Capital of Pennsylvania

This was by FAR the BEST capital of them all! (negating the possibility of the US Capital being a possible lead) From the moment we stepped onto the capital steps we were all amazed. If the word awful was better used it would have described us all perfectly because we were full of awe! First of all it is a humongous building that was once wood but is now concrete. Then as you get to the top set of steps you see two huge marble carvings on either side that depict depravity and decadence (it looked a little different to me, but my kids told me I was being crude (I will post pictures soon and you can make your own decision!)) Then as you enter the main doorway you see a set of solid, at least 9 foot, wood doors that have been handcarved with depictions of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Really quite beautiful! Then we walked in...

I stopped in my tracks as I walked into the foyer. I have never seen such a regal, impressive, magnificient, artistic building in all of the buildings I have ever laid my eyes. I don't think I can do it justice but to say that the Pennsylvanians know how to show pride in their capital and themselves. There was goldleaf/gold paint used everywhere along with every piece of wood carved and stained or painted masterfully and of course marble was everywhere and put together with great precision. Practically everywhere there could be there was beautiful art to be seen from frescos to portraits to busts to carvings of various historical figures heads along the picture rail.

The chambers of both the House and Senate were just as extraordinary as the rest of the capital. The exquisite woodworking, paintings and marble works were wonderful, but my favorite part was the artistic interpretations of such things as the militia, progress, etc done in stained glass circles all around the top portions of the walls. They really added to the amazement we felt while visiting.

My ultimate favorite of all though would have to be the flooring of the first floor. This floor was made of square, handmade by the Pennsylvania Dutch 3"x 3" tiles for the field with various sized rectangular tile pictures, totaling 377, depicting important times, people, jobs, animals, and such from the beginning of Pennsylvania to the point of the capital's creation. They even offered a special pamphlet that explained each and every one. It was quite the juxtaposition to look at the simplicity of the clay tile floor with simplistic tile pictures compared the awe inspiring grandeur of the rest of the building.

This capital is a must see for anyone who comes to Pennsylvania!

-Carrie