Harry M. Overbey, deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge F&AM of Nevada, addresses persons attending cornerstone ceremonies dedicating the new Legislative Building. The ceremonies were conducted by the Masons, the same organization which held the ceremony for the State Capitol Building 100 years ago.
June 10, 1970: Legislative Building dedicated
Nevada’s Legislative Building celebrated its centennial Tuesday by becoming obsolete.
The occasion was the cornerstone ceremony for the new Legislative Building which will house the elected representatives of the State of Nevada when they next convene.
The 96,000 sq. ft. building, Carson City’s largest, was completed at a cost of $4.3 million. The Capitol cost Nevadans only $180,000.
The new building contains a number of innovative features designed to facilitate the tasks of the legislators. The Senate Hearing Auditorium has a moving podium and wall screen for motion pictures and slides. There is also a closed circuit television systems so that the proceedings can be viewed once the Auditorium passes its seating capacity of 300.
The governor, secretary of state and treasurer will still maintain offices in the old Capitol. In addition the comptroller is moving in. The second floor of the Capitol will be turned into a museum.
The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Nevada conducted the cornerstone ceremony, its 193rd since the laying of the cornerstone in 1866 at the old U.S. Mint building, now the state museum here.
Public tours were scheduled after the ceremony in the legislative building, and offices will transfer to the new structure during the coming month.
This continues the Appeal’s review of news stories and headlines during its Sesquicentennial year.
