150th Anniversary of the Tennessee State Capitol 10/19/2009 This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Tennessee State Capitol building, which is one of the oldest original capitols still in active use in the United States today. Since I took office nearly seven years ago, I’ve had the privilege of working in this historic building. It holds deep meaning for me and for all Tennesseans, and I cannot imagine a finer place in which to spend part of my life. Shortly after Nashville was selected as the state’s permanent capital city in 1843, the Tennessee General Assembly commissioned William Strickland, a notable Philadelphia architect, to design and oversee construction of the Tennessee State Capitol building. Strickland, who died prior to the building’s completion, considered the structure to be his crowning achievement and was buried in the northern facade in a tomb of his own design. Upon completion in 1859, the building sat atop the tallest hill in downtown Nashville, making it the city’s most visible structure and one of the largest west of the Appalachians. Since my first visit to Tennessee many years ago, I’ve believed it afforded a magical view of downtown Nashville that can’t be replicated anywhere else in the city. Today, the Capitol building is one of our state’s oldest treasures, and the history contained within its walls represents the qualities that make the Volunteer State an outstanding place to live and work. This landmark is the spot where, in 1866, Tennessee became the third state and the first former Confederate state to ratify the 14th Amendment, guaranteeing African Americans’ citizenship and equal protection before the law. Under the re-admission policy of President Andrew Johnson, a Tennessee native who became president following Lincoln’s assassination, our state became the first southern state to be readmitted to the Union. The Capitol building is also where the historic final vote was cast that gave women the right to vote. On August 20, 1920, Tennessee became known as “the perfect 36” because it was the 36th of the 48 states needed to ratify the 19th Amendment. The House of Representatives had been divided after weeks of debating until Harry Burn, the youngest member of the Tennessee General Assembly, who had intended to vote against the amendment, broke the tie at the encouragement of his mother. To commemorate these historical events, two relief sculptures hang in the hallway that separates the House and Senate chambers. The grounds of the Capitol feature statues of Presidents Andrew Johnson and Andrew Jackson and the tomb of James K. Polk, all of whom were Tennessee natives. From statues and marble floors, to Greek-inspired architecture, Tennesseans can see most of the original features throughout the Capitol that speak of our state’s history and echo the words of our ancestors. In 1971, the Tennessee State Capitol was designated as a National Historic Landmark and in 2003 as a National Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers for its demonstration of structural iron roof trusses and helping to expand the iron industry in the state. An architectural masterpiece, the Capitol proudly stands as a reflection of the Volunteer State’s rich and diverse heritage, while showcasing our modern-day legislative process at work in an open public setting. I consider it a great honor to work in a place that bears so much history and consistently reminds us of those who have labored before us in order to make Tennessee strong today. I am especially proud that our Capitol building remains open and accessible to the public, and I encourage all Tennesseans to visit and see it for themselves. For information about guided tours of the Capitol, visit www.tnmuseum.org. If you have questions or comments about this issue or any other, please e-mail me at phil.bredesen@tn.gov.