Oregon State Capitol - Salem, OR
Posted by: 
shadow101
N 44° 56.288 W 123° 01.734
10T E 497719 N 4976078
The state of Oregon has twice lost its capitol building to fire.
Waymark Code: WM2R60
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 12/12/2007
Views: 83
The first Oregon Capitol in Salem was constructed of wood in 1854-55. On the evening of December 29, 1855, fire broke out at the northeast corner of the still-unfinished building, and the structure was destroyed. Although nothing was ever proven, because there was an angry dispute with Corvallis over the future location of the capitol, arson has long been suspected.
After renting office space in Salem for more than 16 years, in 1873 the legislature voted funds to construct a new capitol, on the site where the old ruins still lay. The cornerstone was laid on October fifth of that year, and the government started moving in before the start of the 1877 legislative session.
At 6:43 p.m., on April 25, 1935, a custodial engineer called the Salem Fire Department to report smoke in the building. The fire had started in an electrical box in the basement, and quickly spread to the records room next door. As the fire spread, citizens removed as many records and items as possible until ordered to stop by the fire department. In an ironic touch, the hollow columns supporting the copper dome acted as a flume and assisted in the complete destruction of the building. A 19-year old student from neighboring Willamette Univeristy, acting as a volunteer firefighter, was the only fatality.
The current capitol was constucted to the west of the old building, and was opened in October, 1938. In addition to the plaque on the grounds mentioned below, visitors will find several ruined sections of the old roman columns that graced the entrance to the capitol at that spot. The column sections have been memorialized at where they fell in 1935.
Type of Structure: Public building
Construction Date: 10/05/1873
Fire Date: 04/25/1935
Structure status: Plaque
Cause of Fire:
Faulty electrical equipment in the basement.
Documentation of the fire: [Web Link]
Other: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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