Texas Capitol
The Texas Capitol is more than just a lobby. It has been the home of our state government for over 150 years, and it's truly one of the most beautiful buildings in Austin. The building was designed by Elijah E. Myers, who also designed many other historic buildings like City Hall in Detroit and Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco.
Built on what used to be a hill called Pemberton Hill, the capitol is surrounded by acres and acres of beautifully maintained gardens with fountains and statues. There are even several bronze sculptures depicting scenes from Texas history scattered throughout the grounds.
History of the Texas Capitol
The Texas Capitol was completed in 1888, and it was the largest state capitol in the country at that time. The building is made from Texas pink granite, and it's full of beautiful details like stained glass windows and carved marble pillars. The dome of the Capitol is also covered in real gold, which gives it a majestic look when the sun shines on it.
The Capitol is a great place to visit not only because it's beautiful, but also because you can learn so much about Texas history.
Goddess of Liberty
A four-piece bronze statue, known as the "Goddess of Liberty" is located on top of the dome and weighs approximately 19,000 pounds. The Statue features a woman holding aloft a star-studded banner with both hands; she wears sandals on her feet and laurel leaves adorn her head. The Statue, which is shown on both the state seal and flag of Texas, was sculpted by an artist named Herring.
The Goddess's Torch has been extinguished more than once in its history because it posed a threat to Austin residents below. Several versions as to what happened caused this specific incident but some say that there were storms in the area and lightning hit the torch, while others say that vandals poured oil on it. In any case, it's been re-lit each time!
Historical moments
The Capitol has also been home to some famous historical moments. For example, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, he did so at the Capitol building., Other historical moments for the capitol are too many to list, but they include the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence and statehood.
The Capitol is a beautiful building with a rich history, and it's worth a visit if you're in Austin!
The Texas capitol is located at 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701, United States. You can also visit their website at http://www.tspb.texas.gov/prop/tc/tc/capitol.html or call +15124634630 to get more information.