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ITD to house historical collection during
restoration, expansion of Capitol

ITD will team up with the Idaho State Historical Society in a project to catalog and store Idaho Statehouse art and furnishings as part of the Capitol building renovation project next year, according to ITD’s Steve Spoor.

From the statue of “Winged Victory” to antique desks, Idaho’s historic treasures will be inventoried, photographed and transported to ITD where temporary storage is being prepared behind the East Annex in a warehouse previously used by the Idaho State Library to store books.

“The State Library was vacating the building and had declared it surplus,” Spoor said.

Because the building was located on ITD property, it made sense for the department to purchase the building to control all the assets that reside on ITD property.” The sale of the building was completed in May.

With no immediate plans for the structure, ITD will offer the building rent free to the Idaho State Historical Society for use in storing Statehouse artifacts while the building is renovated, Spoor added.

Ken Swanson, special project manager for the Idaho State Historical Society, will lead the effort to catalog and photograph the artifacts. However, Swansen must first find a new home for nearly 9,000 feet of library bookshelves left behind in the warehouse before moving begins.

“We’ve been busy donating shelving to local schools,” Swanson said. He added that the Notus School District recently received $30,000 worth of “like new shelving.”

Swanson said workers would move the larger statues like “Winged Victory” before November to avoid disrupting this year’s legislative session. Statehouse construction and excavation is set to begin in spring 2007 following the session.

Before any artifacts are moved, Swanson will conduct a room-by-room photographic inventory, cataloging each item. “We’re kind of the kick-off to let people know that this is really happening,” he said.

A 30-month construction timeline calls for restoration and completion of new underground wings that will nearly double the Capitol building’s existing office and public hearing space. The project is estimated to cost $114 million.

During the construction period, the 2008 and 2009 legislative sessions will be conducted in the former Ada County Courthouse located next to the Capitol.

Construction of the central portion of the Idaho Capitol began in 1905 and was completed in 1912. Wing additions were constructed in 1919-1920. Total cost for the project was $2,098,455. An additional $130,833 was spent on furnishings.

Published 8-18-06