List of artwork at the Minnesota State Capitol explained

A comprehensive but not complete list of artworks at the Minnesota State Capitol.[1]

Type Image Date Completed Name/
Representation
Artist Date Placed Location
Sculpture
1904 L'Étoile du NordCass Gilbert (Designer)1904 Rotunda and Senate Hearing Room
Sculpture Unknown Marble angel keystone Unknown Unknown South Entrance (Exterior)
Sculpture Unknown Marble relief of train Unknown Unknown North Entrance (Exterior)
Sculpture Unknown Marble relief of ship Unknown Unknown North Entrance (Exterior)
Mural 1904 Contemplative Spirit of the East Kenyon Cox1904 East Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Livestock farming/winnowing lunette Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 East Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Commerce lunette Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 East Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Stonecutting lunette Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 East Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Milling lunette Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 East Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Mining lunette Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 East Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Shipping/navigation lunette Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 East Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Courage Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 Senate Chamber
Mural 1904 Equality Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 Senate Chamber
Mural 1904 Justice Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 Senate Chamber
Mural 1904 Freedom Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 Senate Chamber
Mural 1905 Discoverers and Civilizers Led to the Source of the Mississippi Edwin H. Blashfield1905 Senate Chamber, North Wall
Mural 1905 Minnesota: Granary of the World Edwin H. Blashfield 1905 Senate Chamber, South Wall
Mural 1903 The Sacred Flame (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) Henry Oliver Walker1905 West Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Horticulture lunette Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 West Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Hunting/huntress lunette Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 West Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Logging lunette Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 West Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Fur trading/pioneer lunette Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 West Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Agriculture/sowing lunette Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 West Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Dairy farming lunette Arthur Willett (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 West Grand Staircase
Mural 1904 Summer Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 3rd Floor South Corridor Ceiling
Mural 1904 Autumn Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 3rd Floor West Corridor Ceiling
Mural 1904 Winter Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 3rd Floor West Corridor Ceiling
Mural 1904 Spring Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 3rd Floor West Corridor Ceiling
Mural 1904 Alexander Hamilton quote Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 3rd Floor South Corridor
Mural 1904 Cushman K. Davis quote Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 3rd Floor North Corridor
Mural 1904 Minnesota Flora Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 House Retiring Room
Mural 1904 The Home of General Sibley Unknown 1904 House Chamber West Corridor
Mural 1904 The First Church in St. Paul Unknown 1904 House Chamber West Corridor
Mural 1904 The Round Tower Ft. Snelling Unknown 1904 House Chamber West Corridor
Mural 1904 The Old Block House Ft. Snelling Unknown 1904 House Chamber West Corridor
Mural 1904 The River Navigators Unknown 1904 House Chamber East Corridor
Mural 1904 The Rugged Men of the Pine Unknown 1904 House Chamber East Corridor
Mural 1904 Kittson the First Representative Unknown 1904 House Chamber East Corridor
Mural 1904 The Famous Red River Carts Unknown 1904 House Chamber East Corridor
Mural 1904 Zodiac lunette-Aquarius Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 Dome
Mural 1904 Zodiac lunette-Capricorn Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 Dome
Mural 1904 Zodiac lunette-Sagittarius Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 Dome
Mural 1904 Zodiac lunette-Scorpio Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 Dome
Mural 1904 Zodiac lunette-Libra Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 Dome
Mural 1904 Zodiac lunette-Virgo Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 Dome
Mural 1904 Zodiac lunette-Leo Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 Dome
Mural 1904 Zodiac lunette-Cancer Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 Dome
Mural 1904 Zodiac lunette-Gemini Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 Dome
Mural 1904 Zodiac lunette-Taurus Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 Dome
Mural 1904 Zodiac lunette-Aries Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 Dome
Mural 1904 Zodiac lunette-Pisces Elmer Garnsey (Design) 1904 Dome
Mural 1904 Civilization of the Northwest: The American Genius Edward Simmons 1905 Rotunda, Southwest Corner
Mural 1904 Civilization of the Northwest: The American Genius Edward Simmons 1905 Rotunda, Northwest Corner
Mural 1904 Civilization of the Northwest: The American Genius Edward Simmons 1905 Rotunda, Northeast Corner
Mural 1904 Civilization of the Northwest: The American Genius Edward Simmons 1906 Rotunda, Southeast Corner
Mural 1903 Moral and Divine Law John La Farge1905 Supreme Court Chamber, East Wall
Mural 1905 The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests John La Farge 1906 Supreme Court Chamber, South Wall
Mural 1905 The Relation of the Individual to the State John La Farge 1906 Supreme Court Chamber, West Wall
Mural 1905 Recording of Precedents John La Farge 1906 Supreme Court Chamber, North Wall
Mural 1935 Old Fort Charlotte on the Pigeon River State Emergency Relief Administration (SERA) artist, Unknown 1935 B-22 (Former Governor's Dining)
Mural 1936 River fishing scene Carl Olson 1936 B-27 (Former Justice's Dining Room)
Painting 1906 The Battle of Nashville Howard Pyle1906 Governor's Reception Room
Painting 1904 The Fourth Minnesota Entering Vicksburg Francis David Millet1906 Governor's Reception Room
Painting 1906 The Second Minnesota at Mission Ridge Stephen A. Douglas Volk1906 Governor's Reception Room
Painting 1906 The Battle of Gettysburg Rufus F. Zogbaum1907 Governor's Reception Room
Painting 1910 The Third Minnesota Entering Little Rock Stanley M. Arthurs 1910 Governor's Ante Room
Painting 1912 The Fifth Minnesota at Corinth Edwin H. Blashfield 1912 Governor's Ante Room
Painting 1905 Father Hennepin at St. Anthony Falls Stephen A. Douglas Volk 1905 Originally Governor's Reception Room
Moved to 3rd Floor Gallery [2]
Painting 1905 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux Francis Davis Millet1905 Originally Governor's Reception Room
Moved to 3rd Floor Gallery
Governor
Portrait
1917 Adolph Olson EberhartArvid F. Nyholm1944 1st Floor, East Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1873 Alexander RamseyCarl Gutherz1944 1st Floor, West Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1889 Andrew R. McGillCarl Gutherz 1944 1st floor, West Stair Corridor North
Governor
Portrait
1882 Cushman K. DavisCarl Gutherz 1944 1st floor, West Stair Corridor South
Governor
Portrait
1893 David M. CloughHerbert G. Conner 1944 1st Floor, North Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1939 Elmer BensonCarl Bohnen 1944 1st Floor, East Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1936 Floyd B. OlsonCarl Bohnen 1944 1st Floor, East Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1943 Harold E. StassenCarl Bohnen 1944 1st Floor, East Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1871 Henry A. SwiftUnknown 1944 1st Floor, West Corridor
Governor
Portrait
c.1860 Henry Hastings SibleyJohn P. Bligh 1944 1st Floor, West Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1937 Hjalmar PetersenCarl Bohnen 1944 1st Floor, East Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1873 Horace AustinCarl Gutherz1944 1st Floor, West Stair Corridor South
Governor
Portrait
1927 Jacob A.O. PreusCarl Bohnen 1944 1st Floor, East Stair Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1907 John A. JohnsonNicholas Brewer 1944 1st Floor, East Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1902 John LindMax Bohm1944 1st Floor, North Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1915 Winfield Hammond Nicholas Brewer 1944 1st Floor, East Stair Corridor
Governor
Portrait
c.1947 Edward J. ThyeTheodore Sohner 1947 1st Floor, East Corridor
Governor
Portrait
c.1955 Clyde Elmer AndersonEdward V. Brewer 1955 Ground Floor, West Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
c.1961 Orville L. FreemanElizabeth Mihalyi 1961 Ground Floor, West Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
c.1963 Elmer L. AndersonEdward V. Brewer 1963 Ground Floor, North Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1964 Luther W. YoungdahlLouis A. Grendahl 1964 1st Floor, East Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1967 Karl F. RolvaagFrances Cranmer Greenman1967 Ground Floor, North Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1971 Harold LevanderBarbara Brewer Peet 1971 Ground Floor, North Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1981 Wendell R. AndersonRichard Lack 1982 Ground Floor, North Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1985 Albert QuieRichard Lack 1984 Ground Floor, East Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
1999 Arne CarlsonStephen Gjertson 1999 Ground Floor, South Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
2000 Rudy PerpichMark Balma 2000 Ground Floor, East Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
2003 Jesse VenturaStephen Cepello (1949-) 2003 Ground Floor, South Dome Corridor
Governor
Portrait
2011 Tim PawlentyRossin 2011 Ground Floor, S. Corridor, Great Hall
Portrait 1931 Abraham LincolnEdward V. Brewer 1932 House Chamber
Portrait 1988 Gordon Rosenmeier Charles Caspner 1990 G17
Portrait c.1890 Charles GilmanVera Clark Place c.1920 223
Portrait Unknown George WashingtonUnknown c.1960 125
Portrait 1890 Joe RoletteUnknown c.1907 112
Portrait 1972 Gordon RosenmeierJerome Ryan Unknown 122
Statue 1905 Bounty (Virtue) Daniel Chester French 1905 South Attic (Exterior)
Statue 1905 Courage (Virtue) Daniel Chester French 1905 South Attic (Exterior)
Statue 1905 Integrity (Virtue) Daniel Chester French 1905 South Attic (Exterior)
Statue 1905 Prudence (Virtue) Daniel Chester French 1905 South Attic (Exterior)
Statue 1905 Truth (Virtue) Daniel Chester French 1905 South Attic (Exterior)
Statue 1905 Wisdom (Virtue) Daniel Chester French 1905 South Attic (Exterior)
Statue 1906 Progress of the State (Quadriga) Daniel Chester French / Edward Potter 1906 South Drum Terrace (Exterior)
Statue 1909 William ColvillCatherine Backus 1909 2nd Floor, Rotunda
Statue 1910 Alexander WilkinJohn Karl Daniels1910 2nd Floor, Rotunda
Statue 1911 John SanbornJohn Karl Daniels 1911 2nd Floor, Rotunda
Statue 1914 James ShieldsFredrick C. Hibbard1914 2nd Floor, Rotunda
Statue 1938 Minnesota Spirit of Government Brioschi Studios 1938 House Chamber
Statue 1925 German Pioneers Albert Jaegers1959 1st Floor, North Entrance Vestibule
Bust 1906 Henry RiceLuella Varney1910 Senate Chamber
Bust 1895 Knute NelsonJacob Fjelde1915 Senate Chamber
Bust 1925 Cass GilbertEdmond Thomas Quinn (1868-1929) 1926 1st Floor, West Dome Corridor
Bust Unknown William WindomUnknown 1944 1st Floor, South Dome Corridor
Bust 1860 Henry Hastings Sibley 1974 1st Floor, North Dome Corridor
Bust 1901 Ignatius Donnelly1974 1st Floor, North Dome corridor
Bust 1891 William Watts FolwellJacob Fjelde 1974 1st Floor, North Dome Corridor
Bust 1977 Hubert H. HumphreyGeorge Norbert Bassett (1925-2023)1977 1st Floor, West Grand Staircase
Bust 1983 Nicholas D. Coleman Paul T. Granlund1983 1st Floor, West Dome Corridor
Bust 1984 Warren Burger1984 2nd Floor, Supreme Court Foyer
Bust 1985 Sigurd OlsonGeorge Norbert Bassett (1925-2023) 1981 1st Floor, North Corridor
Bust 1985 Martin Luther King, Jr.George Norbert Bassett (1925-2023) 1986 1st Floor, East Grand Staircase
Bust 1985 Wabasha IIIJoAnne Bird (1945-) 1986 1st Floor, East Dome Corridor
Bust 1990 Edward BurdickPaul T. Granlund 1990 House of Representatives Lobby
Bust Unknown Cushman DavisI.G. Trentanove Unknown Senate Chamber
Bust 1906 William WashburnFranklin Simmons Unknown Senate Chamber, SE corner
Bust 1926 Winfield Scott HammondBryant Baker Unknown 1st Floor, South Dome Corridor
Plaque 1907 Board of Capitol Commissioners Cass Gilbert / G.A. Carsley (Designers) 1907 1st Floor, South Dome Corridor
Plaque 1907 Capitol dedication Cass Gilbert / G.A. Carsley (Designers) 1907 1st Floor, South Dome Corridor
Plaque 1907 Capitol description Cass Gilbert / G.A. Carsley (Designers) 1907 1st Floor, South Dome Corridor
Plaque 2019 Capitol restoration 2019 1st Floor, South Dome Corridor
Plaque 1907 34th Senate of the State of Minnesota Cass Gilbert 1908 Senate Retiring Room
Plaque 1911 1st Minnesota Infantry RegimentCatherine Backus/Fredrick C. Hibbard 1911 1st Floor, Rotunda
Plaque Unknown Clara UelandLouis Gross 1927 1st Floor, Rotunda
Plaque 1928 Alexander Ramsey Cass Gilbert (Design) 1929 1st Floor, West Corridor
Plaque 1937 Floyd B. Olson Charles Brioschi 1938 1st Floor, West Corridor
Plaque 1938 Martha RipleyCharles S. Wells 1939 1st Floor, Rotunda
Plaque 1938 Old Northwest Territory Unknown c.1939 1st Floor, Rotunda
Plaque 1943-1948 13th Minnesota Infantry Regiment Brioschi Studios 1948 1st Floor, Rotunda
Plaque 1964 Roscoe PoundUnknown c.1964 2nd Floor, East Corridor 
Plaque 2002 Philippine-American WarAnn  Klefstad 2002 1st Floor, Rotunda 

List of Removed Artwork

Type Image Date Completed Name Artist Date Placed Location Date Removed Reason
Mural 1904 Records William Andrew MacKay (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 House of Representatives Chamber 1938 (still in existence but covered)[3]
Mural 1904 History William Andrew MacKay (Artist)
Elmer Garnsey (Design)
1904 House of Representatives Chamber 1938 (still in existence but covered)
Painting 1910 Battle of Ta-Ha-Kouty (Killdeer Mtn.) Carl L. Boeckmann1914 317 2016 Removed
Painting 1904 Attack on New Ulm Anton Gagc.1923 118 2016 Removed

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: December 2015. Inventory of Art in the Minnesota State Capitol. 2021-02-28. Minnesota Department of Administration.
  2. Web site: Reconciling History. 2021-02-27. Minnesota Historical Society.
  3. Book: O'Sullivan, Thomas. North Star Statehouse: An Armchair Guide to the Minnesota State Capitol. Pogo Press. 1994. 1-880654-07-5. 52.