Field Trip to Utah's Capitol Continues...

OK everyone...finish up your snacks, and let's continue on our field trip.

Isn't that a great lamp lighting the way up the staircase on the opposite side of the building that we explored yesterday?

So very pre-WWI.

The state symbol of Utah is the beehive...the motto is Industry.

The early pioneers believed in working like busy bees!

At the top of the stairs is an office window with the same motif.

I suspect it may be a modern window though.

The office belongs to...the Governor of Utah.

This door was locked.

I know because I did try the door handle.

I don't know what I would have done if the door had opened and I was suddenly faced to face with the Governor himself!

Around the corner was another open door....

A very formal room with antiques galore! Above: The view to the left...

The brocade on the walls...

Painted ceiling above...

And the view to the left. Each side matched/mirrored the other.

I'd love to know what people have been entertained here over the years.

The gold leaf and painting details were amazing.

Imagine applying delicate gold leaf to the carving.

The drapery...old, velvet, embroidery, with tassels and trims from long ago, yet apparently has had good conservation techniques over the years.

A trip down the stairs, and down another flight and we can see displays detailing the work that has been done on the Capitol building during the renovation. To think that all that fine detail work was previously simply painted over...oh my....what a project it must have been to restore the building to its former glory.


The building had these Seismic Base Isolator installed while it was under scaffolding. The Wasatch Mountains snake along a major fault line...better to spend the money preparing the building to withstand a huge shake instead of trying fix it after it was reduced to rubble.



A relief map of the area; the smudgy area below the Great Lake is Salt Lake City.

The red-brown line heading over the mountains to Park City snugs up to the mountain edge right where we live.



In the next display we can see pictures of all the Utah Governors. Handsome men...but perhaps more interesting was comparing changes in formal business suits over the years. Differences in lapels, collars, ties...each would have been the "state of the art" attire at the time of the photographs.

Another handsome Governor. Nice art work too.

There is so much to learn about Utah on this floor. Utah has always had theater events, even when it was just a small settlement of pioneers in the 1860's. Now there are symphonies, choirs, dance troops, several theater companies, outside art and art museums to enjoy.

Well, since all of you have done so well behaving yourself on this field trip, you can now visit the gift shop.

You can buy some salt from the Great Salt Lake...

Or a funny post card....

Or perhaps find a charm to add to your charm bracelet.

There will be a test later about all the architectural items that we saw.

You will be expected to be able to spell each term correctly and to describe what each term means.

On our way out...one of the larger than life sized recently commissioned sculptures at the base of the dome.

Pop quiz: Why would the door push handle have a bee hive on it?

There will be a test on the history of this building. Refer to this plaque for study notes.

Note that from ground breaking to building completion took just over two years...less time than than it took to renovate the whole building!

Outside the blue skies and flowers surround a rather mystical statue telling the story of Utah.

Linger for few minutes, enjoy the sunshine and landscaping...and then my field trip is over.

All that is left to do is drive down the tree shaded streets and return to my work once again.

Field Trip!!! Utah State Capitol

Utah's State Capitol, which has been under scaffolding for several years while being retrofitted with earthquake safety engineering, is now brilliantly welcoming all visitors.

Every day I drive up State Street on my way to work, a street that ends at the Capitol building. Every day since the scaffolding came off I have thought I should go for a "look-see".

A slow day at work...a long lunch break...and just like that...my "should go" finally happened.

It was a sunny day a few weeks ago...perfect for a walk around the grounds. The sky couldn't have possibly been bluer.



The western mountain range in the distance with a name that I can never spell without looking it up... Oquirrh which means "Shining Mountains" in the Paiute Indian language.



And to the East, the Wasatch Range, which means "Mountains with Many Waters".

The two ranges are the only two mountain ranges in North America that run East to west instead of North to South.

We live at the base of the Wasatch mountains, about at the right edge of the picture above.



I do so appreciate buildings that will tell you exactly when they were build!



Cool light fixtures festoon the exterior walls.



One of several doors into the building. I really had no idea what I would find inside the building if I opened the door...or if I would even be welcomed inside without an appointment.

Nothing ventured...nothing gained, right?

Oh wow....so that's what it looks like inside the dome!

Soaring three stories up...there are Work Administration Program (WPA) paintings of Utah history on four sides of the dome.

The WPA was a "make work" program instigated by the US government during the Great Depression of the last century.

Looking straight up...



And to the right of the ground floor...a marble staircase leading to... ??????



The view to the left. The statues at the base of the room are larger than life sized and recently commissioned.

The glass overhead with pink, blue and gold trim. I wouldn't have expected that color choice, but it is very fresh and airy.

I later read that the gold leafing was re-done during the renovation.



To give you a sense of scale...the balcony railing is about chest high.



The old-timey elevator could have been an interesting ride...but I was in the mood to climb stairs.


The marble stairs with gold edging.


Up on the second floor I can see the historical paintings up close,



And amazingly to me, I can wander about at will.

NO ONE was to be seen anywhere. I opened one door and found myself looking down at the Utah House Chamber where legislation is decided. There are two groups of elected officials that govern the state, the Representatives and the Senate. I'd love to go there when they are in session.

Windows above the gallery, where the public can sit in and observe government in action below.


Very stately gallery seating don't you think?



Sweet little faces grace the carved pillars.



Back into the main area outside the chamber are many offices for various department heads.

Their doors still have the old fashioned break proof glass with wire embedded in the glass.

The snow flake like design is much prettier than most modern shatter proof glass in my opinon...

The decks or galleries around the edge of each floor level has recently been designated for artwork. Emmeline Wells was an interesting woman: a strong advocate of polygamy (after becoming a widow at an early age, she then married a Mr. Wells, becoming his seventh wife) and also a champion for women's suffrage. She was key in obtaining women's voting rights in Utah in 1870, prior to Utah obtaining statehood.

It wasn't until 1890 that Wyoming became the first state to give women the right to vote, swiftly followed by Utah, Colorado and Idah.

Progressive little area of the country, eh?

Just pretty details...and so well restored!



More dome painting views from the second floor.



I was amazed at all the detail work everywhere!

I liked the ballroom scene in the one painting.

This painting of a sweet subject: The husband is gazing at his wife holding a new babe inside the covered wagon. I've read that something like 75% of all women pioneers were pregnant during their cross country journey.

A-maz-ing.

And that a good portion of those women were pregnant when they began the journey.

Women were sure a lot tougher back then.

You will never guess who this guy is. I had no idea...yet I can't imagine life without what he made possible! I'll bet you regularly use his invention too, and never gave a though about the name of the person who made it possible.

Yes...the next time you click on your TV...thank Mr. Farnsworth, a man who was born long ago in a log cabin in a small town in Utah.

Pretty view, huh?

Time to take a break on our field trip.

Everyone open up your lunch boxes and find a place to eat quietly.

To be continued.....