The Styrous® Viewfinder: late Victorian

January 18, 2012

The Capital of Texas

~
When I was in Austin in November one of the first things I came across was the capital of the state of Texas. From the very first sight of it I knew I had to photograph it.

It is truly a marvel of the Italian Renaissance Revival style designed by architect Elijah E. Myers. Construction was started in 1882 and it was completed in 1888.

(Click on any image for slideshow)

The entrance tells you that you are entering a bastion of power;
there's no way to deny it.
photos by Styrous®

The architectural details are wonderfully elegant.
photo by Styrous®

The interior is an amazing study in late Victorian detail.
photos by Styrous®

It has 392 rooms, the doorways of which are fantasies.

And there are lots of them!

photo by Styrous®

The senate chamber is the throne of power.
photos by Styrous®

Although the senate chamber is impressive, I couldn't help having a flash back to the desks of my early school days; although, my old desks weren't nearly as elegant as these.

photo by Styrous®

A couple of light fixtures in the senate chamber spell out,
what else? TEXAS.

photo by Styrous®

Looking across to the other side of an upper level of the rotunda.

photo by Styrous®

The dome of the rotunda is over 310 feet high . . . .
photo by Styrous®

And from the very top of the dome . . .
photo by Styrous®

. . . you can look down on the main floor in the center of which is a Terrazo mosaic of the seal of Texas (yes, those are people walking around on it) with the six flags or nations that ruled Texas from 1519 to the present: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate Texas & the present United States, in that order.

photo by Styrous®

It is a truly awe inspiring building!

Styrous ~ January, 2012

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January 18, 2012

The Capital of Texas