Upcoming: Louisiana, January 2008

I have posted the websites of those capitols we have visited, at left.
We are so excited to be visiting Baton Rouge in early January, 2008, and look forward to taking detailed observational notes and pictures for my blog entry!
Of course Baton Rouge was affected seriously by Katrina so it is a very important location in our nation today, so it will have special significance as we tour the statehouse, the state's history and surrounding area.

Columbus, Ohio, November 2007

I am now writing of our most recent capitol visit, to Columbus, Ohio. We were there for another of John's conferences and most excitably were staying literally right next door to the statehouse! It was a somewhat cold and windy visit but the capitol was beautifully decorated for Christmas so that was pleasant. This capitol was kind of confusing to enter and explore because there are two domes. And, the domes are decorated very differently. One is very classic with paintings, like many of the capitols. The other dome was painted with a simple light pink and green, reminded me of a babe's room.

There was a huge open space where you walked in between the domes that seemed like it used to be out-doors, which was very refreshing and amazing to walk through, espesially when it was desolate, dark at night, but lit up with a beeming Christmas tree.

There was also a replica of the city created with leggos, which added some humor to the house as well.

More soon.

Des Moines, Iowa, October 2007

We are almost up-to-date now.
Des Moines is only 2 1/2 hours away from our hometown of Omaha, so we decided to pack the baby up and tour the neighboring state capitol. It was a Saturday and Des Moines seemed desolate, but it was a nice capitol, very large and filled with history of the state, city and important state politicians and others in their state history.

There was a tour going on and about ten people following listening to the history of the state and building. My husband and I were more concerned with our own adventure so we went off. The art inside Des Moines, most notably the paintings and mosaics, were very rich with detail.
There was also a funny collection of dolls that was not labled, but must have been models of former first ladies of the state. It was odd but a refreshingly human touch to a serious, political place. Unlike many of the previously visited capitols there was a lot of historical information posted about the artists which was nice and informative.

Also the capitol is located near a downtown area, where we walked to the (free) state historical museum with a Iowa caucus exhibit, that exemplified their excitement of their importance in presidential elections.
More soon.

Olympia, Washington, 2007

Our second Northwestern capitol and fourth total was a beautiful one. Olympia is about an hour drive from Seattle, where we were on a work trip for John. The drive took us through mountains and ample greenery, a nice change from the flatlands of the Midwest. Olympia, in contrast to Seattle, was a quaint little town, the capitol located in the middle of sweet suburban neighborhoods. The capitol, too, is amongst all of the other statebuildings making a "capitol campus" with walkways, and even a trail with a beautiful city view, creating a serene visit, unlike the bustle of many of the other capitols that are amongst downtown business. Olympia's capitol building was smaller but very elaborate, a lot of gold and marble.

A central dome with just a roundabout hallway. We did not get the pleasure of going up but walking around the quiet building and areas around the capitol was treat enough. As the state of Washington, they had a nice big statue of the president's head, which was a fun touch.
More soon...

Jefferson City, Missouri, 2007

My parents reside in Columbia, Missouri. On a visit to see them, we decided to take a quick detour and visit the capitol an hour away. It was a steeming hot July day but the capitol was worth it. Another classical central dome with wings out the sides. Unfortunately there wasn't a way to the top (that we could find) so no top-of-the-world photographs or views.
In this capitol, the offices of the senate members are located inside the actual capitol building which is uncommon. It was interesting to walk by their offices and see their administrative assistants at work.
More soon...

Lincoln, Nebraska, 2006

Though it is ironic that we did not visit our homestate's capitol for our first capitol visit, nonetheless we got there soon after our Oregon visit in 2006. I, of course, had visited on a school fieldtrip some years ago, but my husband, a Virginia native, had never been. So, off we went on our one hour drive to the capital of Nebraska, Lincoln, on our quest for the capitol.

Here, my dear friend Jenn graced us with her presence so it was fun to have her along to take some fun photos with. Here we are, at left, in the rotunda at the top of the capitol. This time, however, we took the elevator, and we didn't get a fun certificate for climbing to the top.

Lincoln's capitol is more classic, with a central rotunda and hallways shooting out at each 90 degree angle. Does that make sense? There is also a lot of beautiful mosaic, painting and sculpture artwork which I particularly love. Along with the theme of "Lincoln" there is a statue of Abraham Lincoln on the side of the building. The building has been under const

Salem, Oregon, 2006

Our first capitol visit together in August, 2006, inspired our lifelong capitol visits goal. John, my husband and I, aim to visit all 50 U.S. state capitol buildings, by the time I turn 50 (we're now 27 and 29, respectively; my birthday is 8/11/80). Unfortunately, I am writing now in retrospect of the capitols we have already visited, Salem, being our first.

I was born in Corvallis, Oregon, and lived in a little beach town called Lincoln City, for a little while in my teens. Needless to say, Oregon is a beautiful state, maybe the most beautiful. So, for a pre-honeymoon, my husband and I went off to Oregon for a brief visit from our home in Omaha. On our way back from the coast to Portland, we stopped in Salem to check out the capitol building, and we were hooked!
It was a random yet planned stop and turned out to be an adventure. We just happened to get there when the only tourguide there was giving a tour to the top of the building. But this wasn't like walking the steps of the Statue of Liberty where you get on the staircase and go up, up, up. This was taking a grand staircase to the fourth floor, then an odd, scary hallway to even stranger stairway with pipes and whatnot that we had to dodge, and then into an even steeper, creepier set of stairs up to the eleventh floor, where we got to squeeze our way around the top of the capitol building to take some shots through wires. It felt like we were on a "backstage" tour because of the seemingly secret pathways we had to go through to get there, and the small, quiet crowd we were with.
Very unfortunately, we only took a couple of pictures, as we were unaware of the importance that would lie ahead. But we took some in the blossoming flower garden, and the roundabout of state flags in the front yard. The exterior is very modern and simple, just a box of marble, it looks like. At the top is a golden man, I do not remember who he is. The interior, if my memory serves me, was likewise pretty simple and modern.