Commerce, Justice, Liberty, Knowledge and Agriculture: The Faces of Iowa

Commerce, Justice, Liberty, Knowledge and Agriculture, The Faces of Iowa. Learn more about what makes up many of the architectural features found on the Iowa Capitol building in this special segment from Iowa PBS’s This Old Statehouse project.

In the late 19th century workers constructed Iowa’s capital from the ground up. Using Johnson county granite for the footings and Missouri limestone and sandstone for the main structure.   

In the late 20th century after one-hundred years of wind and rain, stone masons had to replace over ninety-five percent of the building’s decorative features. This time the more durable Indiana limestone was chosen.

Some of the more severely eroded pieces were the five statues that overlook the capital’s west entrance, representing commerce, justice, liberty, knowledge and agriculture. These allegorical icons had to be shipped back to Indiana so stonecutters could carve their replacements. The figures were removed one at a time and lowered to waiting semis for the trip east.