Missouri State Capitol

Completed in 1917, the Missouri State Capitol is one of the nation’s most distinguished Beaux-Arts capitols, renowned for its richly decorated public spaces and extensive collection of murals, sculpture, and architectural ornament celebrating the state’s history. The Senate Chamber, one of the building’s most prominent ceremonial spaces, features elaborate ornamental plaster, decorative painting, gilding, monumental murals, and finely crafted wood furnishings that had deteriorated after decades of use.

As part of the chamber’s comprehensive renovation, EverGreene restored the historic interior while preserving its original craftsmanship and artistic character. The scope included conservation and repair of ornamental plaster, decorative painting, gilding, historic wood furnishings, and the chamber’s original murals.

Among the most significant challenges were the curved ornamental medallions surrounding the oculus and adorning each column. Many were too deteriorated to restore in place, so EverGreene carefully removed the fragile elements and transported them to its New York studio, where artisans created new casts from the original designs. The replicated medallions were returned to the Capitol for installation, where EverGreene’s artists completed the decorative painting, polychromy, glazing, and gilding on site to seamlessly match the historic finishes.

Conservators also cleaned and carefully inpainted the chamber’s original murals, while implementing a historically appropriate decorative color palette throughout the space. The integrated restoration revived the Senate Chamber’s richly ornamented interior, ensuring that one of Missouri’s most important civic spaces continues to reflect the architectural vision and artistry of the original Capitol.