NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

CHAPTER 1043

SENATE BILL 902

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES TO IMPROVE AND OPERATE THE STATE CAPITOL.

Whereas, the State Capitol was constructed during the period 1833 to 1840 at a cost equal to three and one half-years' general tax revenue of the State at that time; and

Whereas, the State Capitol is one of the finest surviving examples of a major civic building in the Greek Revival Style of architecture and has been declared a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior; and

Whereas, the State Capitol housed all of State government from 1840 until the 1880's and the General Assembly through 1961; and

Whereas, the 1971 General Assembly has placed the first floor corridors and stairways, and all of the second, third, and attic levels of the State Capitol in the custody of the Division of Archives and History, Department of Cultural Resources, to be administered and interpreted to the public as an historic shrine; and

Whereas, the 1971 and 1973 Sessions of the General Assembly appropriated nine hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($925,000) for replacing the copper roof and restoring the interior of the State Capitol, such work now nearing completion; and

Whereas, the State Capitol Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit group, is assisting the State by repairing existing antiques and procuring others necessary to furnish the Capitol to its 1840‑65 period, by means of private donations to the State; and

Whereas, an additional appropriation is needed to set up and continue operating tours, lectures, narrated slide programs, motion picture films, and related educational programs befitting the dignity of the Capitol as the symbol of good State government and to keep the facilities open for weekend visitation; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Archives and History, Department of Cultural Resources, for the 1977-78 fiscal year the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) and for the 1978-79 fiscal year the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for researching, developing, and continuously operating educational tours, orientation programs, exhibits, and other visitor services programs at the State Capitol and for the continuing operation of the facilities.

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective on July 1, 1977.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 1st day of July, 1977.