Tennessee State Capitol

Part 1 - The Capitol Building

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You can click on any picture to enlarge:

This is a view of the North end of the Capitol.

This is a view of the Northwest corner of the capitol.  There are some parking spaces next to the state archives building here.

This picture is taken from the Southwest Corner.

On the East side of the capital, as seen from down the stairs at street level, with the Andrew Jackson statue in the front.  This street does not have heavy traffic but the parking spaces are all taken.  The Cordell Hull building is directly behind the camera

On the North Side of the Capital is the steepest slope of Capital Hill.  At the bottom of the hill is James Robertson Parkway, and across that street is the Bicentennial Mall.  This staircase allows you to walk up the hill.

Inside the State Capital

Inside the lobby of the state Capitol

Outside of the South side of the capitol.  On this day, a high school group is having their picture taken and state troopers in green are on duty.

Close-up of the architecture. One of the columns.  These columns are newer than the rest of the capitol.  Some of the original column "relics" are located on the capitol grounds on the north side, as well as Bicentennial Mall.

This reads:

SAMUEL D. MORGAN

DIED JUNE 10, 1880.

The State here gives repose to the remains of this eminent and useful citizen in recognition of the valuable services rendered by him in the building of the Capitol.

The metal plaque reads:

SAMUEL DOLD MORGAN 1798 - 1880

Samuel Dold Morgan, Born November 8, 1798, in Staunton, Virginia, moved with his family at an early age to Maryville, Tenn, and later to Huntsville, Ala.  Following attendance at the University of Nashville and employment in Huntsville, he moved to Nashville in 1833, opening a dry goods business.  On Jan. 30, 1844, by an act of the Legislature, Morgan, a prominent commercial and civic leader, was appointed one of the five commissioners to supervise erection of the State Capitol.  They selected William Strickland as the architect.   Morgan was the only original commissioner to serve continuously until completion. In 1854, he was elected president of the board of Commissioners and served in that capacity until completion in 1861.  He died on June 10, 1880 and was buried in the Gardner Vault at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.  In recognition of his years of devoted service and with the consent of his family, an official act of the Legislature authorized his interment in the state Capitol.  At noon on December 24, 1881, his remains were placed in the east wall of the Capitol's south Portico.

The south end of the Capitol, as seen from inside the top floor of the new downtown library.

The capitol, as seen from Love Circle off of West End.

Historical Marker at the Capitol. 3A 34:

TENNESSEE STATE CAPITOL

Designed by William Strickland, noted Philadelphia architect who also designed the tower of Independence Hall.  Construction was commenced in 1845 and completed in 1859.  Strickland died in 1854 and is entombed in the north portico.  His son, Francis, supervised construction from 1854 to 1857.  Slaves and convicts quarried and transported limestone for the Capitol, which was used as a fortress during the Civil Was.  President and Mrs. James K. Polk are buried on the east lawn.

This plaque reads:

TENNESSEE STATE CAPITOL

has been designated a REGISTERED NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

Under the provisions of the historic sites act of August 21, 1935 this site possesses exceptional value in the commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States

U.S. Department of the Interior   National Park Service   1972

National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark

Tennessee State Capitol

The Tennessee State Capitol (constructed 1845-1877) was designed by engineer and architect William Strickland.  It was one of the first buildings in the nation with structural iron roof trusses.  The Capitol grounds were designed by engineers J.A. Hayden and John Bogart and set the standard for park development in the Region.

State Capitol Buildings Completed 1859.  State Capitol grounds completed 1877. Designated 2003

The North Portico seen at dusk from down the side of Capitol Hill.

Post Cards:

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