Old Brick Capitol: Iowa Time Machine February 11, 1873

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On February 11, 1873, the Old Brick Capitol in Des Moines burned to the ground. The modest brick building that had served Iowa for 17 years was lost as the modern, five-domed Capitol building rose just to the east.

Iowa's journey to finding a permanent capital had been long and contentious. The territorial and early state governments moved between Burlington and Iowa City before legislators voted in 1857 to relocate the seat of government to Des Moines, a more central location as settlement pushed westward. The Old Brick Capitol, completed in 1857, was meant to be temporary. The building stood at the corner of what is now East 9th Street and Grand Avenue in Des Moines. It was a modest three-story structure that reflected Iowa's frontier sensibilities and limited budget. By 1870, state officials had recognized the building's inadequacy for a growing state government and voted final approval for a new statehouse in April of that year.

The fire broke out in the early evening hours of February 11, 1873. Workers had left for the day, and the building stood largely empty when flames erupted inside. Witnesses reported seeing smoke billowing from the windows before the fire burst through the roof. Des Moines firefighters rushed to the scene, but their equipment proved no match for the inferno. The bitter February cold hampered firefighting efforts, as water in the hoses froze. Within hours, the Old Brick Capitol was reduced to a smoking ruin. Remarkably, many important state records were saved by brave citizens and state employees who rushed into the burning building. The cause of the fire remained uncertain, with theories ranging from a defective flue to careless use of heating stoves.

The current Iowa State Capitol, which occupies a different site overlooking downtown Des Moines, stands as the direct result of that 1873 fire. Construction began in 1871 but accelerated after the fire destroyed the temporary Capitol. The magnificent building took fifteen years to complete, with its distinctive central dome finally finished in 1886 and covered in pure 23-karat gold leaf. The structure cost nearly three million dollars, an enormous sum for the era. Today, the Capitol ranks among America's most beautiful state government buildings, featuring elaborate interior decorations, soaring rotundas, and intricate stonework. #Iowa #OTD #History #Architecture #Learning