The Wake

Jan. 2, 1905 visitors at the Capitol “drank in the beauties of the decorations, and grew enthusiastic over the wonderful mural art which adorns the halls and legislative chambers,” the Minneapolis Tribune reported at the building’s opening more than one hundred years ago.

The Minnesota Historical Society commemorates this year’s centennial celebration with an exhibit at the Capitol. The exhibit includes an oil portrait of architect Cass Gilbert and another of his wife on loan from the Smithsonian. They hang on either side of the entrance to the Minnesota Supreme Court chambers.

In March, Rep. Phyllis Kahn, the “U’s” representative, introduced a bill to the House that announced Minnesota would just keep the portraits. It passed in the House unanimously. A companion bill was also introduced in the Senate.

At the request of the MHS, Kahn backpedaled on the original bill and called for a more diplomatic approach asking for a permanent lease with the Smithsonian, says MHS’ Legislative Liaison David Kellher.

Brian Horrigan, the curator for the exhibit at the capitol, was unaware of the bill and says the paintings would be a nice addition to the capitol but the bill does not make sense. The loan agreement is between the Smithsonian and the Minnesota Historical Society. If Minnesota kept the paintings, the historical society would be legally responsible, he says. Even though the pieces will return to storage, the Smithsonian keeps everything for exhibits and research.

Under the bill, the legislature would loan out the paintings upon request, Kahn says. She cited the U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington D.C. (built in 1935) and the Woolworth Building in New York City (built in 1913) as two buildings by Gilbert whose historic committees may want to have the paintings on site for their centennials.

MHS’s director, Nina Archabal, sent a letter in March asking the Smithsonian for a permanent loan of the pieces renewable each year, Capitol historic site manager Carolyn Kompelien says.

“I don’t see the purpose of this bill,” Kellher says. “By sending the letter we have done what the bill asks the Minnesota Historical Society to do.”

Kahn says the bill is still necessary because the Capitol Area Architecture Planning Board still has to also write a letter to ensure keeping the paintings.

Kahn is not sure the bill will pass, but says that since it is attached to omnibus bills in both the House and Senate, it has a better chance.

Conrad Wilson is the contributing editor for The Wake and welcomes comments at .