Capitol at Risk
Restore or not to Restore?
Although the completion of the East Annex in 1952 provided more spaces for legislative offices, the state continually made changes to the original West Wing of the Capitol. By 1970, the Capitol had gone through three significant remodels and in many ways did not resemble the original Capitol Building.
Additionally, there were growing concerns regarding the building’s structural integrity. In 1972, a seismic study found the building unsafe to occupy in the event of a moderate earthquake and that the efforts to modernize the building had weakened the structure as a whole. By 1974, all personnel had moved out of the West Wing. The Senate and Assembly continued to use their chambers for official business on the assumption that they understood the safety risk.
California State Capitol Museum — Building a Legacy: 150 Years of the California State Capitol
This was a website specifically for the “Building a Legacy: 150 Years of the California State Capitol” Exhibit which ran May 20, 2019 – March 22, 2020 at the California State Capitol Museum.
For Museum-related information such as contacts, hours and location: Visit capitolmuseum.ca.gov.