Texas Capitol

The Texas Capitol

The Texas Capitol is a beautiful, iconic building that can be found in the town of Austin, TX. The word "monumental" comes from the Latin word momentum which means to remind or warn and was first used by ancient Romans who built monuments as reminders of their power. This definition perfectly describes our state's capitol, which serves as a reminder of the strength and power of Texans and the Lone Star State.

The Texas Capitol is made of pink-hued limestone and was designed by Elijah E. Myers, who also created many other state capitols including those in Michigan and Ohio as well as a few presidential tombstones such as that of Abraham Lincoln's parents. Originally, it housed all three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial, but after the Civil War and reconstruction, it served as a courthouse for only one of those branches: judicial.

The history of this building is filled with many details from stories about workers who fell to their death during construction to tales that hideaways were created by outlaws such as Bonnie and Clyde or Sam Bass. This monument has been witnessing to many historic events such as the Civil Rights movement and is an amazing story in itself.

The Texas Capitol was built to last, and it has withstood time while still looking remarkably similar today compared to its original design. It's a symbol of our great state that continues to stand strong after all these years serving as a reminder of how powerful we are as Texans.

The Texas Capitol is an iconic building that will continue to be a reminder of the strength and power of our great state for years to come.

The Texas Capitol is important to Texans because it's an iconic building that has stood the test of time and continues to serve as a reminder of our great state.

What to see inside the capitol?

The Texas Capitol is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the largest state capitol in terms of floor area when it opened on May 16, 1888. The building has 29 public floors and four basement levels containing offices and storage rooms, so there are plenty of places for visitors to explore.

One popular attraction inside is the historic Governor's portrait gallery (free and open to the public) which features oil portraits of all 43 Texas Governors. The building has a number of other interesting artworks including sculptures, metalwork, and stained-glass windows; lookout for the famous Skydome painted by Italian artist Giovanni Smeraldi who depicted deities from 22 different religions in his interpretation of Noah's Ark.

In addition to the public tour, visitors can also take a self-guided phone audio tour which offers fascinating facts and stories about many of the historic objects inside.

Finally, make sure you pick up a souvenir from one of three gift shops located in the Capitol if you want something tangible to remember your visit by!