Topeka Capitol, March 24, 2008

We drove down from Omaha, baby-free, through the flat nothing-ness that is rural Nebraska and Kansas. Literally. Oh well, we pumped up near a friendly Indian Reservation and found the capitol very easily in the small city that is Topeka. The downtown strip was fairly vacant but there were some nice restaraunts and quiet people. Surrounding the capitol was construction-on all sides. Not a pretty site, but nonetheless a nice looking building.

We wandered in on this Monday morning, to lots of political business. Legislature was in session for the House of Representatives, so there were suits abound, chatting, drinking coffee, buying snacks in the snackroom, etc. Here we are in the House of Representatives room after they finished their meeting (which, we did visit along with press above, but it was pretty boring, as expected, and no pictures allowed).

The capitol is a nice one, similar to the other midwestern ones we have been through. One big dome, which they state is the third tallest dome, which depends on your definition of "dome (they claim there are only 38 states with domes, while other capitols have claimed there are 49). Nice art inside the dome and along the walls, of the standard figures signifying various virtues and academia, as well as historical figures. There are also some big sculptures of random historical figures, that have Kansas links, like Amelia Erhart.
Here is me looking at some state flags, with a sculpture of a prominent publisher in the background.
The stairs to the dome are closed off to the public, and we found out why. We went on a tour (296 steps) to the top of the dome, and saw much carvings and paint by various visitors of the past--some at least 75 feet in the air above the top of the glass dome below. They say something like "JT was here 1950." Craziness! Here you can see how the stairs went accross and way up into the tip-top dome, it was kinda scary! Some people on the tour didn't venture all the way up. Here's the urinals which my husband said were the strangest ones he has ever seen. As expected the bathrooms were old fashioned, but these were really ancient and odd, according to John, so he took a nice picture.

Overall it was a great trip! We had lunch just down the street from the capitol at a quant Irish pub. Not a notable town, but a friendly one nonetheless. 8 down!