Monday, October 22, 2018

Road Trip 2018 - Day Twenty Four, Tennessee State Capitol

It started by accident. But now it has become a full-fledged obsession. Seeing State Capitols. Each is like a mini-history of its state. So today we squeezed in a morning in Tennessee's Capitol Building before heading West to Little Rock,Arkansas.

Tennessee's favorite son, Andrew Jackson, welcome's you

Behold the Capitol

You will note a difference from prior Capitols you have seen.
no Dome!

The architect 
Wanted this to be 'Greek Revival and insisted that a dome was Roman and therefore did not fit
He died before the building was complete and is buried in the walls of the building itself. 

Please note the columns

What kind of capital is on them?
Come on...how much time have I spent with you?
They are Ionian

On to the inside
Frescos
Representing the battle for territory
Justice
Being the 16th State

There are interesting ruminations taking place within this State about its history
There is a bust of David Farragut that is right opposite one of Forrest Bedford. The later was a Confederate General. Farragut stayed loyal to the Union and won significant naval battles including the New Orleans and the capture of Mobile, AL
The State Trooper who ran us through security made this comment referring to the Bedford statue,
"History is history. We can't change it. But we can learn from it."
Amen!

Lighting and ceilings



This Capitol has the record for the longest time still in active service
The Senate featuring super legislative clerk Hannah (more on her later)
Better shots of the House of Representatives


Unique Staircase in old Library


Stone Stair Rail with bullet damage for event during Reconstruction
Just 'because' shots

Tourists confused on how to use elevator
Captain Spouse to the rescue
 German Exchange Students 
Conducting a Coup d'Etat!
Remember Super Legislative Clerk Hannah?
She spent a good 20 minutes with me explaining all about the job and how it worked and its importance to the system.
Thanks Hannah!


We drive many hours afterward and reach 
Arkansas
The 'Natural' State
Sorry for all of you that live in 'Unnatural States'

2 comments:

Renee Michelle Goertzen said...

Huh, I have no idea what legislative clerks do. I guess there are a lot of people that might say the same about physicists, too.

alexis said...

seems like the people who visit the state capitols and work there are open minded!