On our continual quest to tour all the U.S. State Capitols, in June of 2015 we took a trip to Bismark, North Dakota to check out the North Dakota State Capitol Building. Sadly, I had heard a few derogatory comments about this capitol, about it not being a real capitol, but I feel they were WAY wrong. This is a gorgeous capitol and very unique. There are only 3 other capitols that I know of that have the same style: Florida, Nebraska, and Louisiana.
The current North Dakota State Capitol Building has 19 floors and is 241 feet 8 inches in height. It was completed in 1934 at slightly under its $2 million dollar limit. With merely 80 percent usable space, it cost merely 46 cents per cubic foot. Amazing! It is the tallest building in North Dakota and is known as the Skyscraper on the Prairie.
During our tour, we made several stops along the way including the House of Representatives and Senate chambers. What I really liked was the bronze columns in the galleries of both chambers. They are beautiful and quite unique. Another unique piece of the capitol building is what they call the Monkey Room. The wood in this room is a California Walnut and is very rare. This is known as a wild figure veneer.
Toward the end of the tour, we were taken up to the 18th floor which they call the Observation Tower. The views from up there are incredible. They also have a lot of pictures of the old capitol building before it tragically burned down on December 28, 1930. There is definitely a lot to see as you walk around the building looking at the views from all four sides. It definitely reminded me of the one in Nebraska.
We had a great visit and really enjoyed our tour. I feel sorry for those that may have looked down at this incredible capitol building. It is beautiful! Here is a link to their website with more information, and such. Also, if you are looking for some restaurant suggestions, please check out my post on Bismark Food Experiences.
North Dakota State Capitol Visitor Information
Address:
600 E. Boulevard Ave
Bismark, ND 58505
Phone:
701-328-2480
Hours:
Tours are available year around.
Monday through Friday: Hourly 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Summer Tour Hours: Memorial Day through Labor Day
Monday -Friday: Hourly 9:00 am to 11:00 am and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Saturday: Hourly 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday Hourly 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Holiday Hours on Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day: Hourly 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Price:
Free
Parking:
Apparently they have been making changes to the parking and entrances to the capitol. I am not sure which is the latest information. I would call the tour number 701-328-2480 and ask them the best place to park.
2 thoughts on “North Dakota State Capitol in Bismark – The Peace Garden State”