for Excellence in the Arts exhibition held every fall. History The Roundhouse is the fourth capitol building of New Mexico. Built in 1966, it is the third newest capitol in the U.S. (after those of Hawaii and Florida, completed in 1969 and 1978, respectively). New Mexico also has the oldest capitol building in the country, the Palace of the Governors. Palace of the Governors Built in 1610 by the Spanish, the Palace of the Governors is located on the Santa Fe Plaza. It was the house of government in Santa Fe for nearly three centuries, during periods of Spanish and Mexican rule. When New Mexico was annexed by the United States in 1846, it became the first territorial capitol and was used as such for forty years. Now a museum, the Palace is the only capitol in the U.S. that has housed the governments of three different nations. 1850 Capitol (federal courthouse) In anticipation of New Mexico's statehood, work began on a new capitol building in 1850. However, funding for its construction was quickly exhausted, and in 1855 work on the project was halted with only the first story of the building completed. It remained in this state until 1886, when the second story and roof were finally finished. However, by this time a new territorial capitol was already being constructed, so the old building was never officially used as the capitol. (It did temporarily house the territorial government between 1892 and 1900.) Instead, it became the Territorial (later Federal) Courthouse. This building still stands in its original form. 1886 Capitol In 1886, a new building replaced the antiquated Palace of the Governors as the territorial capitol. Four stories high, the monumental building was constructed from sandstone quarried in Lamy and topped by colossal bronze statues representing Liberty, Justice, Commerce and Industry. It was designed by Chicago architect E. S. Jennison. Six years after its opening, on the evening of May 12, 1892, a fire began and destroyed the structure, though bystanders were able to save most of the archives, books, and furniture. The building was uninsured and its loss cost the territory over $200,000. An investigation concluded the fire was set deliberately, as it reportedly broke out in two separate areas simultaneously and a crucial emergency hose seemed to have been sabotaged. The identity and motive of the perpetrator were never determined. 1900 Capitol (Bataan Memorial Building) The next