page_title: Iowa Old Capitol Building
section_title: November 2001 fire and renovation
hierarchical_section_title: Iowa Old Capitol Building / November 2001 fire and renovation
caption_attribution_description: English: Photo of the November 20, 2001, fire at the Iowa Old Capitol Building on the Pentacrest in Iowa City, IA. Taken from the South, outside MacLean Hall, looking north towards the Old Capitol.
context_page_description: The Iowa Old Capitol Building is located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It was once the main government building for the state of Iowa, and it now stands as the most prominent landmark at the center of the University of Iowa's campus. The building was depicted on the 1946 Iowa Centennial commemorative half dollar. It was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and it was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1976. In 1978 it was included as a contributing property in the Pentacrest, a historic district listed on the NRHP.
context_section_description: The 1970s renovation restored the interior of the building to its original condition, but by the 1990s, it was apparent that the building needed exterior and structural repairs.  The University of Iowa began another round of renovations to upgrade the Old Capitol Building. Part of the repairs called for asbestos to be removed from the Capitol's gold dome.
  On November 20, 2001, contractors using open flame torches and heat guns on the cupola supporting the building's gold dome accidentally set the cupola on fire. The fire was limited to the cupola of the building, thanks to a concrete slab firewall that had been installed during the 1920s renovation. The bell at the top of the Old Capitol was irreparably damaged, the dome was destroyed, and the tens of thousands of gallons of water used to douse the blaze caused major damage. The University of Iowa later settled a lawsuit with the contractors for $1.9 million.
  In February 2003, a new, 12,000 pound wood dome was placed on top of the Old Capitol Building.  The dome is covered with 23​³⁄₄ carat gold leaf.  A new bell was installed, and the old bell is on display inside the building.
caption: November 2001 Old Capitol Fire
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