All photos by Molly unless otherwise noted.
Sacramento, California, Number 29
(October 15, 2013)
Address/Phone/Email/website: 10th and L
Streets
916-324-0444
Hours: Weekdays
8-5, Weekends 9-5
Senate: 40. The centerfold of a booklet about the Senate shows
a diagram (as seen from the gallery) of the (last) names and from whence they
come of all Senators and their assigned seats.
Further opening the centerfold is a photo of Senators in their
respective seats (2009) from the President’s podium. Kind of cool!
Four year terms. Vote
is by roll call. Names called
alphabetically and answered “Aye” or “Nay.”
The Reading Clerk (sits in the front of the Senate) records the
vote.
House/General Assembly:
State Assembly 80
Two year terms.
Voting electronically by buttons.
Green for yes; red, no.
Architect, Style, Cost and Year Built: M. F.
Butler/Reuben Clark (cornerstone laid 1861, declared completed 1874—due to
flooding, overruns, bad weather, funding, delays in construction—in part due to
the American Civil War). Regular removal
bills to move to Santa Cruz, San Jose, Oakland, Benicia, and San Francisco
(none passed). $2.5 million; 1974 restoration $67 million.
Building features:
Exterior: No data on building materials used
Interior:
Grounds: Forty acres—lawns, memorials, gardens, monuments, special trees Forty acres of flower gardens and memorials tia history surround the building. Forty acres of lawns, flower gardens and memorials to California history surround the building.
Getting there: Used
a GPS from the airport. Had the wrong
address, so it was difficult to find (now that I know where it is, it would be
ever so easy to get back to it). Lot’s
of one way streets and a few road closures due to construction. Traffic moderate.
Parking: When not in session, parking is generally easily
available and often free. Most of the
Capitols I/we have visited have not been in session (summer is a good time). Meters and/or parking garages are available,
but are usually expensive. ($9.00 for 2
hours in Providence)
I had a tough time with parking. I finally found an empty meter. I was in the back of the building. Never really did find my way to the front. Too many one way streets. The meter was $.25 for twelve minutes. I put in enough quarters to get me forty
eight minutes. I was warned that the
meter people are realllllly strict. So,
I knew my visit would have to be short.
A shame.
Entered Union (Number and date): September 9, 1850 (31st). Received star July 4, 1851
Nicknames: The
Golden State
Motto: Eureka
Cornerstone: Did
not find cornerstone, laid May 15, 1864. (Masonic Ceremonies for the original Capitol building in
1850.) In 1978 the cornerstone in the current building replaced the original
for the Capitol rebuilding with the Grand Lodge of California again
participating.
Dome/Rotunda/Dome topper: Rotunda: A large statuary group titled, Columbus’ Last Appeal to Queen Isabella, has occupied a prominent position at the center of the first floor Rotunda since 1883. Although removed during restoration, amid much controversy it has been returned. 120 feet of “inner dome” high
Art: Paintings
(landscapes, seascapes, still life), sculptures, 2 large murals, portraits of
36 governors (much of the art I missed due to time constraints and the meter). East wing contains photos of legislators
Tours: Available
hourly. Also, self-guided. Lots of good information in pamphlets and
brochures.
Quarter:
John Muir, California Condor, Half Dome; Captions: "John Muir" "Yosemite Valley"
Liberty Bell: Each state
and most territories have been gifted at least one replica of the liberty
bell. Each bell is numbered. Missouri seems to have two—one of which is
located at the Harry S Truman Library (#54) in Independence, MO, given by the
city of Annecy-le-Vieux to the city of Independence. My guess would be that this choice was made
as Truman was President at the time of the gifting. The second one was given to the State of
Missouri and resides on capitol grounds (#20).
http://www.libertybellmuseum.com/exhibits/statebells/index.htm
The
fifty five full-sized replicas were cast in 1950 by the Paccard Foundry in
Annecy-le-Vieux, France and shipped as gifts to states and territories to thank
the United States for its part in France’s liberation. They were funded by a savings bond drive.
The
replica bells are often located outside on the grounds of the capitol complex; some
states have placed them inside the capitol building; some states have located
them in other prestigious places such as state historical societies; some
states don’t seem to have a clue where it is.
Each bell is numbered. There does not seem to be rhyme or reason as to the numbering system.
California’s bell is located on
the grounds in front of the building.
Since I went in the back door and had such time restraints, I did not
observe it. It was, however, verified by
several people. (#2)
Museum/Historical Society/Heritage: Excellent.
Portions of the Capitol Building are part of its museum. West Wing of Basement, First floor, and Second
floor permanent and rotating exhibits including 1900 era Offices of the
Treasurer and Secretary of State.
Basement West Wing also include a tour office, theater (sorry I did not
have time for this, but I hear that it should not be missed if at all
possible), and the Basement Rotunda producing a mural of California past and
present. Nicely done
What’s unique/Claims to fame:
1.
It’s
gallery of portraits of former governors include movie stars.
2.
Virtual on-line tours of the gardens, monuments,
and memorials.
3.
Lots of information in the forms of several well
done booklets with lots of photos.
4.
Most Populous state (1 in 8 Americans lived
there).
5.
Between the earlier Spanish rule (who changed
the governmental seat often) and the early time of California as a state,
California has probably had more different seats of government and capitols than
any other state. As a state…San Jose,
Vallejo, Benicia, Sacramento, San Francisco (temporary 1862) and finally
Sacramento.
6.
Votes in the House and Senate recorded by
different means…House, electron, Senate, roll call.
7.
A
bell from USS California on display at the California State Capitol Museum.
This capitol definitely needs a
revisit.
Information provided by
observation, wikipedia and booklets provided at the Capitol. Other information as noted by web sites.
