There is free three hour
parking near the
Missouri State Capitol
in Jefferson City.
The Capitol overlooks the Missouri River.
Columns grace the front
of the Capitol.
Thomas Jefferson
greets visitors.
The previous State Capitol, on this site, burned to the ground on February 5, 1911. Bonds were issued to pay for construction decoration of a new Capitol. The cornerstone was laid by the Grand Lodge of Missouri AF and AM on June 24, 1915.
Our tour guide, Kelly, told us this interesting story about the Capitol. The construction and decoration fund was larger than expected... about $750,000.00. Governor Sam Baker tried to shift money from the decoration fund to the General Fund. Because of the way the decoration fund was set up, his efforts to shift allocated money to the General Fund was illegal. The decoration funds were used as intended, resulting in a beautifully adorned State Capitol.
This story peaked my interest. I confirmed it with a Missouri State Librarian.
The Rotunda
The Governor's tenacity
in retaining extra funds
is shown in the beautiful
artwork & statuary in
the Capitol.
Decoration Commission members hired artists in Europe to paint canvases that were carefully mounted beneath the Rotunda.
Beautifully painted
arched ceilings.
The Governor's
private office
Lunettes chronicle the
history of Missouri.
Assembling the first
Legislature in Saint
Charles in 1821.
This painting shows a
bridge spanning the
Reclamation of the South
Low lying swamps are
drained for farmland.
The original wallpaper
was found under nine
layers of paint.
Lighter colored paint was selected to cover the walls in this area because it's dimly
lit here.
The walls of the House
Lounge are covered in
a mural by Thomas
Legislators were not pleased
with Benton's depiction of
Missouri & its history.
They wanted to reject the
work & have it covered.
Benton spoke to the
Legislators & told them
that he represented the
good & the bad in
the State's history.
The Legislature put forth
bills to whitewash parts
of the mural & to protect
other parts of it.
A portrait of Missouri's
beloved son....
Samuel Clemons,
aka Mark Twain
The stained glass panels
above the Speaker's Desk
represents peace.
The mural on the back wall
of the chamber is a scene
from World War I.
1940s star Betty Grable
Lloyd's of London insured
her legs for $1 million.
Dancer Ginger Rogers was
frequently partnered
Sacajawea, the only woman
on the Lewis & Clark
Expedition.
She translated for the
group & was an
ambassador to tribes
along the route.
the World's Most
Famous Clown
Baker performed in France
for many years.
She was a courier for the
French Resistance during
U.S. troops to victories
in North Africa & Sicily
during World War II.
came into American living
rooms nightly on the
Our son Adam's favorite
President...
Laura Ingalls Wilder
is known to all for
Little House on the
Prairie & other books
about 19th century
life in the Midwest.
Walt Disney's boundless
imagination gave the world
Mickey Mouse, Bambi, the
weekly Wonderful World of
World & much more...
Composer & Pianist Scott Joplin
is known the King of Ragtime.
After living as a slave in
the free state of Illinois &
the Wisconsin Territory,
Dred Scott fought for his
freedom in the courts,
starting in 1847.
The Supreme Court ruled against Scott in March, 1857, stating that he because he was black, he was not a U.S.citizen and had no right to sue. In essence, private individuals keep slaves in free states and territories, legally disobeying established law. The decision was well received by Southerners. It enraged Northerners and was one of the influences that led to Abraham Lincoln's nomination and presidential election in 1860.
Radio Host Rush Limbaugh
I am not a Ditto Head.
No comments:
Post a Comment