August 5, 2002 – After a full summer of delicate, detailed labor, the golden dome of Old Capitol is regilded – ready to shine brightly for another 35 years!

The first application of gold-leafing of Old Capitol’s dome – 6,500 three-inch gold leaf pieces applied to the surface – was done at a cost of $200 in the early 1920’s, and records indicate that a regilding was done again in 1993. According to the experts, if the process is done correctly, a gold leaf covering will last from 30 to 35 years, but in our case, the new 2003 dome at Old Capitol began showing problems only ten years after the project was completed. Using scaffolding and industrial rope, workmen began removing the 2003 gold leaf in the summer of 2022. Once down to the sheet metal – the dome received a primer, followed by two topcoats tinted to a yellow base. Then a special product is used to help the delicate gold leaf adhere to the primer, followed finally with the new gold leaf – which should now keep the Old Capitol golden dome defect-free for the next 30-35 years.

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