Architecture of the Oregon State Capitol

Abstract

In 2013, the Oregon State Capitol celebrates its seventy-fifth anniversary as Oregon's seat of government. That building, the third incarnation of the Capitol, is unique due to architect Francis Keally's conscious decision to make it distinct among all other capitols. In a time when state seats of government were made to resemble the United States Capitol, Keally incorporated elements of what he called “Greek Moderne” but now is referred to as Art Deco into his blueprints. Architectural historian William F. Willingham reviews the building's key features – such as the flat-topped lantern in place of a traditional dome and the situating of Legislative chambers on the flanks to allow for natural lighting — that make the structure so exceptional.