The current Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul was constructed from 1896 to 1905; shortly after the previous Capitol opened, it proved to be unsuitable due to overcrowding, a lack of adequate fireproofing, and poor ventilation. State officials began planning a grander, more-efficient Capitol. In 1893, Governor Knute Nelson appointed the seven-member Board of State Capitol Commissioners to oversee the construction of a new Capitol following the state legislature's recommendation. The commissioners selected local architect Cass Gilbert's design and chose a site at Wabasha Hill that was bounded by Park Avenue, University Avenue, Cedar and Wabasha Streets, and Central Avenue. Although it was the most expensive option, the chosen site was the largest of the four shortlisted sites, and the commission concluded it was the best location for the building.
Most of the work on the new building, the state's current seat of government, was done by hand. Horses and sometimes men supplied energy to hoist loads, and large stone blocks and iron girders were moved using steam-powered cranes and hoists. Shaping of the stone required the use of steam-powered drills, pneumatic chisels, channeling, and polishing machines. Much of the workforce were immigrants to the US. Six workers were killed in accidents between 1898 and 1903 as a result of unsafe working conditions.
Upon completion, the building drew praise from the architecture community,[1] leading to requests for Gilbert to design Capitol buildings for other states including West Virginia and Arkansas, and other notable structures.[2]