Phoenix, Arizona
Date: November 2012
Building: Classical Ecclectic (?) style. Completed in 1901. Malapai, Granite. Dome: Lead Alloy. Windvane: after Winged Victory of Samothrace. James Riely Gordon, architect.
Trivia: This building is entirely a history museum with all government functions being conducted out of a number of undistinguished office buildings surrounding the original territorial capitol that the state sold and is now leasing back from a private developer. The state seal mosaic in the rotunda floor is prominently missing two of the five "c"s in the motto: citrus and cattle.
Comment: The campus seems barren, but suitable to the Arizona landscape. The surrounding 1960s office buildings are horrible. The placement of monuments around the grounds seems nonsensical. I hope plans for razing the new buildings and redesigning this campus are carried out. (Also, the angle of the sun made getting a selfie impossible...something for the next visit to Phoenix.) This original building seems a little off, but appropriately so, I think.
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Olympia, Washington
Date: September 2012
Trivia: It is the the last state capitol built in a classical architectural style. The self-supporting masonry dome is fourth largest in the world.
Comment: This is really a lovely government complex. The dome is gorgeous but the building itself lacks grace.
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Hartford, Connecticut
Date: August 2012
Building: Eastlake style. Completed 1878. Connecticut Marble and Rhode Island Granite. Dome: Gold Leaf. Richard Upjohn, architect.
Trivia: The only capitol in Eastlake style. Actually one of the biggest buildings anywhere in this high Victorian style. It originally had an enormous statue atop the dome "The Genius of Connecticut" that was damaged in a storm and then melted down for the war effort. A new one was finally cast in 2009 but awaiting funds to be reinstalled.
Comment: It should be stunning, but it's just a little too much.
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Concord, New Hampshire
Date: July 2012
Building: Greek Revival style. Completed 1819. New Hampshire Granite. Dome: Gold Paint. Statue: Eagle. Stuart Park, architect.
Trivia: This is the oldest state capitol in which the legislature meets in its original chambers.
Comment: Perfectly pleasant but forgettable.
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Montpelier, Vermont
Date: July 2012
Building: Greek Revival style, completed 1859. Barre Granite. Dome: Gold Leaf. Statue: Ceres. Thomas Silloway, architect. The Doric portico was salvaged from the 1833 capitol destroyed by fire, architect Ammi Young.
Trivia: Montpelier is the smallest city to serve as a U.S. state capital.
Comment: It is hard to imagine how this gem could be more perfect.
Rating:
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Springfield, Illinois
Date: June 2012
Building: French Renaissance style, completed 1889. Joliet Limestone. Dome: Zinc. Cochrane and Garnsey, architects.
Trivia: Tallest non-skyscraper capitol in the US.
Comment: I know I'm prejudiced but I think the Illinois Statehouse is absolutely lovely, and would be much more highly regarded if it were in a better setting. (I have to apologize for this shot which was taken from a moving Amtrak train. Please use Google to see a better image of this lovely building.)
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