Tennessee State Capitol

A masterpiece of Greek Revival architecture, the Tennessee Capitol was completed in 1859 and is one of the oldest working capitols in the United States. The architect, William Strickland of Philadelphia, died before the work was completed and was, at his request, buried within the Capitol walls. His son Francis supervised the completion of the structure. The building is constructed of Tennessee marble and the labor of erecting it was performed by convicts and slaves. The building, although unfinished at the time, was first occupied by the General Assembly on October 3, 1853. In 1953 the General Assembly appropriated funds for exterior renovation, and in 1957, for interior restoration. On the grounds are the tombs of President James K. Polk and his wife, Sarah Childress Polk, and statues of Alvin C. York, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, Sam Davis, and Edward Ward Carmack.