Overview
The Texas State Capitol in Austin houses the Texas Legislature and the office of the governor. Built of red granite, it stands 302.64 feet tall, about 14.6 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and it has more floor space than any other state capitol.
History
After an earlier capitol burned in November 1881, Texas held a national design competition, which was won by the Detroit architect Elijah E. Myers. Instead of paying cash, the state paid the builders, a Chicago group known as the Capitol Syndicate, with more than three million acres of Panhandle land, which became the XIT Ranch. The owners of Granite Mountain near Marble Falls donated the sunset red granite. Construction ran from 1882 to 1888, and the building was dedicated in May 1888. A statue known as the Goddess of Liberty stands on top of the dome.
Today
An underground extension, opened in 1993, was built to add office and hearing space without changing the historic view of the building. The Capitol and its grounds are open to the public, and the Texas State Capitol Police, part of the Texas Department of Public Safety, provide security.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Texas State Capitolen.wikipedia.org
- State Preservation Board: Capitol historytspb.texas.gov
Facts checked against the sources above in October 2026. History is summarized for general interest; check primary sources for research. This landmark is local context, not an employer or job listing.