What was louisiana first capital

He would be the last governor sworn in on the grounds until Mike Foster in In April of the House of Representatives voted to impeach Gov. Long on numerous charges including bribery and the misuse of state funds.

Following this Gov. Long convinced the legislature to erect a new state capitol. Construction on the new state capitol was complete in With the old statehouse no longer used by the legislature, the Works Progress Administration of Louisiana moved into the building in and extensive renovations and repairs were done with the help of a WPA grant.

With the building falling in disarray it earned the designation as a National Historic Landmark in New Beginnings In , for the first time in 58 years, the Louisiana Legislature convened in the Old State Capitol and the building was transferred to the Office of Secretary of State. The most extensive and comprehensive restoration began in Under the direction of Secretary of State W.

Throughout the s various exterior restorations were completed including a historically correct plaster and the replacement of the iron fence. A New Castle In , with the Civil War now over, the state capitol was re-established in New Orleans and the building remained vacant. The state house itself is one of the most distinguished examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the United States. Designed by architect James Harrison Dakin, its floorplan, towers, exterior stained glass windows and gables give it the appearance of a 15th-century Gothic Cathedral.

Dakin referred to his design as "Castellated Gothic" due to its decoration with cast-iron, which was both cheaper and more durable than other building materials used at the time. The building design was so unusual and distinctive that its romantic, medieval appearance earned the Old Statehouse ridicule from the timelessly famous author, Mark Twain. The Union troops first used the "old gray castle," as it was once described, as a prison and then as a garrison for African-American troops under General Culver Grover.

He died two days later as a result of his wounds. In , the Legislature was slow to appropriate the money necessary for the building. A measure to fund the new state capitol failed in the Regular Session, but the necessary constitutional amendment was passed in a special session later that year.

The citizens of Louisiana approved the amendment by a ratio of 14 to 1. Construction began on December 16, The Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad company build a rail spur which stopped at the point of construction.

Approximately 2, carloads of materials were brought via this rail spur for use on the capitol.