Completed in 1931, the building served as the territorial capitol housing the legislature, governor, the post office, courts, and numerous other federal and territorial agencies. Congress authorized and made an initial appropriation for the building in 1911, but construction did not begin until 1929. There were many reasons for the delay, including the cessation of all public works of this type caused by World War I.

Awaiting construction of the capitol, the territorial legislature, beginning with its first session in 1913, met in rented buildings around Juneau. The territorial governor was also in rented quarters when the capitol opened in 1931. When Alaska became a state in 1959, the building became the property of the state under provisions of the Alaska Statehood Act. The building is approximately 118 feet tall.