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Facility Management Division
ND Office of Management and Budget |
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ND State Capitol Building December 19, 1934:
Photo credit: Jim Eastgate
This was the first time the Capitol lights were used to show a design. There was also a star immediatley above it, which was built by capitol workmen. It was 16 feet in diameter at the inner circle and contained 120 electric lights. Some of the lights and wiring was loaned by the local electric company because there was no appropriation to buy them. (Source: The Bismarck Tribune, Thrusday, December 20, 1934).
Photo credit: Garry Redmann
History of the Christmas tree window lighting began in the mid 1940's using paper shades
to color the north and south window openings. Plastic shades were purchased in
the late 1950's and the current colored plastic shades were purchased in 1993.
There are a total of 88 shades used to get the Christmas tree on both the north
and south side of the building. Each side North and the South has 20 red and
24
green shades to create the tree.
Photo credit: Garry Redmann
Photo credit: Garry Redmann
Photo credit: Shirley Olgeirson
Photo credit: Shirley Olgeirson
Photo credit: Shirley Olgeirson
The
New Year numbers tradition started in the mid 1970's with lighting the numbers
on the north and south sides of the building. Then in the late 1980's the
windows on the east and west sides were illuminated to highlight the New Year.
Photo credit: Clint Fleckenstein
We also light the south side of the Capitol windows on July 4th.
Pictures of setting up the 21-23 foot Christmas Tree
Decorated Christmas Tree in Memorial Hall
2003 Christmas
Tree dedicated to our troops
