Planning

Sacramento, one of many California Capitals

The immigration of thousands of “Forty-niners” in search of gold prompted California’s admission as the 31st state into the Union in 1850, thus creating the need for a state capital. California did not have a permanent seat of government until 1854. Cities vied for the opportunity to house the state capital for the power, prestige, and economic benefit that accompanied it. Four capitol buildings existed in other cities before Sacramento became the permanent site.

The first State Constitutional Convention was held in 1849 at Colton Hall in Monterey. During the convention, delegates discussed the need for a suitable location for the seat of California’s government. Anticipating prestige and profit, communities from all over the state made attractive offers that included free land and buildings.

Monterey
September 9, 1849 – October 13, 1849

The first State Constitutional Convention in 1849 was held at Colton Hall in Monterey. During the convention, 48 delegates worked diligently to write California’s first constitution as well as to build a state infrastructure from scratch.

Pueblo de San Jose
December 15, 1849 – May 1, 1851

While the delegates were still convened in Monterey, communities competed with one another to become the home of California’s capital.

“During this session, two men from the booming little town of Pueblo de San Jose were sent galloping over the hills to Monterey to offer Washington Square in their town as a capitol site and to assure delegates that a suitable building would await them. After hours of debate the convention accepted the offer and named Pueblo de San Jose the capitol-with the qualification that, by law, it might be moved elsewhere.”

However, the newly elected legislators quickly became disgruntled with the poorly lit and ventilated accommodations in San Jose. Several more proposals to provide land, buildings, and money for construction were presented to the Legislature. Among these was a generous offer from General Vallejo, whose proposal to remove the capital to the town of Vallejo was approved by the Legislature.

Vallejo
January 5, 1852 – January 12, 1852
January 3, 1853 – February 4, 1853

Having promised land and accommodations, General Vallejo worked furiously to complete the capitol before the commencement of the third legislative session. Unfortunately, when the legislators arrived, construction was still in progress. The noise and lack of furnishings made work impossible. A new battle to move the capital ensued, and charges were made that General Vallejo had broken his contract. In a spirit of compromise, the legislators agreed to keep the town of Vallejo as the permanent location of the capital, but the Legislature would be removed to Sacramento to finish the session. A steamer was chartered, and the legislators were ferried 110 miles upriver to the town of Sacramento.

Benicia
February 11, 1853 – February 25, 1854

When the Legislature returned to Vallejo in 1854, the legislators were once again dissatisfied with the conditions. General Vallejo asked to be released from his contract because he felt he had been discredited by the repeated removal of the capital. The legislators were concerned that roving about the state would erode the people’s confidence in state government. Despite their concerns, they moved to the town of Benicia, which had promised them the use of their City Hall. However, the facilities were inadequate, and a second proposal from Sacramento brought the Legislature back for good.

Sacramento
January 16, 1852 – November 2, 1853
February 28, 1854 – present day

The first time the Legislature convened in Sacramento, it was on a temporary basis because the capitol in Vallejo was still incomplete. An interesting twist resulted from General Vallejo’s breach of contract. A restraining order was issued by J.D. Hoppe of San Jose to prevent the Governor from having the state’s archives sent to Sacramento. It was stated that the archives were being held in the “true legal capitol” and that the Removal Act of 1851 was conditional on Vallejo fulfilling his contract.

The Legislature was provided ample and comfortable accommodations in the courthouse in Sacramento. It would be another year and two more removal acts before Sacramento would successfully capture the prize and become California’s final seat of government in 1854. Construction on the present-day Capitol began in 1860, and the building has endured for nearly 150 years after its completion in 1874.

Even after Sacramento became the permanent seat of California’s government in 1854, there were several unsuccessful efforts to relocate the capital to Oakland (1858-59), San Jose (1875-78, 1893, 1903), Berkeley (1907), and Monterey (1933-41).

As California was the 31st state to join the Union, the design of its capitol was influenced by architectural styles used in the American public buildings that preceded it.

A common feature found in many state capitols, including California’s, is a portico opening into a central rotunda that rises into a dome. This architectural convention, borrowed from the Romans, creates an inspiring and majestic entrance.

To house the bicameral (composed of two legislative houses) government that the United States adopted from the British, the designs of many capitols include two wings that extend from a central rotunda. In California’s capitol, the Assembly is located in the north wing and the Senate in the south wing.

Virginia State Capitol, Richmond 

Completed: 1789
Architect: Thomas Jefferson

In 1785, while minister to France, Thomas Jefferson designed Virginia’s first permanent capitol in a neoclassical style. He was assisted by the prominent draftsman Charles-Louis Clérisseau. The Maison Carrée at Nîmes, France, served as their model. This temple, built by the Romans, still stands today.

The capitol’s rotunda displays a life-size statue of George Washington. Wings to house the Legislature were added to the original building in 1906.

The Massachusetts State House, Boston  

Completed: 1797
Architect: Charles Bulfinch

Self-taught architect Charles Bulfinch designed Massachusetts’ Capitol in the American Federal style, which takes its name from the era in American history (1783-1815) when the nation was being established.

The front of the building features an elevated portico with a series of Corinthian columns. The large gilded dome is topped with a lantern, and a pinecone, a symbol of the Massachusetts forests. Bulfinch also designed state houses for Connecticut (1796) and Maine (1832).

U.S. Capitol, Washington DC

Completed: 1826
Architect: Benjamin Latrobe

Benjamin Latrobe immigrated to the United States from England in 1796. By 1798, he had established himself as a talented architect specializing in Greek Revival buildings. This architectural style fit nicely with then-president Thomas Jefferson’s philosophy of politically relevant architecture. In 1803, Latrobe was called to Washington to complete the U.S. Capitol, a project that kept him occupied for the remainder of his life.