The story of the Oregon State Capitol is that of persistence and reinvention. The third building since the state?s early days, the Oregon State Capitol is the state?s seat of government. It houses the chambers of the Oregon Legislature. It also contains the executive offices of the Governor, Secretary of State and Treasurer. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
The current building was finished in 1938. The first two capitols were destroyed by fire in 1855 and 1935. Because of changing sensibilities of the time, the new capitol design deviated from the normal domed look. Instead, the new building adopted Egyptian and Greek Revival influences. Overall, the capitol sports an Art Deco design, making it one of only three capitols using this style. The construction plans and even the cupola of the new building survived criticisms and controversies.
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