Many people think that most state capitols are replicas of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C but there are as unique as each state is. Some of the domes are octagonal and some sit on top of a cupola tower. Some have no domes at all. What isn’t in doubt is that the dome has played a part in American civic architecture since the statehouses of Maryland built in 1788 and Massachusetts built in 1798. The dome for the federal capitol was added in 1822 but the dome you know today was added in 1866. It is a massive drum tower with a half-sphere made of painted cast-iron placed on top of it.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

No Domes

Alabama – Montgomery, Alaska – Juneau, Arizona – Phoenix, Florida – Tallahassee, Hawaii – Honolulu , Louisiana – Baton Rouge, Nebraska – Lincoln, New Mexico – Sante Fe, New York – Albany, North Dakota – Bismarck and Virginia – Richmond.

Ohio – Columbus, Oregon – Salem and Tennessee – Nashville all have a Greek-style drum tower instead of a dome.

Dome Facts

1. Gilded: Colorado – Denver, Connecticut – Hartford, Georgia – Atlanta, Iowa – Des Moines, Massachusetts – Boston, New Hampshire – Concord, New Jersey – Trenton, Vermont – Montpelier, West Virginia – Charleston and Wyoming – Cheyenne
2. Copper clad: California – Sacramento, Indiana – Indianapolis, Kansas – Topeka, Maine – Augusta, Montana – Helena, North Carolina – Charlotte, South Carolina – Columbia, South Dakota – Pierre and Utah – Salt Lake City.
3. Stone: Arkansas – Little Rock, Idaho – Boise, Minnesota – Saint Paul, Mississippi – Jackson, Missouri – Jefferson City, Rhode Island – Providence and Wisconsin – Madison.
4. Terracotta: Kentucky – Frankfort and Pennsylvania – Harrisburg.
5. Brick and concrete: Washington – Olympia.
6. Zinc: Illinois – Springfield
7. Newest: Oklahoma – Oklahoma City.
8. Cupola tower: Delaware – Dover and Nevada – Carson City
9. Wood: Maryland – Annapolis