This week, I announced that we have completed raising the funds to build a dome on our State Capitol building.

It’s important to keep three things in mind about the dome:

First, the Oklahoma State Capitol was originally designed to have a dome, like our nation’s Capitol does and like most other states do. In fact, ours is the only state capitol in America designed to have a dome which lacks one, for an interesting historical reason.

Construction of the Capitol began in 1914. When America entered World War I in 1917, structural steel needed for the war effort was diverted from domestic projects. For that reason, the dome was not completed then.

Second, the state will contribute only $5 million of the estimated $20 million it will cost to finally place a dome on our Capitol. The rest of the funds have been contributed by private donors -- individuals, corporations and charitable foundations.

The $5 million state contribution will come from bond money, not from general appropriations used to finance the day-to-day business of government.

Third, the dome is expected to be completed by November 16, 2002 -- statehood day. We are approaching our statehood centennial in 2007. Along with other improvements in the State Capitol complex like the new historical museum and revitalization of Lincoln Boulevard, the dome will help symbolize our first 100 years of growth as a state.

Our public buildings are symbols of our government. Our government, in turn, belongs to the people. I think it’s appropriate that the people, through their voluntary contributions, have decided to finish the Capitol as it was originally planned 86 years ago.

Oklahoma has lots of other symbols of our past, from the Oklahoma City National Memorial to the Greenwood district in Tulsa to statues and courthouses across our state.

The dome says we’re determined to grow. I think that’s a good symbol for our future.