Capitol Buildings
This page contains information about U.S. State Capitol buildings in the United States and is not to be confused with information about State Capitals, which are the cities where these buildings are located. Capital with a second ‘a’ refers to the city – Capitol with an ‘o’ refers to the building.
A capitol building typically contains the meeting place for its state’s legislature and offices for the state’s governor, though this is not true for every state. Only Arizona does not have its governor’s office in the state capitol. Additionally, in Delaware, Ohio, Michigan, Vermont and Virginia, the office there is for ceremonial use only. Eleven state capitols do not feature a dome: the Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee and Virginia state capitols.
Most U.S. states (39 of the 50) have facilities named “State Capitol”. Indiana and Ohio use the term “Statehouse” and eight states use “State House”: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Vermont. Delaware has a “Legislative Hall”. The State of Alabama has a State Capitol, but the Legislature has since 1985, met in the State House.
Click on any Capitol Building to learn about its location, construction, and history.
Capitol Buildings
Gallery
Most U.S. states (39 of the 50) have facilities named “State Capitol”. Indiana and Ohio use the term “Statehouse” and eight states use “State House”: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Vermont. Delaware has a “Legislative Hall”. The State of Alabama has a State Capitol, but the Legislature has since 1985 met in the State House.
In 9 states, the state’s highest court routinely meets in the capitol: Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma (both civil and criminal courts), Pennsylvania (one of three sites), South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The other 40 states have separate buildings for their supreme courts, though in Minnesota and Utah the high court also has ceremonial meetings at the capitol.