Texas State Capitol
Austin, Texas
Italian Renaissance Revival
- 15th century Italian style
- pink ("sunset red") granite walls
- classical orders, round arches, symmetrical composition
- Goddess of Liberty statue on central dome
- cast iron columns + beams
The Second Largest State Capitol Building in the Country
- 392 rooms
- 924 windows
- 404 doors
- 360,000 square feet of space
Who? When?
The Texas State Capitol was designed by Detroit architect Elijah E. Myers, who won a nationwide competition to design the building in 1881. The building was actually completed in 1888.
The Cost
The building is worth about $3.7 million. It took over 1,000 people, including experienced stone cutters from Scotland, to complete over a course of 7 years.
Importance
The Texas State Capitol building stands as a symbol of the legendary spirit of Texas. It's also the seat of government- the place where politicians go to enact laws for the state.
Image Attributions
- Texas State Capitol by LoneStarMike used with permission of a Creative Common's license.
- The dome lantern of the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas. The capitol is topped by the statue Goddess of Liberty. by Niagara used with permission of a Creative Common's license.
- Texas State Capitol, Austin TX by Stuart Seeger used with permission of a Creative Common's license.
- Underside of the Texas State Capitol Dome by Sankenbruck used with permission of a Creative Common's license.
- Photograph of Elijah E. Myers by unknown. Image is available for use in the public domain.
- Flag of Texas by unknown. Image is available for use in the public domain.
- Texas State Capitol: North side by night by Kumar Appaiah used with permission of a Creative Common's license.