Trip to the Capitol

Bonnie LarsonUncategorized

I traveled with the sixth graders to tour the state capitol yesterday.

It was AWESOME!

(And why I didn’t get a picture of the building’s gold dome is beyond me.)

Oh wait. I found one on the internet.

And while the outside of the building is quite remarkable, it was the inside that blew me away.

And pictures can’t even begin to describe how beautiful this building is. I mean the woodwork and marblework were indescribable.


Everywhere we turned there was more elaborate design and architecture.



See this vault? We were such a small group, we got to go inside. It was three stories high. Plus, some disgruntled (or forgetful) employee some years back wrote the combination on the front of the door. That was a Fun Fact for the day.


Everywhere we turned there was more woodwork and marble.


And one more thing that blew me away was all the exquisite wall paper. BUT WAIT! That’s not wall paper at all! In fact, there is not a scrap of wall paper in the building. Everything you see on the walls and ceilings is 100% hand painted. In fact, the state employs two full-time painters whose job is to restore and repair any damaged surfaces. We got to meet them. They were pretty nice. And very talented.


This picture is taken looking up towards the inside of the golden dome. It was amazing.   And you see those maroon marble pillars beside the windows way up high? We went up there.

That’s Matt looking over the railing. I nearly wet my pants.

“You’re leaning over way too far!!”

“Boys! No rough-housing!”

But, I was on the other side of the rotunda cowering against the wall and I was not able to communicate with them the fear and trepidation they should be experiencing from being up so high. Hmmm, perhaps that’s why they had no fear and trepidation…

Here is one picture I took from way up high, but I obviously wasn’t about to stick my head over the railing to get a shot, so I merely stuck my arm over the railing and pointed my camera down. And you can see the level below us, and in the very lower-right corner you can see that there is another level below that, in which, if I were brave, you could see from above as well.

We had a remarkable trip and I am so glad I was able to go.

Even the ride up and back with a carload of boys was fun.

I forgot just how much excitement goes on in junior high. For example, a couple (who had started “going out” before we left the school) inexplicitly broke up on the way up the stairs to the Whispering Gallery. What are the odds.

And I forgot how big a kick these guys get out of bodily noises. I’m pretty sure someone passed gas every 10 miles. Or at least they were accused of it.

And the stop at the convenience store as we left Des Moines may not have been a good idea. They hit their sugar high about 10 miles south of the city and it was just starting to wear off about 10 miles from home.

But all in all, it was a fabulous day. I’d volunteer to go with them again in a heartbeat.

Hope you have a great day, and if you ever get the chance to visit the state capitol-go for it!