Raleigh NC State Capitol Building Vintage Photo 1941

This vintage photograph captures the historic state capitol building located in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina. Constructed between 1833 and 1840, the building replaced the original state house completed in 1796, which was destroyed by fire in 1831. The architecture of this structure is notable for its classic columns and spacious interiors, reflecting the design trends of the period.

The image is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, a significant collection that documents the architectural heritage of the region. It highlights the importance of the capitol as a center of legislative activity and civic life in North Carolina.

This photograph was acquired from the estate of Frances Benjamin Johnston, a prominent photographer known for her work in documenting American architecture and historical sites. It was published in Thomas Tileston Waterman’s The Early Architecture of North Carolina in 1941, further establishing its historical significance.