The Story Behind Minnesota’s Capitol and its Architect Presented by Nancy Jacobson

For Integrating Regional Culture, History, and the Arts

A Prairie Region Teacher Training Institute

Minnesota’s capital city is _____.1. Minneapolis2. St. Cloud3. St. Paul4. Rochester

The Minnesota State Capitol1895 - 1905 

St. Paul, Minnesota, USA Cass Gilbert, architect

Illustration from Arttoday.com

The art and science of designing and erecting buildings.

Taken from The American Heritage Dictionary, Third Edition

That is Architecture

Architecture

Gilbert was determined to bring a unified artistic vision to the Capitol. Writing about his role, he once said: "We live in an age that has the fad to credit men with 'specialties.' . . . In art there should be no 'specialists.' . . . In the old days, the architect, painter and sculptor were frequently one and the same man. There is no reason why they should not be so now."

Architecture is an art form.

Do you agree?

1. Yes2. No

Cass Gilbert, the Architect

Cass Gilbert: Standing the Test of Time

His Potential

Cass Gilbert was born in what state?1. Illinois2. New York3. Minnesota4. Ohio

As a child growing up, in school Cass could be described as all but

one of the following.1. Popular among

his classmates2. An indifferent

student3. Headstrong4. Worked when

he felt like it

Cass Gilbert’s mother thought her son was different. What did she mean?

1. He was taller than all his friends.

2. He was artistic.3. He was unable

to make friends.

The Winner

The legislature made the first appropriation of funds for our present Capitol in 1893. An architectural competition two years later attracted more than 40 entries.

Cass Gilbert’s Original Ink Drawing on Linen

(4:34-5:53)

The Dome

Gilbert's design is dominated by its extraordinary dome, which is really three separate domes for structural purposes.

The Stone Used

White Georgia marble

Minnesota-quarried granite and sandstone

Local Kasota stone

Pipestone Red marble And more!

The Stone Controversy

The dome on top of the Capitol is really two , one on the inside and one on the outside. Do you agree?

1. Yes2. No

What major war was fought in the 1860s?

1. Civil War2. Revolutionary

War3. World War I4. World War II

Quadriga #3

The 4 horses in the Quadriga represent the 4 elements of nature.

1. earth, hurricanes, sunlight & water

2. wind, fire, water & tornadoes

3. earth, wind, fire & water

BONUS!Do you agree?

The Quadriga has never been removed since placed

there in 1906.

1. Yes2. No

Works Sited

" Minnesota Video Vault ." Minnesota Video Vault | Home. Twin Cities Public Television, 9 Jan. 2005. Web. 25 June 2012. <http://www.mnvideovault.org/search_results.php?q=Cass+gilbert%3A++Standing+the+Test+of+Time>.

"MNHS.ORG | Minnesota State Capitol." MNHS.ORG | Minnesota Historical Society. Minnesota Historical Society, n.d. Web. 25 June 2012. <http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/msc/historyarticle.html

"State Capitol Walking Tour." MNHS.ORG | Minnesota Historical Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 June 2012. http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/msc/state_capitol_walkingTour.htm."Vimeo." Who Built the Capitol? Minnesota State Capitol Labor History Tour. MN Historical Society Researchers, 23 Nov. 2011. Web. 25 June 2012. <https://vimeo.com/32570584>.  MLA formatting by BibMe.org.

Your Capitol Project using PREZI

Tell the story of our Capitol and its architect in your own words.

You may use the images in the labeled folder on the Z drive.

Your story should include information about the main rooms in the Capitol, as well as some history.

Listening to the short videos in the series, Inside the Chamber, will provide you with interesting information. http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/archivesInfo.asp

Sites to use for researching the history of the Capitol and of Cass Gilbert will also be in a folder for your use.