West Virginia Capitol

Charleston, West Virginia

Our favorite thing about this capitol was driving by the night before our visit and getting pictures with the building all lit up!  I would also like to add, that this picture was taken with my camera outside the panoramic sunroof of our new car:)  

Next morning, we toured for real... lots of walking for the Crutch Girl.  And again, Ryan was our photographer.  I really liked this shot of Ben and Carly walking up the back steps of the capitol... fortunately for me, there was a Handicap entrance.  Albeit with a very steep ramp.  Grrrr.

Inside the dome... that inner circle is a chandelier.

Carly noticed right off the lack of art work hanging in this building.  Most capitols have portraits of their Important People hanging everywhere.  She thought perhaps they had been robbed.  For real.  Just lots of long, plain, marble hallways.

Under a desk in the House... we thought that perhaps my brother Steve forgot to tell us he was a Representative in the State of West Virginia.  This guy has a serious Diet Coke Issue.  

The House and Senate Chambers were decorated a little better, with really pretty scrollwork...

... and the chandelier that hangs inside the dome.

Cute McGregor Children, sneaking up to the Gallery of the Senate, only to find it locked.

The Senate

The view from the front steps of the Capitol... (and the road where we stopped to take the first picture, outside the sunroof.  Did I mention it's a Panoramic Sunroof?)

Ryan and I really loved this stone house... it has a fantastic view, as it faces the First Picture.  Again, with the First Picture.

View from the back steps...

West Virginia is very proud of their State Quarter.

Plain Marble Hallway.

Hidden Staircase leading up to the dome.  Off Limits.

The Liberty Bell (each state was given a replica from the same cast iron as the original)... this is the first we've seen WITHOUT the tacky painted on crack.  Good Work West Virginia.  

Our Second Favorite Thing about this Capitol, the war memorials... and this statue of a female soldier.  Haven't seen that before, either.

And hands down, the best war memorial...

All the names of the soldiers from West Virginia are listed on each section inside... all these portions come together to form a circle with a pool all around the outside and you can walk all around the inside.  It's pretty neat and quiet moving.

16 down...