Harrisburg – Geeky Girl Engineer

I came to Harrisburg to see the Pennsylvania State Capitol, but while I am here, I spent some time exploring. Harrisburg is one of those old cities where downtown is a mix of historic and modern buildings. Some of the historic buildings have been preserved; some need some preservation. It is a mostly walkable city though. There is a nice riverwalk, at least part of it is close to the water level next to the levee, and another parallel part of it is on top the levee.

One place that I really enjoyed walking to is City Island, which can be accessed on foot by the Walnut Street Bridge, a pedestrian and bicycle only bridge, that connects downtown to the island in the Susquehanna River. From City Island, I took a ride on the Pride of the Susquehanna riverboat that takes a short cruise up the river. By the time the river gets to Harrisburg, it is about a mile wide, but it averages only about 3.5 feet deep. On the cruise, I saw some people standing in the middle of the river, which only went to their waist, next to their pontoon boat.

View of the state capitol and downtown from City Island

Market Street Bridge with more southern bridges in the background

McCormick Riverfront Library, Founded in 1889 as The Harrisburg Public Library, now part of the Dauphin County Library System

Storm approaching the Susquehanna River from the west

Churches line State Street, a block from the Capitol

Susquehanna River with numerous bridges to the left, the first one is the Walnut Street Bridge

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.