EXTRA! Montana Newspaper Stories 1864-1922: The Capitol Building

After Helena won the popular vote to be the capital city of the new state of Montana, lawmakers immediately created a capital commission to oversee the construction of a building to house state government. Amid scandal, the original commission and the architect were dismissed, but a new commission soon contracted with different architects, and the completed building was dedicated on July 4, 1902. Two additional wings, to the east and the west, were completed ten years later.

Key dates

1895—Capitol Commission is appointed.
1897—Contract for building the capitol is awarded to Charles E. Bell and John H. Kent.
1902—Montana State Capitol dedicated.
1909—Legislature authorizes addition of east and west wings.

From the newspapers

• Chopping Off Heads, The Anaconda Standard (Anaconda, MT) February 1, 1895, Morning, p. 1.
• The Capitol Building, Great Falls Weekly Tribune (Great Falls, MT) April 17, 1896, p. 4.
• The State Capitol, The Anaconda Standard (Anaconda, MT) January 07, 1897, p. 6.
• Capitol Commission, The Ravalli Republican (Stevensville, MT) March 03, 1897, p. 1.
• In Violation of Law, The Anaconda Standard (Anaconda, MT) February 07, 1898, Morning, p. 8.
• Helena Folks Wake Up, The Anaconda Standard (Anaconda, MT) February 10, 1898, Morning, p. 2.
• Citizens of Montana, The Anaconda Standard (Anaconda, MT) July 08, 1898, Morning, p. 4.
• Proposals for State Capitol Building, The Anaconda Standard (Anaconda, MT) July 31, 1898, Morning, p. 4.
• Governor’s Message: State Capitol Building, The Billings Gazette (Billings, MT) January 06, 1899, p. 3.
• Around the State, Rosebud County News (Forsyth, MT) January 23, 1902, p. 1.
• The Capitol Wings, The River Press ( Fort Benton, MT) December 29, 1909, p. 2.
• The Capitol Wings, The Western News (Stevensville, MT) January 12, 1910, p. 4.

To find more

Search for the following terms in combination, proximity, or as phrases: montana capitol building, capitol commission, george r mann, bell and kent, capitol wings

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Written by Catherine W. Ockey