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Places, Earth |
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State Parks, Historic Sites, and Museums need your help.Places Earth urges everyone to support these vital and important public resources any way you can. Please find a worthy historic site or museum that is in financial danger and donate your treasure, time, and talent. Write to your governor and other elected officials telling them to find a way to keep these parks open. It will be your loss. Public Service Announcement |
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State Capitol
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2009 - 2010.|
The present Texas State Capitol, completed in 1888, is the fourth building in Austin to serve as the seat of Texas government. It is the largest state capitol in the United State in gross square footage(360,000 square feet) (second in total size to the National Capitol in Washington, D.C.). While it is fifteen feet taller than the National Capitol, it is not the tallest state capitol. The Texas State Capitol is 308 feet tall, the Illinois State Capitol is the tallest domed capitol at 361 feet, and the Louisiana State Capitol building, which is a tower, is 450 feet tall. The building occupies two and a quarter acres of land, contains almost four hundred rooms and over nine hundred windows. The building was designed in 1881 by architect Elijah E. Myers (fired in 1886). Civil engineer Lindsay Walker supervised constructed from 1882–88. The cornerstone for the building was laid on March 2, 1885, the Texas Independence Day and the completed building was opened to the public on April 21, 1888, San Jacinto Day. The style of the capitol is Italian Renaissance Revival, based on the classical orders, round arches, and symmetrical composition. Originally the building was intended to be constructed entirely of limestone from Oatmanville (present-day Oak Hill about ten miles to the southwest). Then the limestone began to discolor and it was discovered to have a high iron content. The limestone is now in the foundation and less noticed sections of the building and the exterior is covered with "sunset red" pink granite donated by the owners of Granite Mountain (near Marble Falls). The construction costs for the capitol building were not paid in dollars, but in land. Three million acres in the Texas Panhandle were given as payment to the builders and this parcel of land is now the famous XIT Ranch, the largest cattle ranch in the world. The total cost for the original building, including the value of the land, was $3.7 million. The Capitol building contains the House and Senate chambers of the Texas Legislature, the office of the governor, and numerous other offices. The several floors ringing the interior walls of the rotunda are lined with portraits of every president of the Republic of Texas or governor of the state. In the south foyer, on either side of the passage to the rotunda, are sculptures by Elisabeth Ney of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin. The south grounds have numerous monuments and the artesian well while the north interplays with the new underground expansion and additional monuments and sculptures. As with any old building, remodeling and repairs have been made over the years. Central air conditioning installed in 1955. A major underground expansion under the north forecourt was completed in 1993 doubling the square footage. In 1995 a major restoration was completed to both the interior and exterior of the old building and the grounds surrounding received the a much needed restoration in 1997. The Building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986 for its "significant contribution to American history." Texas Capitol & Extension business hours: Weekdays 7:00 am - 10:00 pm Saturday & Sunday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Hours are extended during legislative sessions. Tour information: The Capitol Information and Guide Services is located in the restored Treasurer's Business Office on the first floor, south foyer, of the Capitol. Admission is free. Self-guided tour information and pamphlets are available. Free Capitol tours are conducted beginning in the Capitol South Foyer and concluding in the Capitol Extension. The tour includes the Capitol, Texas history, and the Texas legislature chambers. Tours are about 45 minutes long and available during the following times: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Saturday, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm Sunday, Noon- 3:30 pm Visitor Center is in the restored former Spanish Land Office which was the General Land Office in 1856-57. The three-story structure is the oldest state office building in Texas. The Capitol Visitors Center is located at 112 East 11th Street (southeast corner of the Capitol grounds). Capitol Visitors Center hours: Monday - Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday Noon - 5:00 pm 512.305.8400 Capitol Visitors Center Gift Shop: Monday-Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday 10:00 am- 5:00 pm Sunday Noon - 5:00 pm 512.305.8408 The Visitors Center , the Visitors Center Gift Shop, and the Capitol are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Day, and Easter |
Follow this link to Other State Capitols
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| The dome of the Capitol. | |
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| The dome of the Capitol. | |
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| The dome of the Capitol. | |
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| The dome of the Capitol. | |
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| The dome of the Capitol. | |
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| The dome of the Capitol. | |
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| The pediment at the south | |
 Another view of the pediment. |
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| Southeast corner through the trees. | |
 Looking north to the south facade. |
 Exterior corner detail. |
 North facase. |
 Northeast corner with statue to Texas Pioneer Woman in foreground. |
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| Inside corner at the northwest exterior. | |
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| Inside corner at the northwest exterior. | |
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| Northwest norner with miniature Statue of Liberty in foreground. | |
 North pediment with flag blowing in the wind. |
 Northwest exterior. |
 Exterior column detail. |
 Exterior lamp detail. |
 Floor of the rotunda. |
 Interior of dome. |
 Seal on the floor of the rotunda. |
 Ceiling of south lobby. |
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| Governor's Business Office. | |
 Corner molding detail. |
 Hinge detail. |
 Sam Houston. |
 Stephan Fuller Austin. |
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| House of Representatives. | |
 House of Representatives. |
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| Senate. | |
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| Senate. | |
 Desk in the Senate Chambers. |
 Podium in Sanate Chambers. |
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| Senate chamber ceiling. | |
 Ceiling light fixture. |
 Window in the Senate Chamber. |
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| Dawn at the Alamo on left and Battle of San Jacinto on right, two paintings along the back wall of the Senate Chamber. | |
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| Circular plaza at the lower level, open to the outside at the top. | |
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| The lower level connects to the lower level of the main Capitol building and runs north below the garden. | |
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| South grounds with numerous statues and monuments. | |
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| Simple, Texas style, drinking fountain. This is a 1996 reproduction of the Artesian Well East Drinking Fountain that provided a steady and strong flow of water from the Trinity Aquifer for Capitol needs from 1889 until more stringent water standards caused it to close in 1980. The pressure of 1,550 feet of earth above forced the water naturally to the surface where it was used for drinking, fire suppression, washing, and feed water for the boilers to generate electricity. The water was also used to irrigate the landscaping and trees. A cast iron drinking fountain, placed over the well in 1903, provided cups on chains. There is also a belief that the mineral water had curative effects. | |
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| Monument to those who died for States Rights on both sides. | |
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| Confederate losses: 437,000; Federal losses: 485,216. | |
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| Memorial to lost Fire Fighters. | |
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| Monument to the Terry Rangers. | |
 Monument to the Terry Rangers. |
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| Heroes of the Alamo. | |
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| Heroes of the Alamo. | |
| This granite monument to the Ten Commandments became the subject of a U.S. Supreme Court case in 2005. In the case Van Orden v. Perry, it was argued that the display was unconstitutional but in late June 2005, the Court ruled that the display was constitutional. There seems to be disagreement wether the constitution guarantees "freedom of religion" or "freedom from religion." |
| Visitor Center |
 The State Capitol as seen through a window at the Visitor Center. |
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| The Visitor Center is in the former Spanish Land Office. The Land Office is exhibited here. | |
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| Exhibits. | |
 Safe. |
 Quilt exhibit. |
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| Travis County Main Page |
This page last updated: Wednesday, 03-Feb-2010 01:59:38 EST
| Note: This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice. |
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This web site started because of my love for Architecture and interest in History. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. My wife sells Gold Canyon products at www.valleygirlcandles.com and I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ... | ||
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This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson. Copyright © 2004 - 2010, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved. Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website. |
| This site is a non-commercial alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com. |
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