The building was designed in the Greek Revival style by Gideon Shryock, an early Lexington, Kentucky architect.

Shryock chose the Greek Revival style to symbolically link Kentucky, a young republic, with ancient Greece, the prototype of popular democratic government.

Other architectural features include a self-supporting stone stairway and a domed lantern above it to bring in sunlight.

A bitterly contested 1899 state governor election came to a climax when Democratic claimant William Goebel of Covington, Kentucky was assassinated at the capitol on his way to be inaugurated.

A plaque reading "William Goebel fell here, Jan. 30th, 1900" exists near the front entrance of the building.