Utahns get firsthand look at need for Capitol revamp

For Utahns desiring an up-close-and-personal look at their state Capitol, or wanting to see how many of their tax dollars will be spent over the next four years, Saturday was a day of discovery.

On "Capitol Discovery Day," about 500 Utahns dropped in at the top of the hill where that rainbow known as State Street ends. There was no pot of gold, but kids could learn all about gold leafing — and see how easily the Capitol's dome and drum could come tumbling down in a earthquake if the planned seismic retrofit does not occur.

By 2008, however, there will be a total of $200 million inside the Capitol. That's how much it will cost to replace the foundation, place seismic stabilizers beneath the Capitol, completely retrofit the dome and drum, and make other improvements to the 89-year-old Capitol.

"We wanted to have an event where families could come, parents and kids, to learn about the history, the architecture and the planned restoration of this building," said Lisa Thompson, education director of the Utah Heritage Foundation.

"It's the people's house, as the governor has said. This is a building that belongs to everybody."

First lady Jacalyn Leavitt was among the dignitaries who greeted visitors during the four-hour event.

David Hart, executive director of the Capitol Preservation Board, gave two presentations on how the 67,500-ton marble structure will be refurbished, renovated and retrofitted beginning in December 2004.

"The stability of that is very bad," Hart said of the Capitol's dome and drum. "It's struggling just to hold itself up, I think. An earthquake could be disastrous to the building."

One of the many activities children were able to participate in Saturday involved pans, building blocks and marbles. A block building on top of a pan was easily shaken to the ground, but blocks atop a pan riding on a layer of marbles did not tumble.

The exercise demonstrated the effect lead and rubber stabilizers will have when they are installed beneath the Capitol, allowing it to ride out and survive a major earthquake.

Once they learn about the Capitol's structural status and the improvements needed, few people are surprised by the $200 million price tag, Hart said.

"I haven't had anybody freak out and say, 'Oh my gosh, that's just way too much,' " he said. "They all seem to understand that."