The Explore All 50 States Project
Let's Go!
The Mississippi State Capitol Building is located in Jackson which has a reputation for being a pretty tough town. We were told to be careful where we went but honestly, the area around the capitol building was lovely, calm and peaceful. The building itself is a beautiful structure with the traditional dome and gold topper with the Parthenon like header on top of massive columns. Inside, the building is … [Read more...]
Any Explore All 50 project road trip is never complete with a visit to the state capitol. The Louisiana State Capitol Building is quite different as it doesn't have a dome. Born of the vision of larger than life Louisiana governor Huey P. Long, it was built during the 1930's during the Great Depression. It's shape is more like a tall single column with hints or art deco architectural detail and it is the tallest … [Read more...]
A trip to Little Rock would not be complete without a visit to the State Capitol Building. When we arrived at the stately building there was a protest about health care going on right in front. We headed in past the crowd gathered on the lawn, and walked around inside. The rotunda was kind of plain and there wasn't much to see in the way of artifacts or artwork with the exception of the stained glass state seal, but … [Read more...]
The Tennessee State Capitol Building sadly was one of our least favorites of any we've seen on any trip. I think the building has the potential be be something really special but as it is right now it's in desperate need of some TLC. The colors were super drab, and there were few decorative details except in the legislative chambers. It was super disappointing because our travel buddies Yvonne and her kids had … [Read more...]
While we were in Madison, we checked out the Wisconsin State Capitol Building. From the exterior, because of it's color and shape, this State Capitol Building reminded me a lot of the Capitol Building in Washington DC. The inside is quite decorative with a lot of use of marble but what really stood out are the beautiful mosaics throughout especially in the rotunda. Other than that it wasn't one of our personal … [Read more...]
Arriving in Des Moines after driving through miles and miles of corn, we made our way to the Iowa State Capitol Building which stands out in the city like a gleaming gold domed beacon. We were greeted by the beautiful bronze sculpture of two frontiersmen and a Native American tribesman. I imagined them looking out onto the rolling plains wondering if they had any clue that these parts would later become one of … [Read more...]
Leaving St. Louis we headed out to Jefferson City to see the Missouri State Capitol building. Is it just me, or did everyone have a hard time remembering Jefferson City on the state capitols quiz in grade school. Well now that we've officially been here, I don't think I'll forget it ever again. So we pulled up and we see this beautiful building with the usual columns, and dome, pretty standard issue. Inside, … [Read more...]
The Illinois State Capitol Building like all things in Springfield, the land of Lincoln, is stately but not flashy and quietly dignified. The dome is made of zinc and is sort of dark in color which is unlike any other we've seen. Inside the rotunda is home to a beautiful stained glass dome with friezes surrounding it. This is a place where business gets done, but it was short on glamour and interesting … [Read more...]
So how many of you reading this thought the Maine State Capitol Building was in Bangor....Nope, it's in Augusta, right across the parking lot from the Maine State Museum. It is very pretty from the outside, but I have to admit, my kids were pretty disappointed. The interior is quite modern and there are almost no artifacts. As you enter you are greeted by the state seal with the motto "Dirigo" which we found out … [Read more...]
The New Hampshire State Capitol Building felt like it met all the requirements for a state capitol but just didn't have a whole lot of personality. It does have the requisite columns and the gold dome, but inside it just felt like a plate of mashed potatoes that didn't have enough salt and pepper. One interesting fact though, is that this is the oldest statehouse in which the legislature still occupies its original … [Read more...]
