The State Capitol of Texas

Today, we went to state capitol. We tried taking the tour, but the kids wouldn't have it. We walked around and checked things out ourselves.


The capitol building itself is HUGE. Here are two shots, the top is the building... You can see the family on the steps... the second is zoomed in.


Here are Matt, Brandon, and Sarah heading into the building and Emily by the front sign.




There were also these really neat hinges on the doors. Everything was very detailed. Lots of carved wood, etched windows, and marble floors. When the building was built, they traded Texas land to the builder in exchange for the fine details.


Here is a picture of the view up at the dome. The star at the top is eight feet across.

Here is the floor from the third level.

The legislature is on the second floor and here is the family in the State Senate.


Outside on the grounds, they had cannons, other statues, and artesian water fountains.

There are natural springs underground in Austin and there is so much pressure that it bubbles up to the surface.

We had lunch at the capitol commissary and then headed to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. This museum told the history of Texas. It was interesting, but the kids were "done" with museums...

Here is my only "illegal" shot. Brandon wanted his picture in front of the conquistador and then a security guy told me that cameras were not allowed... oops.