Uploaded January 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
The current West Virginia Capitol began construction in 1924 after 65 pieces of downtown Charleston property was purchased between California Ave and Duffy St. After $10 million and eight years, the main building and both wings officially opened in 1932. The capitol holds 530,000 square feet of floor space and 333 rooms in its main unit and two wings. The building encompasses more than 14 acres of floor space. Two thirds of the interior consist of marble. The walls are made of Imperial Danby, and the floors are a combination of white Vermont marble and dark Italian travertine. The Rotunda features a chandelier hanging from a 54-foot brass and bronze chain. The 4,000-pound chandelier is eight feet in diameter, made of 10,080 pieces of Czechoslovakian crystal, and illuminated by 96 light bulbs.
Work began in January 2018 to repair major water damage and structural problems inside the dome. The state awarded the $13.52 million project to the second-lowest bidder, Pullman Power of Pittsburgh, who said they'd complete the work by January 2019. However, engineers discovered that clay tile used in walls of the Capitol dome and stairways as firewalls was breaking up, presenting a safety hazard. This placed an additional $9.48 million price tag on the project and slated completion for December 2019. As of January, 2020, the project has been more than $26 million and there's no end in sight.
The current West Virginia Capitol began construction in 1924 after 65 pieces of downtown Charleston property was purchased between California Ave and Duffy St. After $10 million and eight years, the main building and both wings officially opened in 1932. The capitol holds 530,000 square feet of floor space and 333 rooms in its main unit and two wings. The building encompasses more than 14 acres of floor space. Two thirds of the interior consist of marble. The walls are made of Imperial Danby, and the floors are a combination of white Vermont marble and dark Italian travertine. The Rotunda features a chandelier hanging from a 54-foot brass and bronze chain. The 4,000-pound chandelier is eight feet in diameter, made of 10,080 pieces of Czechoslovakian crystal, and illuminated by 96 light bulbs.
Work began in January 2018 to repair major water damage and structural problems inside the dome. The state awarded the $13.52 million project to the second-lowest bidder, Pullman Power of Pittsburgh, who said they'd complete the work by January 2019. However, engineers discovered that clay tile used in walls of the Capitol dome and stairways as firewalls was breaking up, presenting a safety hazard. This placed an additional $9.48 million price tag on the project and slated completion for December 2019. As of January, 2020, the project has been more than $26 million and there's no end in sight.
