Pennsylvania State Capitol: Floor to Dome Opulence

Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the Pennsylvania State Capitol was “The handsomest Capitol I ever saw” when he dedicated the building in 1906. And that was before 21 years of art installations. Over a hundred years later, I share Roosevelt’s opinion. The Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg is an extraordinary piece of art, from floor to dome.

Pennsylvania State Capitol

Pennsylvania State Capitol history

Harrisburg is actually Pennsylvania’s third state capital, and the building is the third on the current site. The state government began, not surprising, in Philadelphia at Independence Hall. It moved to Lancaster in 1799, and then to Harrisburg in 1812,

The first capitol building in Harrisburg burned down. A young boy who was cleaning out the fireplace dropped embers between the floorboards. The embers caught the dust and joists on fire. By the time the fire was discovered, it was too late to control.

The government budgeted $550,000 to replace the building. Before that was even finished, they decided they didn’t like it. They held a contest for the design of yet another building. Joseph Miller Huston won the contest and was given a $13 million budget.

This building was constructed around the existing unfinished building while government business continued inside. It took four years to build and another 21 years to add the art, marble and wood work.

Opulence

From the sweeping Carrara marble staircase inspired by the staircase at the Paris Opera to the 272-foot high, 52 million pound dome modeled after the dome in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and 23 karat gold trim, the capitol’s rotunda is jaw-dropping beautiful.

Pennsylvania State Capitol rotunda staircase

Pennsylvania State Capitol Staircase 2

Pennsylvania State Capitol rotunda dome

Cast bronze lights, weighing about a ton each, are original electric lights dating back to the building’s 1906 opening. Back then they had only 25-watt bulbs, and the diamond-shape hand-cut crystal in the lamps reflected a brighter light.

Pennsylvania State Capitol rotunda lights

The rotunda floor is laid of Moravian mosaic tiles made by the Mercer Tileworks in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The mosaics represent early modes of transportation, insects and wildlife of Pennsylvania. There is also a plaque where Teddy Roosevelt stood when he dedicated the building.

Moravian Mosaic in Pennsylvania State Capitol

Theodore Roosevelt plaque

The opulence continues throughout the House Chamber, the Senate Chamber and Supreme Court. Murals and stained glass created by Philadelphia artists William Brantley Van Ingen and Edwin Austin Abbey cover the walls.

Pennsylvania State Capitol 2

Pennsylvania State Capitol 3

Pennsylvania State Capitol 4

Pennsylvania State Capitol 5

Your tour guide will point out the different paintings and what each of them depicts. For instance, “The Apotheosis,” the 35-square-foot mural in the House Chamber depicts the Genius of States watching over important figures in Pennsylvania history, including William Penn, Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Boone, and Abraham Lincoln.

Pennsylvania State Capitol House Chamber

Another artist, Violet Oakley, broke ground as the first American woman to receive a public mural commission. She was commissioned to paint 43 murals in the building, including all of the paintings in the Supreme Court.

Pennsylvania State Capitol Supreme Court

Pennsylvania State Capitol Supreme Court room

One painting, titled “Divine Law,” includes a sort of word search. A close look reveals the words “love,” “law,” and “wisdom.”

Painting in Pennsylvania State Capitol Supreme Court room

Clocks

I noticed a grandfather clock in the Supreme Court room with the glass cut in the shape of a keystone. Pennsylvania is known as the “Keystone State.” The clock is one of 150 in the building. A gentleman hand winds all of the clocks. It takes him two days, and he walks 12 to 13 miles to get to all of them.

Keystone clock

Pennsylvania Government at Work

Besides marveling at the breathtaking beauty of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, you can watch the state legislature at work. The galleries in both the House of Representatives and the Senate are open to the public. Session is typically on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Tours don’t go into the Supreme Court area because it would be too disruptive, but the public can sit in on those sessions, as well.

Welcome Center

Following the tour we stopped at the Welcome Center, located in the East Wing. The Welcome Center is a sort of mini hands-on museum with exhibits explaining the people and events of Pennsylvania history. One interactive exhibit tests your knowledge on Pennsylvania state symbols.

Pennsylvania State Capitol Welcome Center

The East Wing was added on to the building in 1987. Besides the Welcome Center, the East Wing includes the legislative offices, a gift shop and a restaurant.

Taking the Pennsylvania State Capitol tour

The Pennsylvania State Capitol is located at 501 N 3rd Street in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Free guided tours are offered Monday through Friday, every half hour from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends and most holidays at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Check the website for further details.

Accommodations: My accommodations during my Pennsylvania visit were at the Red Umbrella Bed and Breakfast in Grantville, Pennsylvania.
Find the best hotel deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor.

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Disclosures: Visit Hershey & Harrisburg hosted my visit to Harrisburg. However, any opinions expressed in this article are my own.
This article contains an affiliate link. If you book a room through the TripAdvisor link above, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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6 thoughts on “Pennsylvania State Capitol: Floor to Dome Opulence

  • November 13, 2016 at 7:40 am
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    This looks like an amazing state capitol building. The stained glass is stunning and loaded with all sorts of color. It’s fun to see that they have a hands on experience, as well.

    Reply
    • November 13, 2016 at 8:37 am
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      The Pennsylvania State Capitol is known as one of the most beautiful state capitols in the country, Sara, and by far the most ornate I have ever seen.

      Reply
  • November 18, 2016 at 12:07 pm
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    This is beautiful. We are traveling through Harrisburg over the holidays and hopefully we can make time to stop there. I would love to see this in person!

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    • November 18, 2016 at 2:02 pm
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      I hope you can make it there, Kristen. There is no way that photos do the beautiful capitol justice. You have to see it in person.

      Reply
  • November 27, 2016 at 8:58 pm
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    We seem to have had similar experiences at the Pennsylvania State Capital for similar reasons. I also wrote about it on my own blog, and very much enjoyed reading your take. It truly is an amazing place!

    Reply
    • December 3, 2016 at 3:53 pm
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      I just read your article about the Pennsylvania State Capitol and enjoyed it. We obviously were wowed by the same things on our very similar tours with the same great tour guide. The building is really awesome, in the true sense of the word.

      Reply

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