Second State Capitol Commission

The Second State Capitol Commission (SSCC) was created in 2001 with the General Assembly’s passage of Senate Bill 470.  Following in the footsteps of the original State Capitol Commission, which was established in 1911, and the Capitol Decoration Commission created in 1917, the SSCC is charged with the preservation and restoration of the Missouri State Capitol and the recording of its history. 

The commission’s duties also encompass the care of over 120 pieces of art inside and around the capitol, many of which were carefully selected by the earlier commissions to capture the beauty and significance of the state’s past.  These include murals, paintings, tapestries, sculptures and stained glass windows.  On the exterior and the grounds, there are an equivalent number of carvings, sculptures, fountains and monuments.  In addition to preserving existing artwork, the commission is responsible for the selection and placement of any new art pieces.

The SSCC is composed of the commissioner of the Office of Administration; four members of the legislature – two from the Senate and two from the House of Representatives, with equal representation for both the majority and minority party; an employee of the Senate; an employee of the House; and four members appointed by the governor, with the consent of the Senate.  In addition, the lieutenant governor serves as an ex officio member of the commission.

The commission is supported by the staff of the Division of Facilities Management in the Office of Administration, along with other agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri State Archives, and the Office of State Courts Administrator, among others.

Together, these partners are working to publish the first comprehensive book on the art, history, and architecture of the Missouri State Capitol.  The purpose of this volume is to document the story of Missouri’s capitol and its artwork for future generations, from its historical and political significance to its role as a work of art.  The commission plans to complete the book by the summer of 2009. 

A complete project description, which includes information about the authors and a detailed project budget, is available.  Donations are being accepted to help develop the book and to make it affordable for all the state’s citizens.  Tax-deductible contributions may be made payable to the Friends of the Missouri State Archives, which is serving as the commission’s fiscal agent, at P.O. Box 242, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0242.  For more information about contributing to this worthy effort, please call Jeff Barlow at 573-526-0483.

Members of the Second State Capitol Commission:

The Honorable Mark Bruns, Missouri House of Representatives
Mr. Stephen Davis, Crestwood
Mr. Wayne Goode, St. Louis
Ms. Betty Cooper Hearnes, Charleston
Mr. Jim Howerton, Missouri Senate Staff
Mr. Jerry Dowell, Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Mr. Larry Schepker, Commissioner - Office of Administration
Mr. Stephen Mahfood, Hartsburg
The Honorable Gary Nodler, Missouri Senate
The Honorable Ray Salva, Missouri House of Representatives
Mr. Keith Sappington, Missouri House of Representatives Staff
The Honorable Yvonne Wilson, Missouri Senate