Florida State Capitol

On the site of the Capitol Complex, in Tallahassee, Florida, US, are four very different buildings. The oldest is the nineteenth-century Old Capitol, restored and shrunken to its 1902 state. The other three are the House and Senate chambers and a 22-story Executive Office Building, sometimes called the New Capitol. The Old Capitol is an architecturally and historically significant building, having been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The capitol is located at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida, the state capital. Apalachee Parkway, a major east–west road built in 1957, dead-ends at the Capitol Complex, figuratively providing access from central and south Florida in the days before Florida's Turnpike was built. When the New Capitol was built in the 1970s, demolition of the Old Capitol was planned, and the design of the New Capitol reflects this. However, a successful preservation movement spontaneously arose. The decision was made to restore it to its 1902 state, and this was completed in 1982. The Historic Capitol is located directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes besides the rotunda and halls, the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, all of these as they were in 1902 and not in use for their original purposes. It is now a museum, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, exhibiting the state's political history. The Museum is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places. The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices. Adjacent to it are the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives). The Capitol Complex, which is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding state holidays), is maintained by the Florida Department of Management Services.