The South Dakota State Capitol: The First Century
A South Dakota State Historical Society Press Publication
Standing firmly in the middle of South Dakota, on the banks of the Missouri River, Pierre seems the logical choice for the capital of the state. Upon the state’s admission to the Union in 1889, however, not everyone agreed. At least thirteen towns vied for the opportunity to become the new state’s capital, but after protracted campaigns, dubious get-out-the-vote drives, and political “battles” (some of which bordered on violence), Pierre finally established itself as the capital city twenty years later.
In The South Dakota State Capitol, Marshall Damgaard brings together research from many sources to provide new insight into the first hundred years of the granite building that dominates almost every view of Pierre. Damgaard takes the reader from those heady early days to modern times, detailing the changes the building has undergone, including the painting over of murals on walls and debates about furniture and fittings.
More than 130 historical and contemporary photographs depict the progression of the capitol from idea to reality and chronicle its later restoration to its present-day splendor. A comprehensive tour guide allows readers and visitors to meander through the building, exploring the high quality workmanship and architecture.
Standing firmly in the middle of South Dakota, on the banks of the Missouri River, Pierre seems the logical choice for the capital of the state. Upon the state’s admission to the Union in 1889, however, not everyone agreed. At least thirteen towns vied for the opportunity to become the new state’s capital, but after protracted campaigns, dubious get-out-the-vote drives, and political “battles” (some of which bordered on violence), Pierre finally established itself as the capital city twenty years later.
In The South Dakota State Capitol, Marshall Damgaard brings together research from many sources to provide new insight into the first hundred years of the granite building that dominates almost every view of Pierre. Damgaard takes the reader from those heady early days to modern times, detailing the changes the building has undergone, including the painting over of murals on walls and debates about furniture and fittings.
More than 130 historical and contemporary photographs depict the progression of the capitol from idea to reality and chronicle its later restoration to its present-day splendor. A comprehensive tour guide allows readers and visitors to meander through the building, exploring the high quality workmanship and architecture.
