| Admission to the Union | Sequence in Admission | Sequence in Capitols I Have Visited |
|---|---|---|
| August 10, 1821 | 24th admitted | 27th visited |
It is not always the case that a state’s largest city is its capital. This rings true in Missouri, where the seat of government is stationed in Jefferson City. When my father and I visited in summer 2024, Jefferson City ranked as Missouri’s 16th largest-populated municipality, with an estimated 43,000 residents. Jefferson City has been the capital since 1826, when the seat of government was relocated from St. Louis. Two state houses in Jefferson City burned down, in 1837 and then in 1911. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the current structure were held in 1913, and it opened in 1917.
The capital city is named after Thomas Jefferson, who was president when the United States acquired Louisiana Territory (which included present-day Missouri) from France in 1803. A 13-foot statue of the third chief executive, sculpted by James Earl Fraser, stands by the capitol’s southwest portico.
A peak into the Missouri governor’s office. Prior to 1965, it was the governor’s reception room. Not pictured are the room’s four arch-shaped murals painted by Gari Melchers.
New York-based artist Herman T. Schaldermund designed multiple works of stained glass in the Missouri capitol, including the art shown here in the House chamber.
What is this clown doing in the state house? Well, he’s part of the Hall of Famous Missourians. Entertainer Emmett Kelly, sculpted wearing his Weary Willie hobo clown makeup, lived in the Missouri city of Houston. Kelly’s bust was made by William J. Williams, who created many of the bronze representations that decorate the corridors of the Missouri State Capitol. When my father and I visited Jefferson City in August 2024, there were 51 honorees in the Hall of Famous Missourians. They included David Rice Atchison, John Ashcroft, Josephine Baker, Bob Barker, Omar Bradley, Jack Buck, George Washington Carver, Walter Cronkite, Walt Disney, Lamar Hunt, Scott Joplin, Stan Musial, Buck O’Neil, James Cash Penney, Marlin Perkins, John J. Pershing, Ginger Rogers, Sacajawea, Dred Scott, and Harry S. Truman. Mark Twain was the first person enshrined, in September 1982. The May 2012 induction of conservative radio show host Rush Limbaugh, who throughout his career spouted racist, misogynistic, and homophobic speech, created controversy. Missouri House Speaker Steven Tilley, the person responsible for selecting Limbaugh for inclusion, refrained from announcing the time of the induction ceremony in apparent hopes to avoid negative media attention. The Los Angeles Times described the event as “a secret ceremony that wasn’t advertised, that was closed to the public and that was guarded by armed State Highway Patrol members.”
The bronze chandelier in the capitol rotunda weighs 9,000 pounds and hangs from the center of the dome interior, which is 171 feet above.
The capitol houses the Missouri State Museum, which covers a wide range of topics related to the Show Me State. The range of subjects includes pre-colonization indigenous history, slavery manufacturing, World War I, and jazz. The exhibit pictured here highlights prehistoric Missouri.
Sources Consulted and Further Reading
Gary Melchers Home and Studio. “Missouri State Capitol Murals: The Backstory.” Accessed September 25, 2024. https://www.garimelchers.org/2022/04/25/missouri-state-capitol-murals-the-backstory/.
Missouri House of Representatives. “Hall of Famous Missourians.” Accessed September 15, 2024. https://house.mo.gov/famous.aspx.
Missouri Legislative Library. “The Many Missouri Capitols.” Accessed September 25, 2024. https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegislativeLibrary/Capitols.html.
Missouri State Capitol Commission. “About the Capitol.” Accessed September 24, 2024. https://capitol.mo.gov/about-the-capitol/.
Naik, Richa. “Rush Limbaugh inducted into Hall of Famous Missourians.” NBC News. May 18, 2012. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/rush-limbaugh-inducted-hall-famous-missourians-flna780490.
Pearce, Matt. “Rush Limbaugh enters Missouri hall of fame; not all are pleased.” Los Angeles Times. May 15, 2012. https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-xpm-2012-may-15-la-nn-na-limbaugh-hall-of-fame-20120515-story.html.
