Tennessee State Capitol Building
Located in Nashville. Tennessee, the State Capitol has had its share of history, both of legislative issues and ghosts. In the mid-1800s, Tennessee legislators realized that they needed a structure where official state business should take place. A national call for an architect was placed to build this structure, and a man by the name of William Strickland was given the job. However, Strickland was from the North and faced much opposition from all of the Southern supporters. Regardless, Strickland moved to Nashville in 1845. Following this opposition to Strickland, the people were amazed at how great his plan for the new building was.
The cornerstone of the new capitol building was laid in July 4, 1845 with much optimism of a brilliant vision. The construction was delayed time and again over the next nine years due to a depletion of funds and Capitol Commission member Samuel Morgan. Morgan was appointed to make sure Strickland was doing the right tasks and staying under the budget. The two sides never agreed on anything, and Strickland viewed him as a man who did not understand art, while Morgan saw him as someone who did not care about the state’s funds. Strickland’s vision then started to come-around and the building opened for business in 1853, but still wasn’t completed.
Sadly, Strickland died in 1854, before the building was ever officially completed. His son, Francis, completed the project officially ending it in July of 1855, capping off a ten-year construction. Strickland also designed the northern wall with a vault in it, where his remains were to be placed. When Morgan died in 1880, he too was buried in this vault due to his lifelong service to the state. Capitol Police and visitors alike have heard loud arguments in the hallways at night, especially by the northern wall. Investigations are made but the source of these arguments are never found. The reason is because the spirits of Strickland and Morgan still continue to argue after death, within the northern wall of the Tennessee State Capitol Building.
