If the Gold Dome on Georgia’s state capitol looks extra shiny lately, there’s a good reason. For the first time in 25 years, workers have replaced the gold leaf that covers the dome.
Channel 2 Action News got an exclusive look at the project, which took about four months to complete.
A complex scaffolding surrounded the iconic Gold Dome during the work. Inside, skilled artisans like Anne Domenech carefully removed the old gold leaf and applied 40 ounces of new, real 24-karat gold.
“The gold comes in sheets on wax paper, and applying it is slow, detailed work,” Domenech explained.
Gerald Pilgrim from the Georgia Building Authority said the dome had needed this upgrade for about four years. The old gold had worn down, and parts of it were deteriorating.
Interestingly, the dome wasn’t always gold. In the 1950s, it was a dull gray. Lawmakers later decided to cover it in gold sourced from Dahlonega, Georgia, where the first U.S. gold rush happened. Back then, they needed seven pounds of gold. Thanks to modern technology, just 40 ounces does the job today.
Applying the gold is delicate work. Domenech demonstrated the process: she presses the gold leaf onto the surface, peels off the paper, and smooths it out with a brush to remove extra bits.
Building and dismantling the scaffolding alone took two months, but the effort was worth it. Pilgrim said the dome now shines brighter than it has since 1999.
“I hope it symbolizes how we honor Georgia’s past and look forward to its bright future,” Pilgrim said.
The project cost about $5 million and is part of a larger renovation of the state capitol, which has been ongoing for over a year and will take another year to finish.