Little-Known Facts About the California State Capitol

1. You might not expect to see mythical characters in the capitol building, but it is full of symbols that allude to the identity and story of the state. On the façade and pediment of the building, you’ll spot the Roman goddess Minerva; according to Roman mythology, she was born fully grown. Similarly, California became a state without having first been a territory. Her image on the State Capitol building and the Great Seal symbolizes California’s direct rise to statehood. 

2. In the northern and southern hallways on the first floor of the State Capitol building, you can find four large tile groupings. The tiles create an image of Minerva seated with a California grizzly bear—the official state animal—and the word “Eureka” above them. “Eureka” is California's state motto; the Greek word means “I have found it.”

3. California’s capitol building was modeled after the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. While many other capitol buildings in the nation are similarly designed, Sacramento’s is unique in that it doesn’t have a statue crowning its dome. Instead, it’s ornamented with a gold-plated copper ball that’s reminiscent of California’s Gold Rush history. The building’s majestic dome rises high into the sky of Sacramento, while inside, a smaller dome allows visitors to get a closer look at the Victorian details. 

4. Most of the ghost stories of California are connected to abandoned houses, mansions, or spooky hotels—but the California State Capitol building also has a chilling history. The construction of the building started on December 4, 1860, but it didn’t go smoothly due to floods, political and labor issues, and other problems. The series of delays in the process caused costs to skyrocket, putting a lot of pressure on principal architect Reuben Clark and eventually driving him insane (literally). In 1864, he was committed to a Stockton mental institution and passed away two years later. The building was finally completed in 1874.

5. The California State Capitol Building is also a tale of two stones. If you take a closer look at the western façade of the building, you may see the two different types of granite used. The greyish, darker granite is from the nearby city of Folsom, while the lighter-hued granite is from Penryn. The original plan was to build the structure using cast iron and stucco, but Clark argued that stone was more suitable for a building of such importance to the public. While sandstone was the original choice, it was determined that it would be too dark (and very expensive to transport), so granite became the best option in terms of aesthetics and cost.  

6. In 1892, Sacramento was hit by two earthquakes within days of one another, damaging the California State Capitol building. Between 1975 and 1982, renovations were made to fix the damage, which was recorded as the largest restoration project in U.S. history at that time.

7. The initial architectural plan was to have visitors enter through a “doorway to democracy”—outside, a classical portico was meant to have a grand staircase and function as a doorway filled with statues. However, the staircase was never built due to construction costs. 

8. Within the California State Capitol building is a museum containing a collection of artworks such as paintings, sculptures, and murals. They are displayed throughout the first floor in the East Annex and the West Wing in legislative conference rooms and leadership offices. So, you can admire art while also learning more about the state’s history during your visit.