The Texas State Capitol is located in downtown Austin, Texas. It is the home of the Texas Legislature and the chambers of the Texas Governor. It is one of the most iconic buildings in the state. Whether you’re a history buff or just interested in the state’s politics, it is well worth a visit. It is located at 1100 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701.
The Texas Capitol was designed in the Renaissance Revival style, which is based on the architecture of 15th-century Italy. The building features symmetrical composition, round arches, and classical orders. Its exterior walls are made of sunset red granite quarried 50 miles away from the site. The exterior walls are supported by cast-iron columns.
The Texas Capitol offers many free tours to the public. You can take your own self-guided tour or join one of the free daily excursions. Tours last about 45 minutes and focus on the history of the buildings and the state government. Tours are offered daily at 8:30 and 4:30 AM Monday to Friday, 9:30 and 3:30 am on Saturday, and from 12:00 to 3:30 pm on Sunday.
The building plans for the Capitol initially called for limestone from the Texas Hill Country. However, the limestone in that area was not suited for the building because it contained iron particles. Therefore, Abner Taylor proposed using limestone from Bedford, Indiana. However, the Capitol Board had another idea in mind. They wanted to use a native stone from the state. However, there was one stone that was available that was native to the state and was red granite from Granite Mountain.
The state’s first capitol building was completed in 1853. Its construction cost about $3.7 million at the time of its acceptance. It had 392 rooms and 18 vaults. The building had 924 windows and 404 doors. The design was inspired by the Italian Renaissance Revival style of architecture. Once the construction was completed, the building was known as the Texas Capitol.
The Texas Capitol is surrounded by 22 acres of grounds. In 1888, William Munro Johnson was hired to improve the grounds. His plan included a “Great Walk” that consisted of black and white diamond-patterned pavement. The Texas Capitol has four oldest monuments: the Heroes of the Alamo monument, Volunteer Firemen Monument, Confederate Soldiers Monument, and Terry’s Texas Rangers Monument.
The Texas Capitol Complex Master Plan envisions the Capitol Complex as a destination. This vision also includes the construction of two new office buildings and five levels of underground parking. Additionally, the Texas Capitol Mall will feature a tree-lined promenade. This new addition will be located on Congress Avenue between 16th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and will be pedestrian-friendly.
The Texas Capitol is home to a beautiful statue of Lady Liberty. The statue is 16 feet high and represents art, justice, and truth. This statue was installed late February 1888.