Kansas became a state on January 29, 1861. In November of that year an election was held to decide on a location for the capitol. Topeka was selected over Lawrence and several other cities.
Capitol Square is comprised of twenty acres donated by C.K. Holiday and accepted by the legislature on February 7, 1862. The legislature then authorized E. Townsend Mix's building design of French Renaissance with Corinthian composite details. On March 26, 1866 the board of Statehouse Commissioners approved a resolution which stated that the " wings of said building project east and west from the central building and that the construction of the east wing be commenced immediately."