Nature, travel, pets, home renovation, and geekery
My cruise, which started in Venice, arrived in Pula, Croatia today. We started the day visiting an amazingly intact Roman amphitheater. It was gorgeous, and we could just wander around looking at all the details. It is still used as a concert venue. Parts of it have been reconstructed.
I came to Richmond to tour the Virginia state capitol. I took the tour today, and the tour was so bad that as a resident of Virginia, I was actually embarrassed by it. First, the tour lasted a little over an hour, and well beyond half of it was history of the state, not of the actual capitol (with an “o” meaning the building itself). I find it hard to believe that I am the only person who when going for a tour of a capitol or some other building wants a tour of the building and the history of the building, not of the state or people who used to live there. Second, the tour was completely whitewashed. My tour guide did not say the word “slave” once. In her entire hour long recitation of the history of the colony and state of Virginia, she did not think it important to mention slavery once. If she had barely talked about the history of Virginia, I might be more forgiving of that huge gap. Also, I am going to make an educated guess that slaves were involved in building the capitol.
Third, probably because she spent so much time talking about the history of Virginia, she barely had time to talk about the details of the building. She evidently doesn’t show either of the House or Senate chambers, unless the group wants to see one. We all wanted to see one, so she took us to the House chambers. After that I asked if we could see the Senate, she seemed surprise that someone would want to see both. Is it really that surprising that someone who goes on a tour of a state capitol would want to see both chambers, which generally are the most important rooms in the entire building? She said the two chambers look the same, but possibly because others wanted to see it also, she took us to the Senate chamber also. They are not the same. They are very similar, but there are specific differences. The House has green seats and curtains. The Senate has red seats and curtains. I have visited enough state capitols to make an educated guess that that is based on the British Parliament lower and upper house. [See the California State Capitol and Colorado State Capitol among others.] However I have to guess because the tour guide didn’t bother to point it out. Considering she said they are exactly the same, perhaps she did not even realize it. Further, when we were in the Senate chamber, I asked her about some symbol on the ceiling [see below photo] that I had also noticed in the House. She did at least partially explain what it was, but considering how capitols are generally full of symbolism, I found it bizarre that she didn’t talk about it to initially. Also, she never mentioned that there is place near the stair landing a floor above where we were, where they have clear plastic covering a portion of the interior of the building [see photo below]. Even if she was not going to take us there, she could have mentioned it as something we might want to go see. I discovered it by accident while wandering around after the official tour.
Fourth, perhaps this is a dumb complaint, but one of the reasons I take guided tours of the capitols is because generally the tour guides are fantastic, knowledgable, and can tell you all these details you can’t get by just wandering around. In the rotunda, to the side of the dome, the state seal is painted on the ceiling. Only it is not the official seal. The state seal of Virginia, which among other places is on the flag not to mention numerous places in the capitol, features the goddess Virtue, and one of her breasts, including the nipple is showing. The seal on ceiling has both of Virtue’s breasts covered. I noticed this immediately that it looked wrong. I asked the guide during the tour if that painted version was because of the former Attorney General Cuccinelli who made national news when he changed the seal to cover up Virtue’s breast on things in his office. She said no that is the official seal. After the tour, I showed her an up close photo to point out the difference, and I am not sure she even realized that the painted version differs from the version on the flag and on the floor next to the tour guide desk. She had no explanation for the difference and didn’t seem to be interested in a visitor pointing out to her there is a difference. She said that painting has been there for years. So maybe that version has nothing to do with a recent politician, but why is it different? I am very curious. Also of note, when I told to her after, there was a security guard right there, and he was really interested and wanted to look at my photo. Thus at least one other person finds it interesting that the painted seal is different. I am curious about how old the rotunda painting is and the history of the version of the seal. Internet searches are only giving me the version on the flag.
My complaints are not just about this particular guide. I am quite frankly dumbfounded that a normal tour does not allow a visitor to see both chambers. You can’t get into the chambers at all without a guide. In most of the state capitols I have been to so far, you can just wander in to at least the viewing gallery. In Virginia, that is not possible. As a resident of Virginia this strikes me as wrong. It is supposed to be the people’s house, so let the people see it.
Every year the National Building Museum has a fun exhibit that takes up most of the atrium of their building. This year it is Lawn. They essentially built a giant sloping lawn on scaffolding, complete with hammocks, chairs, and lawn games. They made the building’s fountain part of the exhibit. They also piped in a summer soundtrack of noises like kids playing and lawn mower. I am not sure how I feel about the noises, especially the sound of a swarm of mosquitoes. However, it is a nice place to just chill out, and children clearly love it, especially the rolling down the slope part.
This year, they had tours of the exhibit discussing how it was built. Of course I had to go to that. We were able to go under the exhibit, which was rather cool. The structure is a giant scaffolding set that supports the lawn and observation tower. The structure is entirely self supporting. It is not supported by the building, except the floor of course. They also have hammocks that hang from the roof trusses. The hammocks are anchored to the lawn though, otherwise goodness how far people would try to swing them.
I am continuing on my quest to see all the state capitols, and today was the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg. It is gorgeous. Harrisburg is the third city to serve as the capital, and the current capitol is the third building in Harrisburg to serve that purpose. So I guess they had several chances to get it right. When the current building was dedicated, President Theodore Roosevelt said it was”the handsomest building” he ever saw. This capitol has everything: stained glass, paintings every where, tile, columns, and gold leaf galore. The rotunda was inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, and the steps and balconies with the rotunda were inspired by the Paris Opera House, so that says a lot about the design.
Amazingly I lived in Colorado for four years while in college and never once went inside the state capitol. I finally changed that today. Although while taking the tour, I learned that the capitol has been renovated and restored since I was in college, so I was able to see a much nicer looking building than I would have seen back then. The capitol is lovely, and if you are able to visit, take the tour because you can go up into the dome and onto an observation balcony but only on the tour. Similar to capitols, the House of Representatives is decorated in green like the UK House of Commons, while the Senate is decorated in red like the House of Lords. Much of the stone in the building is from quarries in the state, including a gorgeous red onyx. There is a lot of brass that appears to need constant polishing. My favorite feature of the building is Mr. Brown’s Attic, where there are windows to allow you to see much of the superstructure, including vaulted ceiling of the two chambers.
Colorado State Capitol
Interior space
Ground floor
The rotunda
Inside the rotunda looking up to the dome
Representatives chamber
Senate chamber
Brass elevator
Red onyx and brass decorate much of the building
Stairwell with brass decorations
Inside the dome
Window in Mr. Brown’s Attic of the exterior of one of the chamber’s vaulted ceiling
View from the dome’s balcony
I am continuing in my quest to visit all the state capitols, and I am in Sacramento this weekend, so I got to add California to my list. The history of the building is rather interesting in that they started building it in 1860, but mainly due to lack of funds, it was not finished for 14 years. In 1906, much modernization was done to the building including electricity and central heat and air. [I was unclear when the indoor plumbing came.] Additions and other renovations were done after that. Some of those renovations sounded like they were more “renovations” that probably sounded good to some at the time, but now most of us at least, and cringe at what was done. Then in 1975, they pretty much completely rebuilt the capitol. The shell of the building stayed, but the interior was completely torn down and built back up again. They did a lovely job of rebuilding. The building is gorgeous with wonderful wooden staircases, gilded and painted ceilings and walls, tile floors, and plenty of little touches you just have to explore to find. The state seal can be found in all sorts of places, and many other symbols are subtly placed around the building. There are bears everywhere, including coming out of staircase railing columns. They also restored several rooms on the first floor to their 1906 appearance, so parts of the capitol are a historical museum.
California State Capitol
Rotunda
Rotunda
Rotunda
The senate chamber is decorated with a lot of pink, which is supposed to reflect the color of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords.
Senate chamber
Senate chamber
The assembly chamber is decorated with a lot of green, which is supposed to reflect the color of the United Kingdom’s House of Commons.
Assembly chamber
Assembly chamber ceiling
In one of the panels of the assembly’s ceiling, is a grotesque of man’s head and his two hands. It is difficult to see unless you are looking for it, preferably with the help of a tour guide with a laser pointer. It is in a panel with a ring of (what I assume are) prickly pears with yellow flowers. Based on what my tour guide said and my internet searches, it doesn’t seem like the origins and true meaning of the grotesque are clear, but a chubby cheeked man with his hands up in a room where politicians work kind of gives me easy ideas.
Assembly chamber ceiling grotesque
Elevator
Wooden staircases with intricate metal lamps
Wooden staircase
Stained glass ceiling light
1906 Governor’s office
Bear guarding the governor’s office
Every summer, the National Building Museum has its summer block party, as they call it, with some sort of fun structure inside their grand atrium. Past block parties have included The Maze, The Beach, Hive, and Icebergs. This year is Fun House, which was created by Snarkitecture, as a compilation of other creations of theirs. The Beach was one of their creations. Fun House is a house of sorts with a series of room and “yard” structures, each of which feature a different type setting and interactive pieces. I really don’t know how to describe it other than that. I have thus given the areas and rooms various descriptive names to try to describe the structure. So let me take you though Fun House.
In the front yard, are a series of cushion type benches that spell out “FUN HOUSE”.
Front yard
Fun House itself looks like a house of sorts with a partial ceiling and partial wall. It is made out of lumber, I think, and the front is made out of, or covered in, a polymer-foam type material (similar to styrofoam).
View of front of Fun House
Front and side of Fun House
The front entrance is more of a tunnel dug out of the foam structure.
Front entrance
From the front entrance, you can walk straight into the front hall, which has white sneaker-looking like pieces hanging from the ceiling.
Hallway ceiling
From the front entrance, you can also turn into a cave-looking like area dug out of the foam building material.
Dig room [with random child for scale]
Fabric strip room to dig room
Fabric strip room
Ceiling of fabric strip room
The fabric strip room then leads to living room, which features rather impractical furniture.
Living room
Living room
The living room then leads to an open room with examples of Snarkitecture’s work. This room then leads to the bathroom. The bathroom features a closet door that opens to a shower of sorts which has an air blower blowing tiny pieces of tissue into a sealed area.
Shower
The bathroom also features a tub of plastic balls, which is called the Beach Chair, as it features balls from The Beach. It also has clothes and towels that match the tile wall.
Bathtub
The bathroom then leads to a room featuring the largest marble chase structure I have ever seen.
Marble run
The back porch is a bunch of square cushions, which children happily find new arrangements for, and a roof of giant air filled tubes.
Back porch
Back porch
Behind the house is a tunnel of sorts that plays with perspective by having the floor slope up and roof slope down.
Backyard
Backyard
Behind the tunnel like structure is the pool and small kids’ pool, which are small versions of The Beach.
Pool
Pool
The upper levels provides a better views of all the structures.
Looking down on pool
Looking down on pool and back of Fun House
Looking down on side of Fun House
Looking down on side of Fun House
I’m continuing my quest to see all the state capitol buildings. I am in Maine, so I detoured through Augusta to add Maine to the list. Maine’s state house is one of the least opulent I have seen. The tour guide even mentioned that it was not gilded, as that is not Maine’s way, and they were also not given the budget for it. Thus, there is lovely architecture and some marble tile floors, but no gold leaf, marble columns, or bronze this or that everywhere. There is a complete lack of painted murals. The building has clearly been renovated, but in a respectful manner to the original architecture. My favorite feature of the building is the second floor balcony which looks out to a large park and has rocking chairs on it.
Exterior view of front of capitol
Stairwell from center of building
Fireplace
Capitol dome
House chamber
House chamber
Senate chamber
Senate chamber ceiling
View from front balcony
Rocking chairs on balcony
Elevator
When I travel to a new city, I like to just wander around taking photos. I am in Providence, so that is what I did. Providence is like a lot of old U.S. cities with old historic buildings mixed in with new buildings. I like old cities that preserve at least some of those old buildings. Providence has done that. It also has lots of river walk type areas, which makes for pleasant wandering.
One of many river walk areas
Historic buildings line downtown streets
Providence City Hall
Narrow cobblestone streets
Old but renovated building
Performing arts center
Riverwalk area
State seal is on all bridges in some form
Riverwalk “pool” area
Old train station converted to new use
Looking down the Providence River
Providence River, looking upstream to the city
I visited the Rhode Island State Capitol today. One of my many travel goals is to visit all the state capitols. Like most states, Rhode Island has a lovely state capitol. I learned quite a bit on the tour I took. First trivia I learned is the official name of Rhode Island is actually the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Tiny state. Big name. Second thing I learned was that the present capitol was finished in 1904. There were several state houses before that, and for some time, the state legislature had no house and met sometimes in people’s houses. I can’t imagine having the entire house of representatives meet in an actual person’s house.
I digress. The capitol is beautiful and for the most part what you expect. It has the 5th largest marble dome in the world. [More trivia for you.] Lots of marble, brass, and painting. Not the fanciest one I have seen. It has lots of anchors to compete with Massachusetts’s fish everywhere. However, Rhode Island definitely wins bonus points for the motto in the women’s restroom. Photo below. I have no idea what is in the men’s restroom.
Finally see my next post. They have a cannon from Gettysburg at the entrance, and there is a really great story about it. So great, I am going to give it its own post.
Rhode Island State Capitol
Center dome
Center dome
Under the center dome
State house library. Ceiling decorations are meant to look like old book covers with printer’s seals.
Senate Chamber
House of Representatives chamber
Elevator door
Motto painted on wall of the women’s restroom
Original state charter from King Charles II of England