On July 3rd, 1889, members of the Georgia General Assembly marched as a body from the Kimball Opera House –which had served as their home nearly thirty years– at the corner of Marietta Street and Forsyth Street to the newly constructed state Capitol building. The next day, Governor John B. Gordon dedicated the new building with the following words:
“Built upon the crowning hill of her capital city, whose transformation from desolation and ashes to life, thrift and beauty, so aptly symbolizes the State’s resurrection, this proud structure will stand through the coming centuries a fit memorial of the indomitable will of this people.”
Jackson, Edwin L. “The Story Of Georgia’s Capitols And Capital Cities“. Georgia Info. Retrieved on 2009-7-1.
Although delayed by a few days, Governor Sonny Perdue, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Secretary of State Karen Handel and the Georgia Capitol Museum will mark the 120th anniversary of the state Capitol’s dedication July 8th with a special celebration in the Capitol Rotunda. The ceremony will feature a tour of the Capitol and birthday cake. Those attending the celebration can sign a birthday card to Miss Freedom, the statue that crowns the Capitol dome.
“It is my honor to celebrate the anniversary of the Georgia Capitol as secretary of state,” Secretary Handel said. “I encourage all Georgians to come celebrate our state’s history by visiting the Capitol.”
The state Capitol was built between 1884 and 1889, and when the books were finally closed on the project, $118.40 was returned to the state treasury from the one million dollars originally appropriated for the building’s construction. Gold was first added to the dome in 1958 and re-gilded in 1979. In 1971, the Georgia State Capitol was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
More information on the state Capitol building and its 120th anniversary celebration can be found by visiting www.sos.ga.gov/archives/state_capitol.
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