Capitol Recaps
October 17, 2012
The 50 Capitols trip started in Gettysburg Pennsylvania and finished in Springfield Illinois, which was the perfect place for the grand finale with Lincoln abound! I was joined by my family and friends for the reading of the Gettysburg address in my 50th and final Capitol. Special thanks to the NAIFA Illinois executive board for joining me, to whom I owea debt of gratitude. The building is exceptional and its reputation extends all the way […]
October 16, 2012
Yesterday was amazing, or at least my visit to the Wisconsin State Capitol was! The entire Capitol Staff was welcoming and the Capitol Angels abundant, even showing up on the steps for the reading of the Gettysburg Address and ending with the architects on the walk out. This Capitol has plenty of room for bragging rights with it being the only one located on an isthmus (though Alaska’s is on an island) and the only […]
October 15, 2012
The Minnesota State Capitol was designed by one of America’s most prominent architects, Cass Gilbert, who also designed the U. S. Supreme Court, the capitols of West Virginia, Arkansas, the Woolworth Building in Manhattan and helped popularize skyscrapers. It is capped by a set of four gold horses representing the power of nature (Earth, Wind, Fire, Water), and lined on the inside with inspirational/spiritual quotes and symbols (This my kind of Capitol!) for the rule […]
October 14, 2012
Though I am still able to accomplish the main goal of photographing specific things in the Capitol, what I miss by visiting on weekends are many of the people, stories, and treasures. Luckily, I was still able to find a few in the rotunda of the South Dakota State Capitol like the four unique bronze statues representing Vision, Integrity, Wisdom and Courage. There was also their State Seal which reads “Under God the People Rule”, […]
October 13, 2012
The North Dakota State Capitol has a Lincoln Room, Memorial Hall and a great slogan on their state seal: Liberty and Union Now and Forever One and Inseparable. Unfortunately, this is the only state Capitol that I did not get inside of because they are only open on weekends during the summer. That turned out to be a blessing because while at the ND Heritage Center I was able to get to know Merlan Paaverud […]
October 12, 2012
Montana State Capitol is #45 in the count-up (#6 in the countdown). Liberty shines most brightly in this Capitol nestled against the Rocky Mountain foothills. The dome is capped with a seventeen foot high personification of liberty called “Montana”. This bronze statue (sculpted by a Pennsylvanian) even wears a liberty cap-to symbolize freedom…and you’ll find two Liberty Bells, one inside and the numbered one from the U.S. Treasury across the street.
October 9, 2012
The Alaska State Capitol, #44 in the count-up (or #7 in the Capitol Countdown) was Awesome! I didn’t go to Alaska with any expectations, but what I found were plenty of surprises…like a Glacier (more on that later). Ended up having the longest personal tour of a state Capitol so far, and took the most number of pictures, which is probably not a coincidence. This’ll take more than one posting. I didn’t find any igloos […]
October 8, 2012
Washington State is the only state in the union named after a president, but did you know that “Washington” was their second choice for a state name? (“Columbia” was their first choice, but it was nixed by D. C. politicians before it, too, adopted the Washington mantle.) That’s a pretty cool distinction, as is having the largest amount of marble and tallest masonry dome of any state Capitol, as well as the largest bronze Tiffany […]
October 8, 2012
Built in 1938, the Oregon State Capitol was only the second one so far that had a cupola instead of a dome on top of it. True to form and, perhaps, mirroring this environmentally-friendly state with votes cast mostly by mail and having two-thirds covered by desert, this capitol was unique. (State Motto: She flies with her own wings. Nickname: the Beaver State. FYI…it is pronounced Or-a- gun.) Salem, Oregon, even had a unique Walk […]
October 3, 2012
Hawaii is certainly a friendly place…and this was within the first few hours!Hawaii’s Capitol reflects their open, airy culture, having an outdoor courtyard in the middle of the complex. Pictured are all of Hawaii’s governors since statehood in 1959. The Shaka sign that I’m showing in the Governor’s office expresse…s the Aloha spirit. It was popularized by surfers and is a common gesture of friendship and as one of the locals told me, it is […]