Montana’s Capitol has been a bit unrecognizable this summer, with towering scaffolding surrounding the exterior, construction crews abound, and, most of all, the iconic “Montana” statue no longer adorning the building’s apex.
The changes have raised questions from both local residents and visitors about the Capitol’s facelift, a project that’s been several years in the making and will take another two years to complete.
A comprehensive assessment of the building from the Montana Department of Administration’s Architect and Engineering team in 2022 sparked the renovations, according to a DOA spokesperson.
That report listed the maintenance needs at the Capitol and other state-owned buildings, along with recommendations for addressing them, but budget constraints initially slowed efforts to tackle the repair backlog.
The assessment prioritized three areas of maintenance at the Capitol: the roof, the exterior and the interior. After the Legislature secured funding to address the first priority, work began in June.
So what can Montanans expect from the refurbishing work?
The roof project includes renovations to the copper dome, the statue and its sandstone base, and the restoration of the Senate skylight and the windows surrounding the dome, Russ Katherman, administrator for the DOA’s Architecture & Engineering Division, said in a statement.
“The entire project is unique, a once-in-a-career type of effort, and an honor to be part of caring for the People’s House,” Katherman stated.
The cost of completing priority one is about $32.3 million, funded through the 2023 and 2025 legislative sessions.
In 2023, the Legislature allocated $26.3 million for Capitol renovations, and in 2025, it approved another $6 million. The 2023 Capitol improvement funding came from a larger $150 million pool intended for Capitol Complex facility projects, as Montana Free Press reported.
The second priority focuses on the exterior facade, made of sandstone and granite, and its side windows, with a total estimated cost of $35 million, but, according to the DOA, funding hasn’t yet been requested.
The last priority is to address interior upgrades to the statehouse, although there is no cost estimate and no current plans to seek funding from the Legislature.
Project funding aside, residents should expect the building’s dome to gleam with shiny copper upon completion, then turn a greenish color over time, Katherman said.
“The entire dome is a copper overlay,” Katherman explained. “The new copper will patina over time (which is natural and actually forms a protective coating). It’s very difficult to predict the exact tone or shade of patina, but we’re doing our best to match it.”
It is also expected that the statue, Montana, will be improved with the same copper treatment as the other exterior finishes made of the same material, according to the DOA.
Lindsay Tran, a historic architecture specialist with the Montana Historic Preservation Office, told MTFP that the Capitol’s original materials were sourced in-state, with copper coming from Butte, sandstone from the Columbus area and granite from Jefferson County.
Tran added that the dome was last refaced in 1934, with small repairs occurring over the years. In the past, the building underwent rehabilitation using methods and practices that ensured its features were well preserved, something Tran noted is important.
“Projects like the Capitol restoration ensure that historic places continue to convey their important connections with the history of Montana,” Tran said. “These places ground us in a common past. When we lose a landmark, we lose not only the physical place of shared memory, but the stories and lessons associated with it.”
The unique endeavor has proven impactful for those directly and indirectly involved.
Historical expert Kirby Lambert, who had worked at the Montana Historical Society for 37 years before retiring in 2022, told MTFP that the investment in the building, while sizeable, is worthwhile.
“ I think it’s a beautiful building, and I think it’s a state capitol that Montanans can be proud of,” Lambert said. “I’m really thankful that they’re doing the right thing and taking care of it, even though it was expensive. The only thing more expensive is putting it off.”
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