A National Historic Landmark and perhaps Raleigh's most iconic building, the North Carolina State Capitol was built in 1840 and is an excellent example of the Greek Revival architecture. On July 4, 1833, builders laid the cornerstone of the State Capitol on Union Square. The ceremony kicked off construction that would last for seven years and cost $532,000, a massive sum for the era. The Capitol that stands today was not the first in Raleigh. The original Capitol building, completed in 1794, burned down in 1831. Several architects contributed to the neoclassical design of the current building, including Ithiel Town, Alexander Jackson Davis, William Nichols Jr. and William Strickland.