State Capitol
Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
This building, which replaced the old brick capitol, was designed by Joseph M. Huston, and erected, 1902-1906. It was dedicated on October 4, 1906, in the term of Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
After fire consumed the old brick statehouse in 1897, Pennsylvania set out to build a capitol worthy of an industrial powerhouse. Architect Joseph M. Huston designed the grand Beaux-Arts building raised here between 1902 and 1906, crowned by a dome inspired by St. Peter's in Rome. Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker presided over its dedication on October 4, 1906.
Why it matters
Hailed as a "palace of art," this capitol proclaimed the wealth and ambition of Progressive-era Pennsylvania at the height of its industrial might.
Own a business near here? Add it to the map.
Related people
- · Joseph M. Huston
- · Samuel W. Pennypacker
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Public Sector Unionism
Harrisburg, PA · est. 2005
The long campaign to give Pennsylvania's public employees a voice culminated in Act 111 of 1968 and Act 195 of 1970, which opened collective bargaining to tens of thousands of state and local workers. That victory capped a struggle stretching back to the 1930s — one restricted by legislation in 1947 and only partly recognized in 1957 — before the reforms of the late 1960s finally took hold.
Grace Methodist Church
Harrisburg, PA · est. 1968
When fire destroyed Pennsylvania's state capitol on February 2, 1897, the work of government could not simply stop. This Harrisburg church opened its doors as the temporary home of the state legislature while a magnificent new capitol rose to replace the ruined one. For a time, laws for one of the nation's largest states were debated beneath its roof.
Pennsylvania Canal
Harrisburg, PA · est. 1953
In the 1820s and 30s, states raced to build canals that could move freight faster than any road. Pennsylvania answered with an ambitious state-owned system, constructed between 1826 and 1834, meant to link Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Lake Erie across the mountains. The first lock dedicated here in 1827 was christened "Penn Lock," later superseded by newer locks as the network matured.
Executive Mansion
Harrisburg, PA · est. 1966
Across this street once stood Pennsylvania's second official Governor's residence, a private home acquired by the state in 1864 and reshaped over the decades by the many governors who lived there. Grand enough by the 1880s to be called "Keystone Hall," it served the Commonwealth's chief executives for 96 years before it was demolished in 1960.