A century ago, an estimated 3,000 people gathered on the Missouri Capitol grounds on June 24, 1915, to celebrate the installation of the cornerstone of the new Capitol - the one to replace a building destroyed by fire four years and 41/2 months earlier.
One century and nine days later, around 500 Missourians gathered at the Capitol to commemorate that first event - and to talk about the Capitol's coming second century.
"The cornerstone placed here in 1915 had a significance much greater than its structural value to this building. It had a significance that extends to our time," historian and retired broadcaster Bob Priddy said during Friday's 75-minute program, which he served as master of ceremonies.
Cornerstones often dedicate "a building to a good and noble purpose," he said, and signify "that this structure is important, it is a structure of permanence and what happens in this structure will be of significance to people to whom this building is important.
"But this cornerstone in 1915 had an additional symbolism, too - for this one was also a cornerstone of our city."
Jefferson City was chosen in 1821 to be the state's capital, but by the late 1800s, other cities wanted the seat of state government to be moved.
Priddy and Gov. Jay Nixon both noted the current Capitol - the one the cornerstone was placed in 100 years ago - actually was the third building in Jefferson City to serve as the home of state government.
The first - on the site of the present Governor's Mansion - burned in the late-1830s, only a few years after it opened.
The second building was placed on the next hill to the west, near the edge of the bluff overlooking the Missouri River and facing east toward the main part of Jefferson City, and west overlooking the Wears Creek valley.
On Feb. 5, 1911, a lightning bolt struck the top of its dome. Within hours, the Capitol was destroyed.
"Some in this audience (in June 1915) were those who had fought, after the Capitol fire of 1911, to keep the seat of state government here," Priddy remarked. "Several cities coveted our status - the old Capitol had burned just 15 years after a statewide vote had determined that the seat of (state) government would not be moved to Sedalia."
Lawmakers acted quickly to raise money to replace the demolished building.
"On Aug. 1, 1911, the bond issue went to a vote," Priddy said. "It needed two-thirds approval - it got 75 percent for the bonds to pay for the construction of a building here, in Jefferson City - the permanent state capital city.
"That building, that vote, this cornerstone signify that the seat of government would be secure to Jefferson City for as long as there is a Missouri."
Priddy, who also is a member of the State Capitol Commission that monitors the building, its condition and uses, praised Nixon and lawmakers for passing a bill making $40 million available for renovation work on the building's south side.
During his speech, Nixon said the funding bill is "just the beginning of our continuing commitment as a state to keep this part of our history alive, as both a functioning seat of government as well as an architectural, cultural and historical treasure for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come here each year to see it."
There is significant water damage and mold in the Capitol's basement, underneath the Grand Staircase that rises from the South Lawn, past the Thomas Jefferson statue and continues inside the building from the second floor to the third floor Rotunda.
The outside steps and the statue will disappear during the repair work, so that the base of the building can be repaired and restored.
Nixon told reporters Friday: "Until we get the bids back later in the year, we won't know the exact timing of it, (but) there may be a chance that these steps might not be here in January 2017" when a new governor takes the oath of office.
State Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, also spoke at Friday's ceremonies.
"I've never asked the governor why he asked me to speak. Maybe it was because I was the local senator," he quipped, "or because I was constantly nagging the administration about remodeling the Capitol."
But, he added, the renovation work is important for the future.
When state government celebrates its 300th birthday in 2121, Kehoe said, "Few may know what a car even is, or that we had to use a plane to get somewhere.
"But this great building will still stand."
And Missouri Supreme Court Judge George Draper, representing the third branch of government during Friday's ceremonies, told the crowd: "The only constant in our world is change - yet, the integrity of this cornerstone ensures that this Capitol structure will stand amid decades of change. ...
"I assert, we are a state of law and man, a society of good men, and women, of all races, creeds, colors and religions - a society of laws changing yet constant, a people changing yet constantly human and humane - ensuring that our society will endure decade after decade until the next 100 years."