Then and Now: December 2011

This Month's Statehouse Photo

This seasonal photo was taken in Washington state's Legislative Building, one of the buildings on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. The Legislative Building contains the legislative chambers and offices of the governor and other members of the executive branch. The building was designed by the architectural firm of Wilder and White; construction began in 1912. The Capitol Campus was placed on the National Register of Historic Districts in 1974. The campus boasts stunning views of the Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound, Mount Rainier—on a clear day. 

25 Years Ago

Articles from the November/December 1986 issue of State Legislatures:

TOO YOUNG TO DIE
Teen suicide can be thwarted, say some lawmakers, if the warning signs are recognized and dealt with.

THE PARTY’S OVER
Political parties didn’t matter much to those choosing between candidates in 1986.

STATES JUMP ON SUPER TUESDAY BANDWAGON
Thirteen states will hold their presidential primaries, beginning in 1988, on the same day.
 

Did You Know?

Maine was involved in a contested line-drawing event in 1839, but it wasn’t about redistricting. When the Revolutionary War ended, negotiators failed to clearly define the boundary between Maine and the British-controlled Canadian province of New Brunswick. Treasured timber in the disputed territory sparked conflict, and the situation became tense. Both sides gathered troops. In 1842, however, the bloodless Aroostook War was resolved peacefully, and the Webster–Ashburton Treaty was signed by Secretary of State Daniel Webster and British Foreign Minister Alexander Baring, the first Baron Ashburton. Maine acquired about two-thirds of the disputed land.

—From “A Celebration of State Capitols,” by Richard Gibson and the Connecticut General Assembly website.