The Arizona Territory's capital moved around: Prescott, Tucson, Prescott again, and finally Phoenix in 1889. To show the territory was ready for statehood, voters approved a $100,000 bond to build a real capitol.
Architect James Riely Gordon won a design contest. His original plan had wings for the legislature and a big dome, but money was short, so the wings were dropped and a small metal top was used. The capitol was finished in 1900.
Arizona became a state in 1912, and the building became the state capitol. Today the 1900 building is the Arizona Capitol Museum, and newer buildings behind it hold the legislature and the governor's offices.