Pennsylvania State Capitol
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The State Capitol of Pennsylvania, located in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is the seat of government of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was built in the classic Renaissance style and designed by architect Joseph M. Huston. The Capitol houses the Pennsylvania General Assembly and chambers for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (which also has chambers in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia), as well as the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and other state officials.
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[edit] History
Since its construction in 1906, the Capitol has remained a "palace of art" as envisioned by its creator, architect Joseph M. Huston. Over the years, however, the Capitol has seen many changes and improvements, along with the normal wear and tear from its thousands of annual visitors. In 1982, the state Legislature created a committee to oversee restoration and preserve the historic integrity of the building along with its historic contents. Since then, the Capitol Preservation Committee has restored and preserved many areas and artifacts within the building, and continues ongoing efforts so that future generations can enjoy the splendor of the Capitol.
On October 4, 1906 Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker dedicated new State Capitol Building and President Theodore Roosevelt was the orator of the day. Following a tour of the new building, Roosevelt complimented the Governor on this monumental project. A crowd of more than 50,000 people came on special Pennsylvania Railroad excursion trains to Harrisburg to hear President Roosevelt dedicate the building. His actual words differ according to different newspaper accounts: The Harrisburg Star Independent (October 5, 1906) claimed Roosevelt declared it to be the "most handsome state Capitol I have ever seen and I don't believe that there is a finer on earth," while the Harrisburg Patriot News (same date) reported that he simply claimed it to be "the handsomest building I ever saw." Whatever the case, President Roosevelt was impressed. Built and furnished at a cost of $13 million, Pennsylvania's Capitol was designed by architect Joseph M. Huston in the classic Renaissance style, making it a timeless architectural treasure.
Dedication Day in 1906 was indeed a memorable event. Never before had Harrisburg seen such bustling streets. This was a time before citizens could view the ceremony on television or even hear it over radio waves. Everyone wanted to see the new Capitol and to hear the popular president first-hand. Special trolley cars and trains were all headed toward Harrisburg. Although it was a rainy autumn day, the weather did not dampen spirits and citizens turned out in throngs for the festivities, all impressed with the magnificent edifice. The state Capitol building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
[edit] Description
The state Capitol was architecturally inspired by St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and many consider it the pinnacle of the Commonwealth as the finest state capitol building in the United States. The brilliantly restored rotunda and Senate and House of Representatives Chambers are particularly exquisite spaces adorned with marble, murals, gold leaf and stained glass.
In Huston's original concept of the Capitol, he strove to unite architecture, sculpture and painting into an interpretation of Pennsylvania's rich industrial, economic and social heritage. While the overall structure is unified in design, different Renaissance styles are featured in the Capitol's public rooms. The House chamber is Italian in design, the Senate chamber is inspired by French styles, and the décor in the Governor's reception room is based upon English design. The Capitol's five-story exterior is faced with handsome Vermont granite and the elegant dome is composed of green glazed terra cotta tile.
The building is adorned with sculpture, most notably the two groups, Love and Labor, the Unbroken Law and The Burden of Life, the Broken Law by sculptor George Grey Barnard, murals by Violet Oakley and Edwin Austin Abbey and a magnificent tile floor by Henry Mercer which tells the story of the state of Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg serves as an icon of the State, representing history, government, and the richness of its "common wealth." The Commonwealth is preparing for the Capitol's Centennial Celebration in 2006.
[edit] Structure facts
- Architectural Style: Beaux Arts / American Renaissance
- Structure Type: highrise, dome (5 story front facade)
- Construction Dates: Started 1901, Finished 1906
- Height: 272 feet (82.9 m)
- Floor Area: 715,150.91 ft² (217,978 m²)
- Address: North & Commonwealth Streets, Harrisburg, PA
[edit] Location
The Pennsylvania State Capitol is located on the grounds of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex in downtown Harrisburg. The block it sits on is bordered by West Third Street on the west-southwest, North Street on the north-northwest, Commonwealth Avenue on the east-northeast, and Walnut Street to the south-southeast. The building can be seen from I-83, though the high-rise office buildings of downtown have blocked much of the view east of the Susquehanna River.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Celebration of a Century - Centennial Celebration of the Pennsylvania State Capitol (2005). cpc.state.pa.us. December 29, 2005.
- History of the Pennsylvania Capitol
[edit] External links
- Capitol Preservation Committee (Pennsylvania)
- Pennsylvania State Capitol tours
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth
