By 1930, the Gothic revival castle that served as Louisiana's capitol was obsolete, and too small for the efficient operation of state government. Huey P. Long began his campaign for a new capitol shortly after his election as governor in 1928, claiming t hat a new building would result in increased efficiency.

In 1930, Long asked the State Board of Liquidation for five thousand dollars to employ the New Orleans architectural firm of Weiss, Dreyfuss and Seiferth to draw up plans. Long gave the architects free reign in the building's design, apart from saying tha t he wanted a tower. Complete plans and specifications were ready for bidders by early November.

The project faced tough opposition in the legislature, but Long's landslide win in the September U.S. Senate election enabled him to railroad the proposal through. In a special legislative session, a constitutional amendment authorizing the construction of the new capitol was added to a $75 million highway construction bill. The first vote fell four votes short of the two-thirds majority needed, but the Speaker of the House ordered a roll-call vote. With long standing at the rear of the chamber, the fin al vote was seventy-one in favor to twenty-three against. In the Senate, the bill passed by a margin of twenty-three to five.

A building commission was established and on Octover 3, the commission decided on the exact site for the building and ordered detailed plans. On November 4, the vote rs of Louisiana passed the constitutional amendment authorizing construction by a margin of fourteen to one. Six days later the completed plans and specifications were submitted to the bidders. On December 10, a contract was awarded to the George A. Fulle r Company of Washington D.C., and construction began on December 16.

A spur of the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad was constructed to the site in order to deliver the materials for the capitol, including 200 carloads of limestone, 50 carloads of marble, 26 carloads of granite, 285 carloads of sand, 240 carloads of gr avel, 190 carloads of cement, 108 carloads of bricks, 500 carloads of tile, 20 carloads of terazzo, 30 carloads of bronze, 24 carloads of ornamental iron, and 100 carloads of structural and reinforcing steel.

Construction of the concrete pile foundation began on January 19, and by June 26 the steel skeleton was completed. The finished capitol was dedicated in cerimonies coinciding with the inauguration of Governor O.K. Allen on May 16, 1932. Ironically, Huey L ong, now a U.S. Senator, was unable to attend due to his duties in Washington.