Number 19--Harrisburg, PA

http://www.pacapitol.com/

between Commonwealth Avenue and Third Avenue

Harrisburg, PA

1-800-868-7672



The Keystone State

http://www.legis.pa.us/

Senate: 60

House/ Assembly: 203

Architect: East Wing—Thomas C. Celli, Main Building-- Joseph Huston (1866-1940), who envisioned the building as a “Palace of Art.”

Building Completed: Dedicated 1906 (previous building burned); East wing 1987

Capitols located: Harrisburg third city (Philadelphia, Lancaster)

Style: American Renaissance—original building, 620X254 feet; east wing—“post modern”

The Rotunda/Dome/Dome topper: Five story, 272-foot, 52 million-pound dome inspired by Michelangelo’s design for St. Peter’s Basilica is faced with Vermont granite; the roof is composed of pea-green glazed terra cotta tiles. Commonwealth, a gilded bronze 14’6” “Miss Penn,” holds a garlanded mace in her left hand (symbol of statehood) and the right hand held in a benediction manner. Grand staircase is patterned after the Paris Opera House.

Art: Both the Senate and House have huge beautiful murals on the walls of their chambers…lot of historic events. House corridor has paintings of religious groups that founded Pennsylvania; the Senate corridor is line with fourteen paintings showing Pennsylvania’s industry and transportation. There are statues in marble and bronze throughout. Battle flags are housed near the rotunda.

And to me, the most impressive are the stained glass windows that line the side walls of the Senate (10) and House Chambers (14) each weighing 200 pounds, framed in gold leaf, depicting themes, attributes, and values.

Quarter:  Commonwealth "Miss Penn" and keystone superimposed over  image of state outline.

Liberty Bell—Each state and most territories have been gifted at least one replica of the liberty bell. 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. They were funded by a savings bond drive. In thanks for America’s help in World War II.

In some states, the replica bells are located outside on the grounds of the capitol; 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.

Pennsylvania is unique in that it has THE original liberty bell. It has a replica at the State Museum across the street from the Capitol Building first used at the New York World’s Fair in 1965. The Paccard Foundry reproduction (#4) is found in Allentown at the Zion Reformed Church (Liberty Bell Shrine). It was closed by the time of the day that we reached it. During time of War, bells are often recast for bullets and other munitions. To protect the bells of Philadelphia, the bells were brought by wagon train to Bethlehem and then to The Zion [German] Reformed Church in present day Allentown (then known as Northampton).  This Church, therefore, was the place the original had been secreted behind a false wall when the British took over Philadelphia during the War for our Independence.  The original returned to Philly in 1778.

Tours: Self Guided. Guided every half-hour M-F 8:30 am –4:30 pm, weekends/most holidays: four offered-- every two hours starting at 9am – 3pm (to make advance reservation: 1-800-Tour-N-PA or 717-787-6810.

Cornerstone—The facility was so huge that I did not find the cornerstone.

Getting there: I-81 Front Street Exit in Harrisburg. The ride to the Harrisburg capitol is picturesque and beautiful along the Susquehanna River. There is nothing between the Front Street road (one way in-bound) and the north side of the river. Easy in and easy out.

Parking: Yuk! Difficult! Metered street parking. $.25 for ten minutes. Two hours limit. Parking closest to the Capitol is reserved for State employees. There are some parking garages which I did not investigate. For parking “opportunities” http://www.harrisburgparking.org/.

 

What’s unique:

• T. Roosevelt called it “the handsomest Capitol I ever saw!”
• 

  Pennsylvania has more printed material about the capitol than any other building I have visited.
• One pamphlet lists the 67 counties and from whence their names were derived.
• Three hundred seventy-seven Moravian mosaic picture floor tiles representing 254 scenes—artifacts, animals, birds, fish, insects, industries, workers, Civil war soldiers, buildings, and the keystone. Designed by Henry Chapman Mercer of Bucks County. Chronological order.
• The only place in the western hemisphere to have marble from the French Pyrenees Mountains.
• The fountain at its east wing entrance  (Pennsylvania War Veterans’ Memorial Fountain).
• 
  

  
  

   Soldiers Grove, a tree-lined approach, named in honor of war veterans.
• We missed this: Pennsylvania Medal of Honor Memorial—the names of each Pennsylvania recipient carved in granite and placed in an arc of a particular war or conflict. The arcs form a timeline dating from the Civil War.

The docent gave us wise advice to start with the fourth floor galleries for both houses as there was a press conference/protest for some potential legislation that filled the rotunda under the beautiful dome. It was good advice as we saw these places before the crowd let loose.

Both chambers were awesome from the gallery.

Quarter:

Commonwealth statue, state outline, keystone
Caption: "Virtue, Liberty, Independence"









Information drawn from various pamphlets and personal observation.  Pamphlets produced by Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee

Number 20--Trenton, New Jersey

125 West State Street

Trenton, NJ 08608-1101

(609) 633-2709

M-F 10-3. 1st &;3rd Saturday Noon-3

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/

The Garden State

Landing in the back yard of the capitol (called the State House) pretty much by accident on one of the Saturdays that it was opened turned out to be a real blessing. (Google it as Trenton State House). Gov. Christie was urging people BACK to the Jersey shore after Irene’s fateful stop on the news last evening. (Earlier in our travels, he was on TV telling people the get the H--- away from the shore.)

Since parts of the original building are still intact and part of the overall structure, this capitol building is considered the second oldest state house in continuous use (Annapolis, Maryland is considered the oldest…catch that one in the near future, I hope).

Senate: 40

House/General Assembly: 80

Date Complete: Original portion dates to 1792; North Façade c 1845, other additions and reconstruction after fire—periodic. Cost of original building –approximately $400.

Architect: John Notman (1845 addition) and others for further additions/reconstruction

Style: Various, including Second Empire—Doric/Corinthian columns—late Victorian

Getting there: Once we fell into the city, it was easy to find and get around. Again, we were there on Saturday. So… Also, Amtrak and bus service.

Parking: Saturday parking was “princess parking” right at the front door. On the street parking. No meters. Also, limited free parking in garage located behind the State House and metered street parking during the week.

State Library: open M-F 8:30-5pm

Liberty Bell: Each state and most territories have been gifted at least one replica of the liberty bell. Each bell is numbered. Missouri has 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.

In some states, the replica bells are located inside the building/outside on the grounds of the capitol; 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.

New Jersey’s bell (#24) is located in the Perth Amboy Town Square (City Hall Circle). Thus, we did not see it. Tradition: On Independence Day (July 4th) this bell is rung thirteen times for the original colonies. There ceremonies at 2:00 include the reading of [parts] the Declaration of Independence.  We did see it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/liberty-bell

Cornerstone: Original cornerstone is part of the original foundation which we did not find.

Dome/Rotunda/Dome topper: The dome is gilded with a smaller cupola, also gilded, above it. The rotunda houses the staircase that melds the old and the newer portions of the State House.

Art: As always, a great array of original art. Both the House and Senate have murals painted high close to the ceiling representing history and industry of New Jersey. Stained glass. Bronzes. Painted portraits of governors. Don’t forget the porcelain red oak (more below).



Liberty and Prosperity (State Emblem)



Tours: Guided tours, 10 or more, call for reservations. Since we were the only ones there when the door opened, James gave us a private tour.

Quarter: Washington crossing the Delaware on that fateful Christmas Eve

Entered Union: 3rd

James gave us a limited tour of the great hall, the Senate, the House and the Governor’s reception room. He was a great guide. There are many areas highlighted in their brochure which we did not see. Answered every question I threw at him with no hesitation. (How many governor’s has New Jersey had…he answered 55, but it seems that number should be much higher since the state is so old, but who am I to argue).

Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President, had been both President of Princeton and Governor of New Jersey. 

The neighborhood abounds with well-kept row houses.  There are no grounds of which to speak.



What’s unique:

• New Jersey is very conscious of her counties: The great hall flew the county flags from each of them.

• They are also very proud of their state emblems. (There is no state song). In one portico, there is a porcelain red oak tree with gold finches and honey bees (one of each to represent each county).  The state fruit is the high bush blueberry. Clumbs surround the red oak tree. (There are probably twenty one of these as well). It also has one lady bug to represent the one woman governor they have had. It is protected under unbreakable glass. The entire figure is porcelain. A great creation (in my not so humble opinion)!

The carpeting in one of the Chambers (forgot which one) also highlights state emblems with red oak leaves, gold finches and bumble bees.

• One of their booklets is on Pastimes and Trivia. (A GREAT CIVICS lesson.) Designed for youth, but great fun for adults—trivia pages, crossword puzzle, a maze for the passage of bills, word builders, word search.

• I tend to emphasize the Civil War period of our great American history, but New Jersey is chucked full of War of Independence history (American Revolution), as well. From Jockey Hollow (near Morristown) where Washington’s troops wintered twice to the State House to the capture by Washington of Trenton from the Hessian troops on Christmas Eve. Old Barracks Museum (admission is charged for this). Houses turned museums (most have admission). And the visitors’ center in the old Masonic Lodge room—no admission (somehow we missed this).

• World War II memorial is awesome. Across the street from the State House Building. It has two main panels of pictures emphasizing the European and Pacific Theaters. The emphasis is “Victory”! Beautiful bronzes. Love the soldier. He looks so real!

• This is the first capitol that we not only had to go through metal detectors, but also had to show our ID’s which were recorded in a log. The Coastal cities and states, I guess, generally have to be more vigilant than some of the mid-western states.

• “Little Mac” George McClellan, former United States commanding general during the War Between the States (American Civil War) was a governor of New Jersey later in his life. I found it extremely ironic that his portrait was hung next the bronze of President Abraham Lincoln. McClellan was the Presidential candidate that opposed Lincoln in the 1864 election. I commented on the irony to James, and he got it immediately.

Quarter:


"Washington Crossing the Delaware" which includes George Washington (standing) and James Monroe (holding the flag) Caption: "Crossroads of the Revolution"

Wednesday, September 14, 2011



Number Seventeen—Baton Rouge

State Capitol Drive

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

225-219-1200

Monday-Sunday 8am-4pm

Louisiana Travel.com

Now, that I have my new set up, I need to back track on my life. In March I had the opportunity to go to Louisiana for Grand Chapter. I drove by myself as Steve chose once again to stay home. Overall, it was quite an adventure and will probably cover several postings.

But, since my travels always try to incorporate my pilgrimage of visiting a state capitol of two, I was able to stop at Number 17—Baton Rouge.  The day was overcast and dismal.  My time was limited, however, causing me to miss many of the sites that I would like to have seen, such as Zachary Taylor’s homesite, the state museum (admission fee: $6.00 adults, military/senior disc, under 12 -free), the Governor’s mansion (shown by appointment Tuesday through Thursday…225-342-5855), the old arsenal and pentagon barracks (I did see these briefly from the car).

It was fairly easy to find. Traffic was not a difficult challenge. It rests on the east side near the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. The legislature was not yet in session. Although when I returned to the area a few days later, the legislature was, indeed, in session. Lots of one way streets. Free parking on the grounds was available before the session; paid parking garage, once it started.

Senate: 39

House: 105

Architect: Dreyfuss and Seiferth Weiss

Building Completed: 1932

Style: Art Deco

The Dome/Rotunda: The capitol does not have a true rotunda, but the governor’s mansion does. Instead is the Grand Memorial Hall with a large relief hall encircled by the names of the 64 parishes (Louisiana’s French Catholic heritage gives to this concession of calling them parishes rather than counties as do the other states).

Liberty Bell—Each state has been gifted at least one replica of the liberty bell. Louisiana’s (#39) is in front of the old Arsenal Museum on the Capitol grounds.

Cornerstone—did not locate

Tour: Self Guided. Groups by previous appointment

Book and Stamp: Stamp can be obtained at one of the desks in the main hall. The gift shop does not sell the book.

What’s Unique:

• Exterior granite entrance stair case in two levels. The lower level contains thirteen steps with the original thirteen states carved—one state in each stair--in alphabetical order. The next level contains thirty six stairs for the other of the forty-eight states listed and carved with each state with its date of entry to the Union. These stairs are in order of their entry. The capitol was built before Alaska and Hawaii became states, so the very top stair is theirs jointly.



the bullet grazed pillar



• Former Governor and Senator Huey Long was assassinated in one of its corridors. A bullet grazed a pillar. The hole is still there. This is probably the only capitol which has a section dedicated to an assassination.

• This building was built primarily through the efforts of the aforementioned Huey Long. He is buried on the grounds facing the capitol building

What’s sort of unique:

• This is not a domed capitol, but instead a tower. It is one of only a handful of buildings built in a tower, although many of the older capitols have had to add space for offices, etc. and have built towers to house these. Louisiana brags that it is the tallest state capitol in the US. Nebraska also holds onto their claim of the same. But Louisiana sent architectural engineers to Lincoln. Yep, Baton Rouge holds onto the honor. By a handful of feet. However, Lincoln is higher above sea level than Baton Rouge making them winners in that scale.

• Most of the art is in bronze—from the elevator doors with famous folks from Louisiana embossed therein. Bronze doors lead to the House and Senate Chambers (only the House was open to the public when I was there). These doors, although each weighing a ton, are so balanced/weighted that a single person can open each one. And twice life-size busts and statues of former governors.

• Louisiana flags ruling were many—Spanish, French, USA, Confederate States of America. These are flown from a balcony over Memorial Hall.

Only the House chambers were open to the public.

In the Hall is a bank of elevators. Hop into any one of them. It will take you to the 24th floor where you have to get out and transfer to another elevator that will take you to the 27th floor to the Observation Deck with a panoramic view at 350 feet The view includes the Mississippi River, Capitol rose gardens , Louisiana’s “chemical corridor” and various and sundry other scenes. As the song says, “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.”  The vistas consume many miles.

The gift shop is on this floor, lots of LSU and other local treasures for sale. They do not sell the stamp book, however. I think they should as many people who saw me getting my book stamped were inquiring as to where they could get one.

The azaleas were at their peak.  All the beauty that they extol!

The Sergeants at Arms were a great bunch. They were helpful and friendly.

I enjoyed myself, but I think I like domes capitols better.

6/7/11