Monday, September 1, 2014

Texas State Capitol in Austin

One of the hard to miss landmarks in Austin was the domed neoclassical structure of the Texas State Capitol, which can be seen as far as from the Blanton Museum of Art at University of Texas.  The Texas Capitol site informed us that
The Texas Capitol is an extraordinary example of late 19th century public architecture and is widely recognized as one of the nation's most distinguished state capitols. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986 for its "significant contribution to American history.

The 1888 Texas Capitol is the largest in gross square footage of all state capitols and is second in total size only to the National Capitol in Washington, D.C. Like several other state capitols, the 1888 Texas Capitol surpasses the National Capitol in height, rising almost 15 feet above its Washington counterpart.
DSCN1025 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN1070 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN1026 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014 DSCN1027 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

One evening, after a wonderful dinner at Driskill Café, I chanced by the huge compound and learned that I would visit it even at that late hour so I zipped through the ground, stopped by some sculptures briefly, then entered the building, which was guarded only by two policemen each at the front and back entrances.

DSCN0440 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0442 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

The exterior of the building was classical, elegant and full of details to admire.

DSCN0446 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0453 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014 DSCN0451 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

When it grew darker, the brightly lit pale structure glowed against the deep blue night sky.

DSCN0556 - Texas Capitol, Austin Texas - 500

DSCN0550 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0544 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014 DSCN0539 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014
DSCN0545 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014 DSCN0544 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014
DSCN0443 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014 DSCN0448 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014
DSCN0552 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014 DSCN0553 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

Due to the relative late hour, there were only a handful of visitors and I was able to roam around for most of the time leisurely and had some wonderful sights, such as the dome seen through a translucent ceiling in a long corridor, which led to a delightful little courtyard.

DSCN0517 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014 DSCN0514 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0513 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

Back to the main part of the building, under the dome, where I saw chambers of Texas State Supreme Court, Appeal Court, Governor's Office, Senate and House Chambers; due to time, security or renovation issues, however, I was only able to tour the quite grandiose House Chamber.

DSCN0487 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014 DSCN0465 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0466 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0474 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0469 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0478 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

Naturally, one would encounter many important politicians in Texas history or with roots/connections to the state, such as the busts of Lyndon Johnson and George H. W. Bush and the official portrait of former governor Ann Richards:

DSCN0520 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014 DSCN0519 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0463 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

In the center of the circular space directly below the dome, there was the state seal, above which there were several levels of circular galleries, adorned with official portraits of politicians, including that of Ann Richards, leading all the way up to the soaring yet rather restrained dome.

DSCN0493 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0459 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014 DSCN0480 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0492 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0481 - Texas State Capitol - 500

DSCN0460 _ Texas State Capitol, Austin, June 2014

DSCN0502 - Texas State Capitol - 500 DSCN0454 - Texas State Capitol - 500

DSCN0457 - Texas State Capitol - 500



More on Austin, Texas Trip, June 2014

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