Kansas State Capitol Building
Kansas State Capitol Building
Location: Downtown, Topeka
Contact: Ph. 785/296-3966
Images Copyright Harland J Schuster, Please do not use without permission.
Completed
in 1903, the Kansas State Capitol Building took 37 years to build
at a cost of $3.2 million. Today, that figure would not even buy the
marble floor. It's dome slightly surpasses the nation's Capitol at 304
feet in height. The building was placed on the National Historic Register
in 1971.
After more than a century, the building's dome finally looks finished. Original plans called for a sculpture to top the dome, but for various reasons, nothing was ever done. This changed in the fall of 2002 with the placement of Richard Bergen's 22 foot tall bronze sculpture, "Ad Astra" atop the building's dome. The sculpture is that of a Kaw Indian pointing his drawn bow at the north star.
Beneath the massive dome, there are several beautiful murals. The most famous of these, "Bleeding Kansas", is located on the second floor, East wing. Completed in the early 1940's by Kansas native John Curry it depicts abolitionist leader, and Kansan, John Brown at the heart of the growing storm of the American Civil War.
Looking straight up from center of the first floor rotunda, you can see the inner glass dome. The flags represent nations or states that have at one time or another claimed all or part of what is now Kansas. Also visible are the fifth floor murals, completed in 1902--among the oldest art work in the Capitol Building.
Located
on the 20 acre Capitol grounds are several statues, including one
of Abraham Lincoln, a Pioneer Woman and Child, and even a replica of the Statue
of Liberty. Also on the grounds, located Northeast of the Capitol is the
Law Officer Memorial, which contains the names of Kansas policemen killed in the
line of duty.