CAPITOL CHANDELIER LOWERED; FEATURED AS THE 2007 CAPITOL ORNAMENT
Tuesday, Oct 23, 2007
Utah’s Capitol Chandelier is twin; original globes shared from the Arkansas fixture
(LITTLE ROCK, AR)—Secretary of State Charlie Daniels today invited the public to the Capitol for a rare look at the Mitchell-Vance chandelier. Lowered for regular maintenance and cleaning, the two-ton ca. 1913fixture is the rotunda’s crowning glory. The fixture will remain lowered through Friday, October 26th for visitors to view.
Restored in 2003, the chandelier’s sixteen original glass diffusers were replaced. In January of this year, the Utah Capitol Preservation Board contacted the Secretary of State’s office inquiring about the stored original globes. Utah’s Capitol is undergoing a $200 million restoration and their Capitol contains an identical twin to Arkansas’s chandelier.
“Our chandelier became a diffuser donor; and I am proud of the partnership these twin chandeliers have forged between our states,” said Secretary Daniels.
A delegation from the Utah Capitol Preservation Board presented Secretary Daniels with watercolor renderings of the Utah and Arkansas Capitols by Utah architect and artist Paul Brown. Members of the delegation attending were Utah State Capitol Architect David Hart and State Historic Preservation Officer Wilson Martin.
Daniels also unveiled the 2007 Capitol Christmas ornament featuring the historic rotunda chandelier and presented ornaments to the Utah delegation. The ornament is available from the State Capitol Gift Shop.
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Contact: Natasha Naragon
Phone: (501) 683-1441
Email: natasha.naragon@sos.arkansas.gov
Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels
256 State Capitol Building
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone: (501) 682-1010
Website: www.sos.ar.gov
Email: arsos@sos.ar.gov
