A Complete Guide to Visiting Alaska's State Capitol Building

If you're visiting Juneau, Alaska's State Capitol, then you might be interested in visiting the Alaska State Capitol Building downtown. Just a short walk from the main cruise terminal area, it's one of the few state capitol buildings that doesn't have a dome, and if you visit during their opening hours, you can actually go in for free and explore. Nearby, you can also find the Governor's Mansion and The City Museum, which I recommend stopping at to learn even more about Alaska's history.

My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's easy-to-use platform to compare the best rates.
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To keep cell service if you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi.

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Welcome to Alaska's State Capitol

The Alaska State Capitol Building was completed in 1931, and cost about $1 million, including the purchase of the land. Once it became a state in 1959, the building ownership was transferred to the state - because it wasn't originally built to serve the purpose of being a state capitol building, they don't have the traditional dome shape. In 2017, the capitol building underwent a huge renovation to the building structure and the design.

When you visit the State Capitol, entry is free, and you'll be able to leisurely guide yourself around the building. I highly recommend grabbing a brochure as you enter, which gives a great overview of how the Alaska State Legislature works,  the Alaska State Seal and State Flag history, what you can find on each floor, and of course an overview of the State Song and State Trivia - like the state bird (the willow ptarmigan) and the state flower (the alpine forget-me-not). You can find the entire brochure here.

​My Favorite Tours in Juneau :
- Whale Watching Tour
- Mendenhall Glacier Express Tour
- Helicopter & Icefield Adventure

Floor by Floor Guide to the State Capitol Building

Ground Floor :
Before you enter the Alaska State Capitol Building, you can find the bronze statue of William H. Seward, the man who organized the purchase of Alaska from Russia. You can also find a replica of the Liberty Bell before walking through the gigantic marble columns. Inside, you'll be greeted with a security checkpoint and information desk, as well as a few portraits and murals. If you look up towards the ceiling you'll see a border that depicts different natural resources found in Alaska. You can choose to either take the elevator or stairs up to the official "first" floor.

First Floor :
On the first floor, you can find the start of different Senator Offices and Committee Rooms, long hallways, and historic photographs and artwork. Even though I visited during the government shutdown and the building was empty, it's typically fairly busy during legislative sessions.

Second Floor :
If you head up to the second floor, you'll find the Senate Chamber, the Speaker's Chamber, and the House Chamber, in addition to more Committee Rooms. If there's no legislative activities, you can head inside to the designated viewing galleries.

Third Floor :
On the third floor, you can find the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor. You can also find the "Hall of Governors" here, which has portraits of past governors of Alaska. If you're looking to visit another interesting site at Alaska's State Capitol, I recommend heading over to the Governor's Mansion, where the current Governor resides (about a 5 minute walk).

Fourth & Fifth Floor : 
On the fourth and fifth floors of the Alaska State Capitol Building, you'll find various historic events in Alaska lining the walls, with many newspapers from years past. On the fifth floor you can also find more Committee Rooms.

Watch our Juneau Adventures here!

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> Port Day Guide to Juneau
-> Best Things to Do in Juneau
-> Best Places to Eat in Juneau

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