Uncovering the Past at the Colorado State Capitol

Yesterday’s newspaper ran a story about original wall stenciling that has been uncovered in the House and Senate Chambers of the Colorado State Capitol. The original designs, done in red in the Senate and green in the House to match the chambers’ traditional colors, have been covered by acoustic tiles since the 1950s. Uncovering the stenciling gives Coloradans a chance to see how the builders of the Capitol intended the chambers to look. The stencils are being uncovered as part of a project to restore the chambers to their historic appearance.

Quoted in the article is Derek Everett, whose book The Colorado State Capitol: History, Politics, and Preservation, is available from our library. You can also learn more by visiting the “Mr. Brown’s Attic” exhibit in the Capitol or, if you cannot visit in person, take the virtual tour courtesy of the Colorado Legislative Council. Our library has a number of other publications on the history, art, and architecture of the Capitol, so be sure and search our web catalog for additional resources.