State Capitols – Phoenix, Arizona - Part 1

Arizona Capitol in Phoenix (26 March 2015)

Constructed: 1898-1901

Architect: James Riley Gordon

State Admitted to Union: February 14, 1912 (48th)

State Population (2020): 7,029,917 (14th)

As this is an election year...a REALLY important election year, I should return to posting more state houses. Because it’s an election year, they will be the critical ‘battleground state’ capitols.

I think this reflects a sad theme in our current politics. In the current campaign calculus, the swing states seem to be all that matter anymore. The brilliant and expensive consultants believe that since most of the states are already decided, the effort (read ‘money’ and candidate visits) needs to be concentrated in the six or seven states that could go either way and decide the outcome. I hope the brilliant and expensive minds understand that the House and Senate are also up for grabs and therefore urge their presidential candidate to support others on the ticket.

That said, the states that decided the last couple of contests were Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. We’ve already presented Wisconsin (1 & 2), Michigan (1 & 2), Georgia (1 & 2) and Nevada.

Old Arizona Capitol, Phoenix (26 March 2015)

A chandelier hangs from the copper dome

in the Old Capitol. On the ground floor is a

mosaic representation of the state’s Great Seal.

Today, we visit Arizona. A century before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, the Spanish were conquering and exploring western North America. What is now Arizona was part of independent Mexico before it was ceded to the United States after we beat them up in 1848. The territory became the last of the 48 contiguous states to join the Union in 1912.

Senate Chamber, Arizona Capitol Museum (26 March 2015)

Phoenix is the most populous of all the state capital cities. It served as the territorial capital prior to statehood and the building shown above, completed in 1901, housed the legislature and executive offices until growth necessitated a change. In 1960, the House and Senate moved into separate buildings that flank the old capitol and in 1974, the governor moved executive functions into a new tower nearby. The old capitol is now the Arizona Capitol Museum.

Arizona House of Representatives (26 March 2015)

The state is divided into thirty legislative districts. Each district elects one senator and two representatives to serve two-years terms in office. Legislators are term-limited. After eight consecutive years on the job, one can run for a seat in the other chamber or stay away for two years before trying again.

Arizona Senate (26 March 2015)

In front of the government complex is a public space named for a former governor and dedicated to recognizing various individuals, organizations and causes. Images from there will be presented in a separate post.