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Texas, the land of cowboys, country music, and barbecue is not only the second largest state in the United States, but it is also home to thousands of years of American history, which have shaped the country into what it is today. Austin, the capital of the state, is home for the Texas Capitol, which is a very important building for government operations.
The history behind the building
The Texas Capitol is recognized nationally, as it is the largest in gross square footage of all state capitols. During the 1830’s a small log cabin served as the Capitol building. Later on, a Limestone Capitol, designed by the architect Elijah E. Myers, was constructed in a public land of 3 million acres. 28 years later, the building caught fire because of a failure in the building’s gas pipelines. In May, 1888, over 20,000 people attended the celebrations dedicated to the new Capitol. Today, it is open for visitors to take a tour and see the exhibits.
Operations in the building
The capitol nowadays is the main headquarter for governmental operations. The three different branches that make up the U.S federal republic work in this building in order to fulfill their objectives, as it houses the meeting chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate. This building carries out legislative sessions and trials of criminal appeals in the courtroom.
The architecture of the building
The building has significant spaces based on their history and architecture, which remain with their original appearance, decoration, artwork and furniture. The Senate Chamber holds original walnut desks, podium and two central brass chandeliers. The House of Representatives Chamber is the largest room in the Capitol. Other key areas are the Capitol Rotunda, which shows the inside of the beautiful dome; the Texas Supreme Court and the Secretary of State’s office.
The Visitors Center
The Capitol Visitors Center is located on the southeast corner of the 1856 General Land Office Building. It is the oldest state office building in Texas, and has the purpose of educating visitors about the history of the state through a series of interactive exhibits, theatres, travel information and a gift shop. The admission is free and inside you’ll find astonishing exhibits, such as the Capitol’s unique double dome construction.
The Capitol is an impressive construction, in case you stop by Austin, don’t doubt in visiting the building that holds Texas’ most important political and historical treasures.
The Lone Star State