About the Campaign

The People’s House

There is no more potent symbol of the past, present and future aspirations of the people of our State than our venerable Colorado State Capitol Building and its magnificent gold-plated dome. Through vision and
philanthropy the citizens and business leaders that preceded us played an essential role in the creation of the Statehouse. In 1908, miners donated 200 ounces of 24-karat gold to gild the cast-iron, copper-clad dome that was designed by Elijah E. Myers in 1885. In fact, the ten acres of ground on which “the people’s house” was erected was a gift made to Colorado in 1868 by hotelier Henry C. Brown.

A Complex Problem

It isn’t the Gold – It’s Water, Heat and Cold!

Regrettably, the dome of our Capitol has fallen into serious disrepair. The cast iron enclosure of the dome and drum, painted gray to match granite used elsewhere in the structure, has deteriorated over the past hundred years due to water infiltration and the intense freeze-thaw cycle of the Colorado climate. The observation deck, the unforgettable field trip destination for generations of Colorado’s school children, has been closed to them, as well as to all visitors, since 2007 due to the danger of falling cast iron. Engineering experts have declared the deteriorated condition of the structural metal fasteners holding the enclosure together to be a significant hazard to the building and its occupants. The experts have concluded that, “the entire dome will require extensive work to repair current damage and preserve the feature for future generations.”