Accomplishments | Goals

Since 1976 the foundation has acquired funds through a variety of resources including charitable grants, donations, State Capitol Society membership fees, and the sale of commemorative merchandise.

Re-creation & Refurnishing of the State Geologist's Room

Close Window

Accomplishments

• Restoration of the 1840 legislative furnishings, replacement of the original legislative chairs with suitable reproductions, and acquisition of period furnishings throughout the building since 1976 (private donations)
• Production of a film entitled "North Carolina Capitol" in 1978 (Junior League of Raleigh, Inc.)
• Re-creation and re-finishing of the State Library Room, State Geologist's Office, and Governor's Office (Sir Walter Cabinet and private donations)
• Restoration of the ca. 1818

  Re-creation & Refurnishing of the State Library Room

  Close Window

   Thomas Sully Portrait of George Washington (the Council of State and Raleigh Fine Arts Society)

• Restoration of the original 1841 Horton & Waller lithograph frame and conservation of two lithographs of General Lafayette viewing the Antonio Canova statue of George Washington (NC Society of Colonial Dames and NC Society of the Cincinnati)
• Full-size reproduction of the 1841 Horton & Waller Lithograph frame for the House of Representatives Chamber (gift of the NC Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution)
• Restoration of Thomas Constantine's 1823 Senate Speaker's Chair from the State House and production of an exhibit case about the State House (Woman's Club of Raleigh, Inc.)
• Restoration of the statues and monuments on Union Square in 1981-82 and 1996-98 (Woman's Club of Raleigh, NC Sons of Confederate Veterans, NC United Daughters of the Confederacy, NC society of the Cincinnati, and private donations)
• Establishment of a membership arm, the State Capitol Society, to increase awareness of the historical significance of the Capitol and to serve as a financial resource for its ongoing restoration and educational efforts.
• Production of a ten-minute video to encourage membership in the State Capitol Society, the membership arm of the State Capitol Foundation and a ten-minute educational video about the history of the Capitol for school children, including a teacher packet of classroom activities in 1994 (grant from the Cannon Foundation)
• Conservation of the 1970 copy of Canova's statue of George Washington (NC Society of the Cincinnati)
• Funded research from 1990-93 for the paint analysis of the interior finishes of the Capitol
• Funded at least one Civil War living history drama per year (grant from Bryan Foundation, DCR grant, and private donations)
• Funded the printing of self-guided tour brochure of the Capitol and grounds and Capitol folders
• Raised funds for the rental of two touch information computer kiosks that distribute information about the Capitol, Executive Mansion, other Raleigh sites (grant from Ericsson Inc.)
• Raised funds for the research of the 1850s-60s period legislative carpeting (private donations)
• Funded the printing of a brochure about the plaques and statues in the rotunda (NC Society of the Children of the American Revolution)
• Restoration of an 1821 Senate desk chair from the State House (Sir Walter Cabinet)

Goals

• Continue historic furnishings restoration and maintenance
• Re-creation of the original appearance of additional Capitol interior spaces for interpretation (N.C. Supreme Court rooms on the first floor, Committee Rooms, Offices, etc.)
• Creation of additional educational programs and publications
• Upgrade Union Square
• Encourage the maintenance of the building systems
• Call public and legislative attention to the needs of the Capitol and the need for a new visitor center
• Establish a perpetual fund or endowment to assure permanent programs to preserve and interpret the Capitol