Wow, made it to the East, on to Gettysburg and to the Harrisburg capitol! Well we spent so much time in Gettysburg wandering around the cemetaries and sites that we had to put off Harriburg til the morning (making our day 2 = 3 capitols!)...
the Harrisburg capitol was a delight, very fanciful, full of art and classic decor, and busy! There was a press conference happening of some sort, people in suits and business-garb wandering about, tvs and writers atwitter...it was fun to see action going on!
The cool 272 high dome was modeled after St. Peter's in Rome, and no wonder, it is gorgeous. There are paintings of symbol and quotes, mentioning art, religion, science, and Pennsylvania's founding industries of coal, oil and steal represented in art. There is an enormous marble staircase that was inspired by the staircase at the Paris Opera when it was built in 1906 (rebuilt after a fire destroyed the first capitol built in 1897). Floors are laid with PA-made tiles, along with PA artist made mosaics, stained glass windows in the House and Senate. Also notable in the Senate chamber is the work of female artist Violet Oakley, whose paintings reflect the creation and preservation of the Union. I can't understate how pleasant the Pennsylvania capitol was, though Harrisburg the town was a different story...
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