State Capitol Murals Topic Of Rotary Program

Tiffany Patterson, director of the Missouri State Museum at the state capitol building in Jefferson City, presented the program at Thursday’s Trenton Rotary Club meeting. Gary Dolan was the program chairman.
Ms. Patterson gave a brief history about the current capitol building, which was rebuilt in 1911 after having been destroyed by a fire caused by lightning. She noted that a tax was assessed to Missouri residents to pay for the building, which cost $3 million to construct. With $4 million having been raised by the tax, it was decided by the legislature to use the rest of the money for artwork in the building, including the several murals that have been painted in areas throughout the structure.
Murals painted by Frank Brangyn are located at the entrance to the capitol and there are also 40 to 41 murals referred to as Lunettes (half-round in shape) in the west and east wings of the building, which depict various scenes from the state’s history.
The most famous mural is the one painted by Missouri native Thomas Hart Benton, which Ms. Patterson said depicts “the real Missouri…the good, the bad and the ugly.” This mural is located in the House lounge and was painted in 1936. It contains 13 scenes that feature nearly 200 years of Missouri history, beginning in the late 1700s until 1936. Both well-known and not-so-well-known individuals are included in the mural as well as a scene that features the state’s two biggest cities, Kansas City and St. Louis. Ms. Patterson noted that after the mural was completed, many legislators were upset because it did not depict just the good things about the state and there was even a suggestion to have the mural painted over. She said that cooler heads prevailed and now the mural, along with others in the capitol, continue to draw as many as 450,000 visitors each year.
During the business meeting, a sign-up sheet was passed around for the May 31 social at the Thompson Farm near Spickard.
Next week’s program chairman is Andrea Merrin.