TEXAS CAPITOL

The Texas Capitol, the seat of state government, has not always had a quiet existence, to say the least. The current building is the fourth in the state's history to serve as the legislative and gubernatorial (executive) headquarters. Its total surface area covers 33,000^m2, more than any other capitol building in the United States. It is also the third tallest rotunda in the country. There are some 900 windows and over 400 rooms. And although not all of them are accessible, you should allow a good 3 hours to visit it.

The building's construction was approved by a law passed in 1876. It authorized the sale of land in North Texas to a huge Chicago company for the construction work. More than 12,000 ^km2 of ranch land were ceded, but this did not prevent the contractors from requesting a budget extension of nearly 4 million dollars. Initially, the architects had planned to build the entire structure in limestone. But as the stone began to show signs of erosion, they opted for pink granite from a nearby quarry. After more than a dozen years of construction, the Capitol opened its doors on April 21, 1888, San Jacinto Day.

Inside, the rotunda, from base to top, is adorned with portraits of the various governors of Texas. There are also two statues, one representing Sam Houston, the other Stephen F. Austin. Work in 1993 involved extending the offices. The extension is perfectly in keeping with the style.