September 3, 2014 – Ohio State Capitol Building – Trinity Episcopal Church – Franklin Park Conservatory

As an early morning fog slowly lifted from the soy fields beside our campsite

Early Morning Fog, Alton RV Park, Galloway, OH - 2014-09-03We headed out for downtown Columbus … where low-hanging clouds were still settled over the city’s tallest buildings.

Early Morning Fog, Downtown Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03After parking, we headed down an alley toward the state house and noticed a small wall mural on the side of a building of the capitol as seen from that spot.

DSC_0022The Ohio State House is the eighth-oldest working capitol in the nation.

Ohio State Capitol (a), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03It is considered one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture; a type of design based on the buildings of Ancient Greece and very popular in the U.S. from 1820 through the early 1860s. Because the city-states of Ancient Greece were the birthplace of democracy, the style had great meaning in the young American republic. Greek Revival was simple and straightforward and looked nothing at all like the Gothic Revival buildings popular in Europe at the same period … and thus the lack of a towering dome so common on most other state capitol buildings. The broad horizontal mass of the building and the even and regular rows of columns resemble such buildings as the Parthenon in Athens.

Ohio State Capitol (b), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03As there are very limited sources of marble in Ohio, it is a masonry building, consisting largely of Columbus limestone … in which fossils can be readily seen in many places.

Ohio State Capitol (Fossils in 250 million year old Limestone Walls), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03The grounds of the 10 acre site, as with most state capitols, are host to a number of statues and other relics of bygone eras. The most prominent is the William McKinley Monument, erected in 1906 to honor the former Governor and US President.

Ohio State Capitol (William McKinley Statue), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03His monument also includes two groups of figures representing McKinley’s accomplishments;

Peace

Peace

Prosperity

Prosperity

There are also two sundials

Each exactly one hour off – as they cannot be reset for daylight savings

Each exactly one hour off – as they cannot be reset for daylight savings

The Christopher Columbus Discovery Monument

Designed to commemorate the city’s namesake and the 400th anniversary of his 1492 voyage to the New World

Designed to commemorate the city’s namesake and the 400th anniversary of his 1492 voyage to the New World

Four cannons – two 6-pounders and two 12-pounders

These cannons are actually used for special occasions

These cannons are actually used for special occasions

The Peace Monument, dedicated to the men and women who served the country in various capacities during the Civil War.

Ohio State Capitol (''Peace'' - Civil War Memorial), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03A Memorial to the Holocaust and Liberators Memorial

Ohio State Capitol (Holocaust and Liberator's Memorial), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03The most interesting and touching, however, were the two Veterans Memorials,

Ohio State Capitol (Veterants Memorial - a), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Ohio State Capitol (Veterants Memorial - b), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03

identical other than for the panels, each of which is a reproduced letter to or from Ohio service men and women (note that the letters “KIA” after a writer’s name indicates they were killed in action).Ohio State Capitol (Veterants Memorial - Panel 1), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03Ohio State Capitol (Veterants Memorial - Panel 8), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Ohio State Capitol (Veterants Memorial - Panel 7), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Ohio State Capitol (Veterants Memorial - Panel 6), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Ohio State Capitol (Veterants Memorial - Panel 2), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Ohio State Capitol (Veterants Memorial - Panel 3), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Ohio State Capitol (Veterants Memorial - Panel 4), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Ohio State Capitol (Veterants Memorial - Panel 5), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Approaching the entrance to the capitol building, you walk across the Ohio’s “original” state seal and motto.

Latter state seals, such as those on skylights, have replaced the 17 arrows and sheaves of wheat with a canal barge to reflect their importance in Ohio’s growth in the 19th century

Latter state seals, such as those on skylights, have replaced the 17 arrows and sheaves of wheat with a canal barge to reflect their importance in Ohio’s growth in the 19th century

The Capitol’s cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1839 but it took until 1861 for it to be completed. Political differences, financial shortfalls, a cholera epidemic and serious labor difficulties caused delays, some lasting up to eight years. Prison labor (each prisoner wore a 20 lb. ball and chain around their ankle while working) from the Ohio Penitentiary was used to construct the foundation and ground floors of the building. Objections from skilled tradesman, who felt they were losing out on good-paying jobs, brought about changes in hiring practices for the remainder of the construction.

The Rotund, under which many governors have been inaugurated and where President Lincoln’s body lay in state enroute from Washington, DC to Springfield, IL, features a 29 foot diameter dome which soars 120 feet high under the cupola.

Ohio State Capitol (Rotunda  - Dome), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Ohio State Capitol (Rotunda  - Dome - Up Close), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03

Note the barge in the newer state seal

Note the barge in the newer state seal

The floor under the dome is made up of 5,000 pieces of hand-cut marble from around the world, salmon stones from Portugal, black and green marble from Vermont and white marble from Italy

Ohio State Capitol (Rotunda  - Rotunda Floor - a), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03Beneath the Rotunda is the Map Room, where a map of the state dominates the floor and depicts the state’s 88 counties using six different types of marble.

Ohio State Capitol (Map Room - Map of Ohio by County), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03Beyond is the Crypt, which originally housed the heating system … which has been transformed into the State House Museum.

Ohio State Capitol (The Crypt - Entrance to State House Museum), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03The House Chamber

99 Members

99 Members

Plaster Ceiling Decor

Plaster Ceiling Decor

Chandeliers (identical ones hang in the Senate Chamber)

Chandeliers (identical ones hang in the Senate Chamber)

Acanthi leaves on the Column Capstones

Acanthi leaves on the Column Capstones

The Senate Chamber

33 Members

33 Members

Governor’s Office

It is reported that Abraham Lincoln was in the Governor’s office when he received word he had been elected President by the Electoral College

It is reported that Abraham Lincoln was in the Governor’s office when he received word he had been elected President by the Electoral College

A Few Anecdotes

Flowers can be seen in the carpeting of the house and Senate Chambers and elsewhere throughout the building. This flower motif symbolized American’s natural abundance and American life and democracy

In the Rotunda and along the walkways in the Atrium, the repeating patterns of “guilloche” (a symbol of eternity) are evident.

In the Rotunda and along the walkways in the Atrium, the repeating patterns of “guilloche” (a symbol of eternity) are evident.

The busts of Cleisthenes, the Greek father of democracy and Thomas Jefferson are prominent above the dais in the House and Senate Chambers. However, since there are no records of what Cleisthenes looked like, his figure was simply made up by the sculptor.

The busts of Cleisthenes, the Greek father of democracy and Thomas Jefferson are prominent above the dais in the House and Senate Chambers. However, since there are no records of what Cleisthenes looked like, his figure was simply made up by the sculptor.

Several very large paintings hang next to the stairways.

Perry’s Victory (in the Battle of Lake Erie on 8/23/1813)

Perry’s Victory (in the Battle of Lake Erie on 8/23/1813)

The Signing of the Treaty of Greenville (with the Indians)

The Signing of the Treaty of Greenville (with the Indians)

    The Signing of the Treaty of Greenville (with the Indians) Wilber and Orville Wright and their Accomplishments

Wilber and Orville Wright and their Accomplishments

Dawn of New Light and an Edison Portrait

Dawn of New Light and an Edison Portrait

Indoor plumbing was an innovation when the Ohio State House was built. Since women were not part of the legislative process at the time, women’s restrooms were not part of the design. In 1876, more restrooms were added near the House Chamber but the sewer vent was accidentally connected to the building’s ventilation ducts and for the next eight years, the air in the State House was unpleasantly odoriferous.

In to the 20th Century, it became apparent that the State House was too small for the growth of stage government. Not only was the Supreme Court moved to a separate building (common in most states) but a separate (Senate Annex) building as built from300-milliion year old Ohioan limestone beside the Capitol, although leaving an open air area between them . Before the area was covered over and an enclosed atrium was created the area was known as “Pigeon Run” after the pigeons who gathered on the roof tops, often making the trip between the buildings a challenge. To memorialize those days, a single pigeon sits permanently high in today’s atrium.

Ohio State Capitol (Pigeon in Atrium), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03The Senate Annex is a beautiful building, particularly its entrance and dramatic staircase.

Ohio State Capitol (Senate Annex Building Entrance), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Ohio State Capitol (Senate Annex Building Stair Railing Posts), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Ohio State Capitol (Senate Annex Building Column, Capstone and Light Sconce), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03Heading back to our car we took time to notice some of the dramatic architecture of the city.

LeVeque Tower – at 555 feet, the second tallest building in Columbus

LeVeque Tower – at 555 feet, the second tallest building in Columbus

Building Architecture (a1), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Building Architecture (c), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Building Architecture (b), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03Before stopping at the Trinity Episcopal Church, across the street from the state house.

Trinity Episcopal Church, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Trinity Episcopal Church (Interior), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Trinity Episcopal Church (Stained Glass Windows Aove the Altar), Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03
After eating our “brown bagged” lunch (actually a blue Igloo cooler) we drove the Franklin Park Conservatory. While the conservatory was, at best, “so-so” and really not with the admission price. Also, while a dozens of Chihuly’s glass sculptures were dramatic,

Chihuly Glass Sculpture (a), Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03we were unimpressed with most of them and thought that too many had been positioned everywhere, taking away from what should have been natural plant environments.

However, the butterfly exhibit was excellent! Some of the many species (working on identifying all of them) we saw, often up-close-and-personal, included:

Postman (b) Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Paper Kite (a) Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 White Morph (a) Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Great Orange Tip (a) Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Grecian Shoemaker (b) Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 Golden Helicon (d) Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 [Unknown - q] Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 [Unknown o]  Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 [Unknown - p] Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 [Unknown - l] Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 [Unknown - k2] Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 [Unknown - j] Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 [Unknown - i] Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 [Unknown - h] Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 [Unknown - g] Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 [Unknown - d] Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 [Unknown - b] Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03 [Unknown - a] Butterfly, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03In the outside gardens we also made had one of the local residents pose for us.

Bumble Bee, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH - 2014-09-03

This entry was posted in Ohio State Capitol, Columbus, OH. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *