House Chamber
The Missouri state capitol in Jefferson City is the fourth iteration of the capitol in the state. The first one (which still stands) is in St. Charles, just outside of St. Louis. The second and third were in Jefferson City -- the second on the site of the current governor's mansion, the third on the site of the current capitol -- and both burned.
This building was constructed by raising $4.5 million in bonds, then only used $3.5 million to built. Instead of putting the $1 million in a perpetuity fund for future improvements, they decorated the heck out of it with art, in many cases by folks who never set foot in the building or city. (An exception to this is the House Lounge, which has plenty of tempura paintings by Thomas Hart Benson.)
It's also the site of the Missouri State Museum (so-so, as far as state museums go, though they currently have a nice "Missouri in WWI" exhibit).
They also have a "Hall of Fame" area with busts of famous Missourians or folks who meant a lot to Missouri. (Some are pictured here.)
This is my second time seeing this capitol. My first impression (in 1998 or so) is that it was a nice capitol in a nice setting. Unfortunately, it's now currently wrapped in shrink wrap, undergoing a $50 million (exterior only) restoration. (Perhaps that cost could've been offset had the initial $1 million excess been invested somehow.)
What this meant for me, visually, is a lot of exterior shots that are much more disappointing than they would have otherwise been, and interior shots (which I didn't get 20 years ago).
House Chamber
The Missouri state capitol in Jefferson City is the fourth iteration of the capitol in the state. The first one (which still stands) is in St. Charles, just outside of St. Louis. The second and third were in Jefferson City -- the second on the site of the current governor's mansion, the third on the site of the current capitol -- and both burned.
This building was constructed by raising $4.5 million in bonds, then only used $3.5 million to built. Instead of putting the $1 million in a perpetuity fund for future improvements, they decorated the heck out of it with art, in many cases by folks who never set foot in the building or city. (An exception to this is the House Lounge, which has plenty of tempura paintings by Thomas Hart Benson.)
It's also the site of the Missouri State Museum (so-so, as far as state museums go, though they currently have a nice "Missouri in WWI" exhibit).
They also have a "Hall of Fame" area with busts of famous Missourians or folks who meant a lot to Missouri. (Some are pictured here.)
This is my second time seeing this capitol. My first impression (in 1998 or so) is that it was a nice capitol in a nice setting. Unfortunately, it's now currently wrapped in shrink wrap, undergoing a $50 million (exterior only) restoration. (Perhaps that cost could've been offset had the initial $1 million excess been invested somehow.)
What this meant for me, visually, is a lot of exterior shots that are much more disappointing than they would have otherwise been, and interior shots (which I didn't get 20 years ago).