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A lot of those capitol buidlings are really beautiful and I'm sure they are great to see individually and tour, but as I look at more and more of them they start to blend together.
I think my favorites are Iowa and Connecticut. Both are quite striking and I like that they stand out from the crowd. I also like Indiana (not much discussion of that one) and New York.
IMO the worst are Florida (ugly tower), Alaska (boring box), Hawaii (the person who said it was a 60's library was on the money), New Mexico, North Dakota and Ohio (looks like someone stole their dome).
Oregon's is really intersting. It isn't one of my favorites, but it is different enough and somewhat neat looking, so it isn't one of the worst either. Of the "tower" style buildings, I think Louisiana is the best.
I don't necessarily think Tennessee's is the best...but I've always been fond of it.
Here are some pics I took last spring:
Although it's been pointed out that a lot of them have similar looks, I think most state capitols are fairly well executed. A few notable exceptions were mentioned earlier in the thread.
I would also like to add that Tennessee's was designed by William Strickland, a well-known 19th century architect who designed a number of buildings in Nashville and Philadelphia. The building is done in the Greek Revival style.
Rather than a dome, Tennessee's capitol is adorned with a lantern, modeled after the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens, Greece.
Most states seem to have beautiful capitol building, usually very large buildings with a grand dome. Probably because they looked back for inspiration at the Capitol in Washington DC, which in turn looked back toward Ancient Rome.
A number of states; like Hawaii, New Mexico, New York and Oregon, tried to build something different which would say something about their state. Hawaii's is kind of small but because of that it kind of evokes a tropical island paradise feel to it. Especially because it is surrounded by greenery. Similarly, New Mexico looks like it is trying to remind us of New Mexico's Pueblo Indian and Spanish heritage.
New York's is a grand building that seems to have been built to show off the wealth of late 19th century New York State as well as its European heritage. Oddly, the architecture looks more French inspired than New York's Dutch/English heritage.
Now, Oregon's capital is very different. It is possible that it was meant to give homage to Oregon's native American culture. It may also have been a suggestion that Oregon look away from old fashioned Washington DC "Roman" architecture and begin develop its own unique brand as a growing West Coast state. Having said that, I am not so sure if I like this particular building. I probably would have to see it in person and not just in photographs.
Most states seem to have beautiful capitol building, usually very large buildings with a grand dome. Probably because they looked back for inspiration at the Capitol in Washington DC, which in turn looked back toward Ancient Rome.
A number of states; like Hawaii, New Mexico, New York and Oregon, tried to build something different which would say something about their state. Hawaii's is kind of small but because of that it kind of evokes a tropical island paradise feel to it. Especially because it is surrounded by greenery. Similarly, New Mexico looks like it is trying to remind us of New Mexico's Pueblo Indian and Spanish heritage.
New York's is a grand building that seems to have been built to show off the wealth of late 19th century New York State as well as its European heritage. Oddly, the architecture looks more French inspired than New York's Dutch/English heritage.
Now, Oregon's capital is very different. It is possible that it was meant to give homage to Oregon's native American culture. It may also have been a suggestion that Oregon look away from old fashioned Washington DC "Roman" architecture and begin develop its own unique brand as a growing West Coast state. Having said that, I am not so sure if I like this particular building. I probably would have to see it in person and not just in photographs.
The state capitol buildings for Hawaii(1969), Oregon(1935), and New Mexico(1966) are also the last three state capitol buildings constructed in the United States(with the exception of the newer addition to the Florida capitol). Both New Mexico and Oregon previously had more traditional Neo-classical-looking domes as state capitols. The previous capitol in Oregon was burnt and destroyed in a massive fire in the 1930s. I suppose after the 1920s, Neo-classical or Beaux Arts style buildings were out of style, and in Oregon during the Depression the trend was probably towards more modern(and cheaper). architectural styles. There's also the towering capitol buildings constructed in Nebraska, Louisiana, and North Dakota during the 1930s.
Personally I kind of like the New Mexico Capitol as it fits in with the surrounding architecture of Santa Fe. Hawaii's capitol though(while full of symbolism in it's design for the Hawaiian islands) is kind of a victim of a less appreciated era in American architecture--it's got kind of that data 1960s "Tommorowland" vibe to it.
Now, Oregon's capital is very different. It is possible that it was meant to give homage to Oregon's native American culture. It may also have been a suggestion that Oregon look away from old fashioned Washington DC "Roman" architecture and begin develop its own unique brand as a growing West Coast state.
I agree with all said, but it is still downright ugly.
Why not be different and beautiful at the same time?
The Louisiana Capitol building reminds me of LA's city hall.
I was going to post my hometown, St Paul MN, but it is pretty similar to many of the domed ones I'm seeing here and there isn't much unique that sets it apart. The inside is beautiful though.
Iowa won...thread over!
NY, NJ, and CO are pretty cool too.
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