Who Built Our Capitol? video and website launched

The Who Built Our Capitol? project reached a major milestone with the launch of a 46-minute video documentary and website.

“Who Built Our Capitol?” is a project of the Labor Education Service at the University of Minnesota. For the past four years, a team assembled by LES staff member Randy Croce has been researching the workers and contractors involved in the Capitol construction from 1896-1907.

“This program is bringing to light not only the stories of the stonecutters, carpenters, sheet metal workers and other trades who worked on the Capitol site, but the contributions made by companies and workers throughout the state,” noted Croce.

“We have done research, conducted interviews and shot video in areas that supplied the stone for the Capitol as well as following the railroad workers and teamsters who transported the materials to the construction site.”

The video tells the story of several workers on the project. The website features a storehouse of information on the workers, their communities and the Capitol construction.

The team that researched and created these programs, Randy Croce, Dan Ganley, Dave Riehle, John Sielaff and Vickie Woodcock, is continuing to find new information and make updates. They look forward to more stories from Capitol builder descendants, union members and historians who hear about the project through its new online presence.