Touring the Montana State Capitol in Helena

The Montana State Capitol
has impressive grounds.







Helena and Anaconda vied to become Montana's Capitol.  In a hotly contested election, Helena won. Architects  Charles E. Bell and John H. Kent's design was chosen for the building. Construction on the Capitol started in 1899.  On July 4, 1902, it was open for business.  

My eye is  drawn  to the painted

details & stenciling.

The tile work replicates
a rug.

Wilbur Fisk Sanders, a co-founder

of the Montana Historical Society &

 one of Montana's first US Senators.

Eric stands next to the statue
of Jeannette Rankin,the first
woman to serve in the
US House of Representatives.

The Governor's Office

The Rotunda

The grand staircase

Driving the Golden Spike, painted
by Amedee Joullin was given to
the people of Montana by the
Northern Pacific Railroad.

Mike Mansfield served Montana in

the US House of Representatives,

US Senate & as Ambassador to Japan.

He insisted that any memorial

to him include his wife, Maureen.

Montana's replica of the

Liberty Bell.

 

The Senate Chamber is

resplendent. 

This bas relief depicts the

Corps of Discovery loading

their pirogues (wooden canoes)  

in the Missouri Breaks area.

The House of Representatives

This Charles M. Russell painting details Lewis and Clark meeting Flathead Indians at Ross' Hole on September 4, 1805.

The Assembly Members
desks & the public galleries.







The legislative chambers are in the same wing of the Montana State Capitol.  Other capitols I've visited place the Senate and House of Representatives in opposite wings of the building.
 
The Montana State Capitol is very beautiful  The skylights and large windows provide natural lighting that shows off the building's architecture and art.