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Capitol Dome Reopens To Public After Years Of Renovations

DENVER (CBS4)- After years of construction at the state Capitol dome, the renovations are complete and the dome is once again open to the public.

The last of the scaffolding that had hindered the view of the gold-topped dome at Colfax and Lincoln has been removed.

Capitol Dome Gold Leaf
Copter4 flew over as workers replaced gold leaf on the state Capitol dome in August 2014. (credit: CBS)

The $17 million project was necessary because Colorado's intense freeze-thaw cycle caused the exterior metal surfaces to deteriorate during the past 100 years. Cast iron columns supporting the dome also started rusting.

A group of 4th graders was among the first to tour the newly reopened dome. They had been briefed on why the dome was closed for so long before taking the tour to the top.

"A piece of iron fell off from the roof in 2006 so they had to rebuild the roof to make is safer for everybody else," said one 4th grader.

capitol dome
(credit: CBS)

Eight years ago a piece of iron did fall off the dome and onto the observation deck which was then closed for safety reasons.

Four years later repair crews began the task of fixing and restoring the cast iron exterior. The copper plates underneath the gold leafed dome also had to be repaired.

"They rebuilt the dome with gold on the top, all around it," said another 4th grader.

The dome was re-gilded with more than 65 ounces of gold.

Capitol Dome Opening
(credit: CBS)

"It's a lot of gold and it's really beautiful to look at on this beautiful day," said another 4th grader.

Visitors appreciate the view from the observation deck and agree that it was worth the wait because the 120-year-old Colorado state Capitol looks better than ever.

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