 1854,^[XVIII] which they believed at the time would be their final allocation for the project. On April 7, 1854, Strickland died unexpectedly at his residence at the city hotel. The following day, a large funeral procession accompanied his body from the hotel to the capitol. His funeral took place in the Hall of Representatives, and he was buried in a vault in the east facade of the capitol on the ground level. Strickland had designed this as his tomb the previous year, and the legislature designated it as his place of burial five weeks before his death. Strickland also designed the St. Mary's Cathedral (located along the base of the capitol hill), as well as Downtown Presbyterian church located just a few blocks away from the state capitol.^[51] His son Francis was appointed as the new capitol architect on June 3, 1854, at a salary of $1,200 per year.^[XIX][74] Francis Strickland had worked as an assistant under his father over the previous five years.^[8] The project was beset by a number of additional setbacks. In the summer of 1854, construction began on the terrace walls around the building. Around this time, an organization representing stonecutters working on the project asked the commission to agree to a demand of constant employment for the stonecutters through March 1, 1855. The commission rejected this request, which prompted a strike. Two months later, the commission agreed to a 25-cent increase in the workmen's wages.^[XX] On August 18, 1854, a contract was awarded to M. S. Shelton of Nashville for stonecutting of the eight columns of the cupola at a cost of $2,800.^[XXI] On October 14, 1854, Sloan was once again hired to furnish the marble entablature for the senate gallery and four marble mantels. This contract totaled $1,600,^[XXII] which was pared down by the commission from Sloan's original plan for a fifth mantel and more expensive entablature.^[11]

In February 1855, a contract was awarded to Henderson Brothers of Nashville for the installation of toilets. Rainwater was supplied to the 10 water closets in the crypt level by means of a system of roof gutters, which drained through eight inches (20 cm) cast iron pipes in the stone walls to cisterns under the terraces. These cisterns were made of cedar planks and lined with lead. On March 12, 1855, a tornado passed through Nashville and caused an estimated $2,000 in damage to the roof.^[XXIII][c] A fire at the penitentiary destroyed the stonecutters' shops and tools 17 days later, and rendered rough and dressed stone intended for the tower unusable. This resulted in a temporary suspension in work to allow replacement of the tools and relocation of sheds from the quarry to the prison. The house of representatives passed a resolution in March 1854 asking the commission to supply the building with natural gas. In April 1855, a contract was awarded to E. L. Davis to install gas pipes and fittings. On May 11, Cornelius and Baker of Philadelphia was hired to provide and install four gas chandeliers at a cost of $2,250:^[XXIV] a 48-burner fixture for the Hall of Representatives, a 30-burner fixture for the senate chamber, and two smaller fixtures for the main hall and library, respectively. This firm had already provided chandeliers for the United States Capitol and several statehouses. The house chamber chandelier was noted for its elaborate design in Philadelphia newspapers, incorporating bronze figures of Native Americans and buffalo representing the state's settlement, as well as figures of the state's major agricultural products of corn, tobacco, and cotton.^[76] Another 30 fixtures were ordered from this firm over the next two years, with the last chandeliers installed in the main hall by the fall of 1857. On June 7, 1855, Sloan was hired for a third and final documented time^[d] to fabricate the handrails and balusters for the stairwells, which he completed by November 1.^[78] The blocks and columns of the tower were installed using a series of ropes and spars. In the fall of 1855, Francis Strickland reported that the tower had been constructed to its full height and work was underway on the ornamental leaves.^[79] Around that time, it was discovered that the convict labor, estimated at over $300,000,^[XXV] had not been charged to the state capitol account. This increased the cost to over $700,000,^[XXVI] and prompted the legislature to require the penitentiary to begin recording the value of the materials and labor, and presenting this information to the commission.^[80]

On February 28, 1856, the legislature made the final appropriation for the capitol at $150,000.^[XXVII] Bids were received in May of that year for the remaining plastering work, which included the first floor vaults, the ceiling under the tower in the main hall, and three ceilings within the tower. It took 10 months for a contract to be awarded. Bids were solicited for marble work in the Supreme Court room in September 1856, but it is unknown who the contract was awarded to. In the winter of 1857, George C. Creighton, the building's superintendent was arrested twice and fined $50 for disrupting the Supreme Court's proceedings.^[XXVIII] Creighton was supervising the installation of flagstones in the crypt below the courtroom.^[8][77] Francis Strickland was dismissed from the project on May 1, 1857, due to disagreements with the commission.^[81] On October 1, 1857, the commissioners reported that four principal aspects of the statehouse were still incomplete: the library, the ironwork for the secondary stairways and towers, the crypt, and the lower terrace. They had reportedly been hesitant around this time to award contracts due to uncertainties in funding, and had already begun to shift their focus to preparing for the landscaping of the capitol grounds. Previous bids for ironwork had been rejected as too expensive.^[8][82] These were once again advertised in January 1858, and the commission met on May 19 with three bidders, but their decision was once again deferred, this time for unknown reasons. H. M. Akeroyd, an English-born architect in Nashville, submitted a plan for the library on December 4, 1858, which was adopted by the commission after thorough discussion. Shortly thereafter, Akeroyd agreed to provide drawings and plans for all unfinished work in the building.^[83] On March 19, 1859, the final stone, located in the lower terrace, was laid.^[e] On April 14, 1859, a contract was jointly awarded to Jackson & Adams and T. Robinson & Brother for the construction of the state armory in the north end of the crypt for $2,200.^[XXIX] On July 17, 1859, a contract for ironwork was awarded to Wood and Perot of Philadelphia at a cost of $20,600.^[XXX][84] Work on the railings on the secondary stairs was finished by November 5, 1859, and the iron stairs in the tower were completed a few days later.^[86][87] Lamp posts with sculptures Morning, Noon, and Night were installed by the entrances in November 1859.^[87] The capitol building was officially completed in December 1859, when work on the library was finished.^[8] The final cost of the project was placed at $879,981.48,^[XXXI] more than three times William Strickland's initial estimate.^[8][86]

Civil War, landscaping, and late 19th century

Photo of the Tennessee State Capitol during the Civil War by George N. Barnard.

View from the capitol during the Civil War

While still under construction, the capitol commission began planning for the landscaping of the capitol grounds, but this was delayed by the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861.^[54] Nashville became the first Confederate state capital to fall, which was made possible by the Confederate defeat at the Battle of Fort Donelson.^[88] Union troops seized control of the undefended city on February 25, 1862, and thousands of troops quickly poured into the city, establishing barracks inside the capitol building and camps on Capitol Hill and the surrounding lowlands.^[89] Expecting the Confederates to attack the city, a fortification made of cedar logs was constructed and an artillery battery consisting of 15 cannons was placed around the building; the soldiers called this "Fort Andrew Johnson". An American flag belonging to sea captain William Driver nicknamed "Old Glory" was placed atop the east portico of the capitol;^[89] this flag reportedly became the original of the "Old Glory" nickname for the American Flag.^[85][90] Graffiti from Union soldiers still exists in the tower.^[54] The building also served as a hospital for wounded soldiers after the Battle of Stones River.^[85][91] In the summer of 1862, Nashville became an important Union supply base and recruiting center, due to its position on the Cumberland River and its multiple railroads. It also served as an important recruiting center for the United States Colored Troops.^[92] Governor Johnson and Union troops used the capitol's tower as an observation point for the Battle of Nashville in December 1864.^[8] Johnson order the troops to blow up the building if the Confederates threatened the city.^[85] The building suffered little damage during the war, but minor repairs were required in 1866 and 1867.^[93]

On July 5, 1870, the general assembly passed "An Act to Improve the Capitol Grounds".^[94][95] An 1865 senate resolution had requested that the grounds be landscaped as a Civil War memorial, but the 1870 law required the plans to be consistent with William Strickland's original plans. Most of the original plans had not survived the war, however, and the memories of capitol commission chairman Samuel Morgan were used to craft new ones. New York civil engineer John Bogart was hired to design new plans for the capitol grounds, and it is believed that he tried to follow the original plans to the greatest extent possible. Along with the terraced walls around the building, Bogart's plan included a series of graded meandering walkways with stairs connecting the adjacent streets to the building, with walls constructed along the perimeter of the rectangular grounds along the streets.^[96] On the north side of the hill, a winding carriage route and a small pond were built. Red cedars were planted on the grounds, in accordance with the natural growth of the hill. Elaborate entrances flanked by gateposts were built at the four street corners surrounding the capitol grounds, and the east entrance of the building was configured to become the main entrance, as had been intended by Strickland.^[15][97] The east side of the grounds contained an open concourse with two circular fountains and a site in between for a statue of Andrew Jackson.^[98][99] A narrow road connected to Sixth Avenue on the east, and looped around the north side of the building to access the west entrance.^[15][97] Bogart's plan was adopted on July 1, 1871,^[99] and construction was underway later that month.^[100] Work continued over the next six years between the months of April and November, and convict labor was also used in the landscaping, as had been used in the construction of the capitol building itself. More than 35,000 cart loads of topsoil were hauled to the rocky hill to provide a base for the lawn and vegetation. The Superintendent of the State Prison reported on January 1, 1877, that the improvement project was nearly complete,^[96][97] and final work was finished on July 21, 1877.^[101][102] On June 10, 1880, Morgan died at the age of 81.^[103] His remains were moved from the original cemetery plot and reinterred in a tomb in the southeast corner of the capitol building on December 24, 1881.^[104][20]

In 1885 a series of major repair projects took place. The copper roof, which had struggled with severe leaks since at least 1867, was replaced with tin. The ten original water closets had struggled with poor ventilation and had been declared unsanitary by the State Board of Health and the Nashville Sanitation Officer. They were replaced by eight new water closets, located equally on each side of the building, that included toilets and urinals. The cisterns were cleaned and repaired with concrete. The windows had also been plagued by water damage and leaks, and several of them, including in the house, senate, and supreme court chambers; and along the main stairwell were replaced with double hung windows. Other broken window panes were repaired, and sashes and frames were repainted. The lampposts by the east and west entrances were also painted. The offices, which had accumulated dirt and dust, were repainted, and carpets installed.^[96][105] The city's electric company installed electric lights on the capitol grounds in the summer of 1886.^[106] On March 5, 1889, the original chandelier in the house chamber was removed, after a mechanic expressed concerns about its structural integrity.^[107][108] Multiple legislators had also expressed concerns about its potential to fall, particularly when it swayed in breezes, but a later inspection after its removal found it to be structurally sound.^[109] An inexpensive drop arc light fixture was installed over the clerk's desk,^[108] and electric lighting was first installed in the main hall that year.^[110] Many of the cedars on the capitol grounds were gradually replaced by hardwood shade trees beginning in the 1890s.^[96][97] On March 7, 1891, Louisville architect Henry P. McDonald presented a report on needed repairs to the building to the legislature. His report recommended a new heating and ventilation system, waterproofing work, erection of handrails around the esplanades, and covering the walls with a preservative. He also recommended repairs to the water closets, which continued to struggle with poor ventilation; and stabilization of the north portico, which had begun to settle. A new heating and ventilation system was installed later that year, which required a new boiler plant outside and new ductwork and vents in the building. Despite the fact that someone had fallen to their death from the esplanade the previous year, the legislature did not believe railings were needed since the grounds were lit at night. Most of the other recommendations in the 1891 report were also ignored.^[110][111] In 1895, electric lighting was installed, which included converting the gasoliers to electricity, and the library and Adjutant General's office were painted and recarpeted.^[110][112]

Earlier 20th century

In 1899, Nashville architectural firm Thompson, Gibel & Asmus investigated the capitol building and prepared an extensive report detailing needed repairs. At the same time, a special committee investigated the condition of the building and found it to be unsanitary due to a susceptibility to water leaks through the roof and windows, which caused damage to the foundation and flooding in the basement in wet weather.^[113] In March 1901, the legislature reported that a local architect had been hired to examine the building and prepare a rough estimate for the cost of repairs, and later that year created the Capitol Improvement Commission. Later that year, the first phase of what was, at the time, the most elaborate alteration and refurbishment to the building began. This included repainting all of the windows and iron railings installed in 1891, and frescoing the ceilings in the hallways in front of the four entrances.^[111][114] In February 1902, a contract was awarded to replace the original four exterior doors and renovate the entrances. New transoms and sidelights were cut around the doors, and new marble mosiacs were installed in the south and east vestibules. In March 1902, a contract was awarded to reface the esplanade walls and pave the terraces with Portland cement.^[115]

The following month, the contract was awarded for repair of the exterior of the statehouse. The first work included cleaning the exterior stonework by scrubbing it with steel wire brushes, followed by coating it with a preservative that consisted of a mixture of paraffin wax and linseed oil. Following this, the broken dentil moldings at the northwest and southwest corners were replaced. Many of the joints, including all of the ones in the tower, were dressed down and smoothed, and all seams were filled with Portland cement.^[111][114] That same month, contracts were awarded for construction of a new approach on the south end from Charlotte Avenue (then Cedar Street), which included stone gateposts and gates made of wrought and cast iron.^[116][117] A new space was constructed in the attic for the archives, which had been located in the basement where they were susceptible to mold and water damage. This work included plastering and new skylights in the roof. Some of the architects involved in the restoration had objected to this plan, expressing concerns about placing additional load on the roof structural members; they instead recommended partitioning a second level of the main hall between the library and senate chamber. The improvement commission ultimately decided to relocate the archives to the attic. Additional restoration work in 1902 involved minor repairs to interior stonework, which was contracted in the spring.^[118] The bulk of the capitol's electrical infrastructure, including a 30,000 watt transformer, 1,200 base lamps, more than 1,000 receptacles, and outdoor arc lamps mounted on poles, was installed during this time. This required thousands of pounds of wiring to be strung through the building. The restoration work cost $24,792,^[XXXII] and was completed by the end of 1902. About $8,000 worth of minor repairs were also conducted in 1903 and 1904,^[XXXIII] but little is known about this work.^[116]

In 1905, Governor James B. Frazier called attention to the overcrowding that had developed in the capitol building as the state government had grown.^[116] In response, the house passed a joint resolution asking for a feasibility study on constructing an annex to the building, but little action was taken. To relieve this overcrowding, the state began leasing buildings for office space in 1915. In 1917, a Nashville architect proposed a 10-story 60,000-square-foot (5,600 m²) office tower atop the capitol building supported by an independent steel frame. This design would have included removal of the capitol's tower, with a similar one constructed atop the new building.^[119] On December 21, 1916, Elizabeth A. Eakin and Margaret J. Weakley formed the Tennessee Capitol Association, a non-partisan organization that advocated for the preservation of the capitol building and grounds, and encouraged the state to acquire adjacent land and expand the capitol grounds. The organization worked over the next several years to purchase surrounding tracts of land for future expansion of state facilities, and lobbied the state to take charge of purchasing additional land.^[120][121] The first major state office building completed was the War Memorial Building south of the capitol in 1927.^[121] This building included an adjacent plaza that was transformed into Legislative Plaza in 1974.^[31][122] The Tennessee Capitol Association played a major role in acquiring the land that became the sites of the Supreme Court Building in 1937 and the John Sevier State Office Building in 1940.^[121][123]

Sometime in the early 20th century, the plaster ceiling in the house chamber was replaced with a metal ceiling.^[124] Between October 1917 and March 1918, portions of the iron balustrades in the library were removed to make room for new steel shelving, and new carpet was installed. The balustrades were initially used as dividers on the main floor, and reinstalled in 1953. A new floor was laid in the Treasurer's office in March 1918, and the room was painted two months later.^[123][125] Five cluster light fixtures were installed in the house chamber in the 1920s.^[124] Concurrent with the supreme court relocation to the new building, the court chamber was partitioned into six new offices for the Secretary of State and a ladies' lounge in 1937.^[126][127] Between February and December 1938, the east side of the first floor was renovated in a project that included removing three walls that divided the space into long, narrow corridors; construction of a new reception and conference room for the governor, respectively; new Georgian-style woodwork in the governor's suite; installation of new six-panel doors in a frame of Ionic pilasters based on the house at Westover Plantation in Virginia; and replacement of the east windows and installation of hardwood atop the stone flooring in the southeast quadrant. As part of this work, 11 panels depicting events from Tennessee history were designed by artist George Davidson and painted by Armenian American artist Jirayr Zorthian in the governor's reception room, and the ceiling of the governor's office was stenciled.^{[123][128][129]} During this time, the governor's and secretary of state's offices were temporarily relocated to the second floor.^[130] As part of an urban renewal project initiated by the Housing Act of 1949, many of the structures around the capitol were demolished, and a new four-lane roadway called James Robertson Parkway was constructed around the north side of Capitol Hill.^[131][132]

Restoration

Despite renovation and improvement efforts, the capitol building continued to be plagued by issues related structural deterioration, leading state officials to recognize that a large-scale comprehensive restoration was needed. The deterioration of the exterior had been of particular concern since the early 20th century. The building had developed large cracks in the walls and columns over a long period of time, and ornamental details had deteriorated.^[126][133] The steel rails installed in 1891 has also largely rusted away.^[128] The need for restoration became particularly apparent when on August 8, 1951, a large piece of stone on one of the exterior columns on the north side was knocked loose by blasting from a nearby construction project and fell to the ground.^[134][135] Different ideas were floated, including removing the ornamental work and replacing the building completely. In 1953, the general assembly appropriated funds for restoring the building, and established the Capitol Hill Area Commission to supervise the project. The commission hired Nashville firms Victor H. Stromquist and Woolwind, Harwood and Clark to inspect the building and develop plans.^[126][133] That year the library relocated to the new state library building, and the library room in the building was restored. The original iron balustrades were reinstalled, the walls and ceiling were cleaned, the floor was refinished and new carpet installed, and new shades and drapes were hung.^[136] The architectural firms examined the structure to determine which stones needed replacement or repair.^[126][133] The state legislature established the State Building Commission to oversee construction of state buildings in March 1955;^[137][138] this organization assumed the roles of the Capitol Hill Area Commission. Plans for the restoration were completed in the fall of 1955, and a contract was let in February 1956.^{[126][133][139]}

A contract for exterior restoration was awarded in February 1956.^[140] About 90,000 square feet (8,400 m²) of the original limestone was removed and replaced with thicker oolitic limestone from Indiana. This decision was made because of its durability, strength, and resistance to harsh weather.^[128] This included complete replacement of all 28 exterior columns and the entablatures, and the pilasters and entablature on the cupola. The stonework in the upper and lower terraces and the lower stairs was also replaced, the latter with granite.^[133][136] As part of this, the lamps with the sculptures Morning, Noon, and Night, which had severely rusted, were removed.^[141][142] The new limestone was quarried and fabricated by the Indiana Limestone Company of Bedford, Indiana. To ensure accurate replication, pieces of the original column caps and templates of other original stonework components were sent to the company.^[128][141] Mobile cranes with a capacity up to 35 tons were used to set the new stones except for in the cupola, which were installed with a 50-ton guy derrick atop a steel tower built up from the second floor corridor walls.^[143] Following stonework replacement, the exterior was cleaned and waterproofed. As part of the restoration project, the 1885 tin roof was replaced with a copper roof,^[136] and the penthouse structure for the archives in the attic was removed, which included removing the skylights and ventilators that had been installed when this structure was built. Chimneys protruding from the roof were also removed, and an enclosed ship's ladder providing access to the cupola from the attic at the tower base was constructed to replace a catwalk atop the roof. The original 1850s roof on the cupola was found to be in excellent condition, and was not altered, and all wrought iron in the building was determined to be in acceptable condition. All windows were replaced with pressure-treated pine windows, except for the ones replaced in 1938, and new bronze windows were installed in the tower. All of the 1902 exterior doors were replaced with oak doors, and bronze railings supplanted the iron railings on the porticoes.^[128][141] The exterior work was effectively completed by the end of 1957, at which point workers started installing new floodlights on the capitol grounds and roof, replacing the old pole-mounted lights.^[143][144]

Before work on the exterior was complete, the general assembly appropriated funds for renovations to the interior in 1957, and the same architectural firms were hired for this.^[124][145] Construction began on February 20, 1958.^[146] Extensive alterations were made to the first floor to provide more office space. In the southwest quadrant, the three original transverse stone walls were removed, and the area was reconfigured into eight square-shaped offices. Another eight offices were partitioned in the northwest quadrant, which had previously served as a federal courtroom. These new offices were given Georgian wood paneling, like the ones created in 1938. Two elevators were installed north of the east–west hall on the first floor, and restrooms were constructed in the place of the original secondary stairs on the first and second floors. The original limestone flooring in the halls of both floors was replaced with Carthage marble and the ceilings were cleaned and then repainted by Louis Bagnoli and Frank Bernarde under the direction of muralist Allyn Cox. New plaster was placed on the ceilings in the house chamber, senate chamber, library, and second floor halls, and this was subsequently painted by Bagnoli and Bernarde similar to the original appearance. Four new chandeliers were installed in the house chamber, replacing the 1920s fixtures.^[124][145] New red oak doors were installed to replace the original second-floor interior doors, and the original decorative moldings and ornaments were placed on them. Fluorescent lighting and new electrical, plumbing, and a heating and air conditioning system were installed in the building, which required raising the floors in the house chamber and library and a new equipment room above the second-floor men's restroom.^[142]

New offices for the Comptroller and other officials, three new legislative hearing rooms, a room for the press, janitorial locker rooms, equipment and storage rooms, restrooms, and a concession area were created in the crypt level. This involved lowering the floor level to provide an adequate ceiling height.^[17][147] An intercom system was installed allowing reporters to tune in to the house and senate chambers from the press room.^[142] The central part of the crypt had consisted of unexcavated rock up to this point. A corridor connecting the north and south sections of the crypt was constructed, and a new meeting room was developed in the east-central part of the basement. The original basement stairs were removed and replaced with a new stairwell in the central hall.^{[17][147][148]} In conjunction with the interior work, the Motlow Tunnel was constructed to provide access to the basement of the statehouse from Charlotte Avenue. The tunnel and new elevators had been advocated for several decades by legislators and citizens, due to the long climb required to reach the legislative chambers.^{[145][147][148]}

On January 4, 1959, the day before the start of the 1959 legislative session, the tunnel was opened and the elevators were placed into service.^[149][150] The substantial completion of the restoration of the building and new tunnel were dedicated on January 15, 1959, by Governor Frank G. Clement, which included the unveiling of a new plaque on the first floor detailing the history of the building and restoration project. The exterior renovation project cost $1.97 million,^[XXXIV] and the interior cost $1.84 million.^[XXXV][151] Final work on the tunnel was completed shortly thereafter,^[152] and it was officially named the Motlow Tunnel by the general assembly on January 28, 1959.^[153] One restoration was completed on the building, work turned to improvements to the capitol grounds. In 1960, new parking was constructed around the building, and a new access road was constructed from Seventh Avenue, resulting in the closure of the access from Sixth Avenue.^[28][154] In the fall of 1961, additional topsoil was hauled onto on Capitol Hill and more than 600 trees were planted.^[17][155] In conjunction with the restoration of the building, the urban renewal effort, which became known as the Capitol Hill Redevelopment Project, continued around the building, which resulted in several new office buildings, apartments, and skyscapers constructed in the area.^[156][157]

Later 20th century to present

The Tennessee State Capitol was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 1970.^[1] On November 11, 1971, the building was designated a National Historic Landmark.^[2] In July 1986, the first phase of a restoration project began.^[158] This project included restoring the old state library room by cleaning the stone and repainting.^[159] New 1850s-style carpet was installed, and the chandelier was cleaned and polished. This work was completed in April 1987.^[160] The next phase, which began in June 1987, restored the first floor by refurbishing the artwork, installing 1850s-style carpet and new flooring, and returned the supreme court chamber to its original appearance.^[161] Gold-leaf chandeliers similar to the originals were installed on the first floor, replacing light fixtures installed during the 1950s renovation, and older chandeliers were rehabilitated.^[162] Final work was mostly completed in January 1988.^[163]

In 1969, Knoxville architect Robert Church proposed a multi-level parking garage along the north and west side of Capitol Hill. As part of this plan, Church reportedly discussed the possibility of extending the greenery of Capitol Hill north of James Robertson Parkway with state architect Clayton Dekle.^[164] The state began gradually acquiring much of the land north of the capitol in the early 1970s with the intent of eventually constructing a large office complex, necessitated by the growth of the state government.^[165] Meanwhile, a movement had arose to preserve the view from the capitol to the north. Starting in the mid-20th century, a building boom resulted in several skyscrapers being constructed around the capitol.^[166] In 1988, around the time that planning for Tennessee's bicentennial began, John Bridges of Nashville-based Aladdin Industries conceived the idea for a public park north of the capitol modeled on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. He shared a sketch and brief narrative of his idea with Aladdin's CEO Victor S. Johnson Jr., who contacted Governor Ned McWherter in 1989 and presented him with Bridges' idea.^[164] McWherter first publicly spoke about plans to convert the land north of the capitol into a linear green space modeled on the National Mall for the state's bicentennial,^[165][167] and several plans were presented over the next few years.^[168] A feasibility study for the mall was conducted in late 1991.^[169]

On August 27, 1992, Tuck Hinton Architects and staff from SSOE Engineers and Ross/Fowler Landscape Architects were hired to develop a master plan for the mall, which required alterations to the north face of Capitol Hill.^[170][171] The State Building Commission approved the plan on July 8, 1993, followed by the State Capitol Commission 15 days later.^[170][172] Construction on the mall began on June 27, 1994, and was supervised by Heery International.^[173][174] To improve visibility between the mall and the capitol, a state employee parking lot and a section of Gay Street on the north slope were removed, and a new overlook called Belvedere was constructed here. Two stairwells-one from the capitol to the eastside of Belvidere and another from the west side of Belvidere to James Robertson Parkway-were constructed.^[175] The mall was dedicated on June 1, 1996, the 200th anniversary of Tennessee's admission to the Union as part of the celebrations of the state's bicentennial.^[176] Additional features planned for the mall complex were added over the succeeding years, the last of which was the Answer Bell on Capitol Hill, dedicated on June 1, 2003.^[177][178]

In 2003, the American Society of Civil Engineers designated the building as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in recognition of its innovative construction, which made unusually extensive use of stone and was an early example of the use of structural iron. The designations recognizes the interior columns that were built from single pieces of stone, that required massive wooden derricks to hoist into place. It also acknowledges the use of wrought iron, instead of wood, for the roof trusses to reduce the building's vulnerability to fire as groundbreaking.^[179][180]