Georgia State Capitol Building, The (Images of America)

By: Janice McDonald

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Synopsis: Several Georgia cities had already served as capital when in 1868 the controversial decision was made to move the seat of state government to the upstart city of Atlanta, a move that became permanent in 1877. When government offices outgrew temporary quarters, a grand new structure was commissioned. Designed to emulate the new US Capitol Building in Washington, DC, the Georgia State Capitol building plans carried an unheard-of price tag of $1 million, taking four years to construct. With its imposing edifice rising 272 feet above one of the highest spots in the city, the capitol was the tallest building in Atlanta when it was dedicated on July 4, 1889. The imposing dome at its center was white plaster, but in the 1950s, gold mined in north Georgia was used to guild it. The glimmering Georgia State Capitol now shines at the center of still growing Atlanta skyline. Author Janice McDonald is fascinated by the rich history of her adopted city of Atlanta and has spent countless hours researching and exploring to learn more about it. The capitol's origins, its construction, and the people who have walked its halls are just some of the stories that make the Georgia State Capitol so memorable.