Texas State Capitol

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At the time of its construction, the capitol building was billed as "The Seventh Largest Building in the World."
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At the time of its construction, the capitol building was billed as "The Seventh Largest Building in the World."

The Texas State Capitol, located in Austin, Texas, is the fourth building to serve as the seat of Texas government. It was constructed from 1882-1888, and a major renovation was completed in the 1990s. The building was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

Construction of the capitol building was funded through an article in the state constitution, adopted February 15, 1876, which authorized the sale of public lands for the purpose. The builders of the capitol were paid with three million acres (12,000 kmĀ²) of land in the Texas panhandle; this tract later became the XIT Ranch.

Interior rotunda is illuminated by skylights
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Interior rotunda is illuminated by skylights

The cornerstone for the building was laid on March 2, 1885. The original plan for the capitol called for it to be constructed from limestone quarried within the state; however there was some concern that the available limestone would be of variable quality. Hearing of the problem, the owners of Granite Mountain near Marble Falls offered to donate to the state free of charge the necessary amount of pink granite as an alternative. This stone was subsequently used on the majority of state government buildings in the downtown Austin area, and was called "Texas Pink Granite" until very recently, when those marketing the stone changed the name to "sunset red".

The capitol has more floor space than any other state capitol building, and is almost 15 feet (5 m) higher than the National Capitol.

Controversy over religious display

The Ten Commandments display at the Texas State Capitol.
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The Ten Commandments display at the Texas State Capitol.

A granite monument of the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol was at the center of a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court case, Van Orden v. Perry, in which the display was challenged as unconstitutional. In late June 2005 the Court ruled that the display was not unconstitutional.

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