Top line: The Old Capitol Museum’s grand opening is Saturday. There, for the first time, the general public gets a good look at the $16 million repair, restoration and renovation that’s put the state’s most historic building back on the attraction map.
The museum now tells the 1839 building’s own story, from seat of state government to state history museum to now, as a civics museum and living example of historic preservation. The National Historic Landmark has been closed since 2005, when damage by Hurricane Katrina bumped its repair and restoration to the front burner.
It’s a building “unsurpassed in elegance and nobility” in its architect William Nichols’ words. That’s exactly what’ll knock out folks at the opening – “the beauty and grandeur of the building,” says director Clay Williams.
Magnolia Tribune
