Old Capitol Building

Iowa City, IA

The Old Iowa Capitol Building, for which the cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1840, was to be the hub of state government after Iowa City was chosen as the state capital in 1839.

In 2001, the dome accidentally caught on fire. The dome was destroyed and much of the historic building was damaged by smoke and water, causing the University of Iowa to close the building for five years. Firefighters were able to cover many artifacts and furniture, including desks used by Iowa’s earliest lawmakers, to protect them from water damage.

EverGreene regilded the new dome in 2022, where the restoration team prepped, primed, and applied custom 23.75 karat gold.