Phoenix!

So we made it to Phoenix, our 22nd capitol stop. The day after Thanksgiving we came by and it was empty, most likely because of all of the shopping and football games going on. No qualms from my husband and I, the quieter and less crowded, the better.

The first thing we noticed was a lime on the ground - my first thought was someone bought one for their beer and dropped it - upon further inspection, lime trees surrounded the capitol park! What a nice surprise.

Though the capitol isn't technically in use anymore (since 1977), the senate and house gather right next door in the capitol mall buildings. The Arizona capitol now houses a museum of Arizona history, which was fun to view. The capitol housed lots of artifacts about their statehood, European migration like the Merci train, land and animals, and war history (USS Arizona Fleet and Buffalo Soldiers) as well.

The building itself wasn't extremely fanciful but much art was hung on the walls, to my pleasure. It also housed a gallery of Arizona notable photographer Edward Curtis. Above, many old offices houses old-fashion office replicas of politicians who came before; above shows a dummy of first-governor George Hunt.

The dome is small and doesn't allow for viewers to walk around in, and is without great detail, though an expensive spire is atop, something which caused great local controversy, according to locals.

The courtyard also houses much nice sculpture and greenery which is pleasant to walk around, espesially in the year-round warm weather (and cacti outside to boot).

We were also among prisoners who were hard at work cleaning up the park, dressed in their orange prison-garb, they displayed only polite attitudes towards us.

Overall, though the Phoenix capitol itself wasn't as exuberant as most, I would say it was quite nice.

Phoenix in November

Stay tuned...after a new baby, we'll finally have our next capitol visit to Phoenix in November!

Oklahoma City

Wowee! Coming from Little Rock capitol, which was practically barren, to the OK City capitol was crazy-time. Oklahomans must really treasure their art, because not only was it everywhere in the building, but they have their own gallery, the "Governor's Art Gallery" funded by the OK Arts Council, with changing exhibits of Oklahoma artists, and probably a director, too.

Also the decor and interior was very colorful, bright colors of red, blue and greens painted in the dome and on the architecture and detailing. The paintings of governors and OK notable peoples were all different - style, genre, the whole deal - and labled extensively.
Like the Little Rock capitol, however, the senate and house chambers were both closed for viewing! So we could not examine how creative their workspace is.

Like the Little Rock capitol it was also designed in the neo-classical, DC-like style, and completed in 1917. A huge building, not sure how many square feet, but definitely comparable to the Little Rock capitol as well.
There was also an oil rig in the front of the building, no doubt noting proudly their success in the industry.
We also stopped by the Oklahoma City Memorial of the bomb that took place in 1995. It was deeply moving and very sad, but it was very well-done in memory of those that died on that day.

Little Rock, AR

The state of Ol President Bill Clinton, one of my husband's favorite presidents (not mine, though)...the capitol was somewhat disappointing, unfortunately!
It was modeled after the US capitol in DC, completed in 1915 using prison labor (fascinating fact! resourceful! I like it). It's very big at 287,000 square feet, dome rising to 213 feet, but is fairly bare when it comes to decor.
Their biggest fancy schmany aspects are their 10-foot bronze doors, purchased in 1910 at Tiffany's for $10,000 (of which were not open for use, though). And, the marble floors and walls throughout the building, and a dainty 4,000 pound chandeleir which I didn't actually note until I just read about it in the pamphlet.
What we did note was that there was hardly any art! Just a couple of portraits of former governors in the rotunda - including a youngin' Clinton with thick brunette locks, smiling that smile and working at his desk.
There was a small one-room gallery on the 4th floor, with maybe 6-8 paintings that were not labled, and another small gallery about former governors, but they were hidden and there wasn't any signs to tell us about them! Very disappointing.
We also made a quick stop at the Clinton Presidential Library/Museum and saw lifesize replicas of the presidential office while Clinton reigned and one of the cabinet room. There was also an exhibit of a bunch of gifts given to the President while he was President which was cool--lots of art and random cultural relics and notes.

Coming Up: Oklahoma City and Little Rock

The first weekend in March, John and I are taking a drive down to Oklahoma City, then to Little Rock, and back, for a short but sweet tour of two Southern capitols. Stay tuned for more info!