The Ola Babcock Miller Building, also known as the State Library of Iowa, stands as a significant historic landmark in Des Moines. Designed by architect Oliver O. Smith and completed in 1910, it serves as one of the oldest buildings in the Capitol Complex. The structure was originally commissioned as the Iowa State Historical Building to house the State Historical Department, which first occupied the west wing in March 1900.
The building is a notable example of the Beaux Arts style. Its 260-by-70-foot footprint features a facade organized into five parts with three projecting pavilions connected by hyphens. The raised basement is faced in rusticated stone, while the walls are composed of hollow tiles faced with limestone veneer. The central pavilion follows a Greek cross plan, featuring a portico with Ionic order columns capped by a dome.
Inside, the building has housed the State Library of Iowa since 1912. Following a historic renovation, it was renamed in honor of Ola Babcock Miller, who was Iowa's first female Secretary of State. The building continues to serve as a major repository of information, preserving the history of the state within its prominent limestone walls and majestic dome.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
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