Saturday, September 1, 2018

Kansas State Capitol - Topeka, Kansas


September 1
Today we went to visit the Capitol building. It is a very impressive building inside and out. Our plan was to take the Dome Tour which consists of 296 steps leading from the fifth floor to the cupola. (not for the feint of heart) 
We arrived early and got some shots of the outside and the grounds.







 the railing is where we walked up and out for views of the city



 Mater Dei Catholic Parish


Inside the Capitol on the ground floor it felt a bit like a dungeon. 

 those are some thick walls
 view of the dome from the 5th floor


 Cage Elevator - 1923 (it still runs and has an elevator operator inside)
 view down from the 5th floor



It started out with just the 2 of us and the guide, but partway through the tour he got a call that another couple was waiting in the wrong place for the tour and wanted to join. They were escorted up to the rotunda that we were on just before the final climb to the top. 
 the first set of stairs
 and the next
 dome from the 6th floor
 view down from the 6th floor
 frescos


 the rotunda and stairs to the 7th floor

 they kept some of the graffiti when they rennovated


 views from the lower windows - before continuing up the stairs to the top



 the final walk to the top up those stairs


 me climbing up
 views from the veranda outside




 Greg's feet on the spiral staircase
 me on the stairs
 Greg coming down


 view from the stairs up to the spiral staircase and out to the veranda
the winch is used for the chandelier when it needs repair or cleaning

We were given ample time for photos and for getting close up views of the inner and outer domes.
The dome, at 304 ft is taller than the 288 ft United States Capitol dome, although its diameter (50 ft) is approximately half that of the national capitol (96 ft). It is one of the few capitols in the United States that continue to offer tours that go to the top of the dome. 
There is no A/C so it's a very hot climb to the top. Upon reaching the summit we could go outside on the veranda for great views of the city of Topeka. The high winds were welcome since it was so hot in there. We were given as long as we wanted out there and proceeded down when we were ready.
Dome facts from their website:

The state legislature approved the dome in 1881 and construction began in 1885.
The inner dome is composed of 256 glass panels. Each is a half inch thick. 
The copper on the dome would make 2,350,746 pennies. 
The outer copper dome extends approximately 75 feet above the  inner dome. 
The bronze statue of the Kansa warrior;  Ad Astra, was placed on the top of the dome in 2002. It is 22 feet and 2 inches  tall and weighs 4,420 pounds.
The chandelier is a replica of the original fixture and weighs 900 lbs.
 I wasn't feeling great before we started the tour and only got worse in the heat. We stopped for a cold drink and a snack (and I barfed before having the snack). We sat there quite a while for the cold/hot clammy feeling to pass and we did a self tour of the rest of the floors. 
 original Copper door from the Capitol dome used to access the outside viewing deck
 an original window from the dome when it was competed in 1903
 House of Representatives



 Senate Gallery


 looking down to the ground floor



 Brown v. Board of Education Mural

 the old supreme court (new one is across the street)


 stained glass windows






Secretary of State's Ceremonial Office
 Meditation Room
 Cage Elevator - 1923
 view from the ground floor up into the dome
34 star flag when Kansas entered the Union on Jan 29, 1861
We had planned to do a museum or two, but since I was feeling sub-par we grabbed some groceries and headed home. There really weren't any museums that were "must do's" for us, so no biggie.
We have 3 more days here and plan on visiting some nature parks. 

1 comment:

  1. It looked like a great tour of the capital. So sorry you got sick from the heat. Always a bummer to feel rotten. At least you can say you have been there done that. Nice photos from inside and out.

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