The Old Capitol was the third permanent statehouse that served the Commonwealth State of Kentucky. It was constructed on Frankfort’s old public square where the two previous statehouses had burned. The architect, who designed the building in the Greek-Revival style, was Kentucky native Gideon Shyrock. It is faced with polished Kentucky River marble and limestone that was quarried near Frankfort. Across the front are six massive columns measuring four feet in diameter and thirty-three feet high. The old statehouse served as the Capitol from 1830 till 1910 when the new State Capitol building was finished. Since 1920 the Old Capitol has served as a museum as well as the home of the Kentucky State Historical Society. |
