An Olympian tour of the capitol

To tour a state's capitol for the first time is one of life's sweet pleasures. Today's tour of the state
capitol in Olympia surpassed all expectations. Both chambers were in session and we observed activity on the floor. At one point, the Senators looked up at us in the gallery and applauded. They mistook us for another group from Spokane.

Groups of school kids, some in uniforms, filed in and out on their own tours. Pages in dress uniforms wandered the halls. We saw them sitting in the chambers and in some of the offices. Many people milling about; I figured some were lobbyists. We poked our heads into the governor's office with it's large waiting room full of well dressed people. I couldn't pick up much from the conversations. It's the only place we couldn't take pictures.

The tours begin on the hour every hour and lasts for an hour. The capitol took six years to build. It was completed in 1928 and is part of a campus of buildings with heavy Greek and Roman influence in the architecture. Marble is everywhere from the 42 steps at the entrance to the interior floors and walls. This marble was quarried locally at Index. The exterior cover is sandstone that was also quarried within the state. If you're into marble, the reception room has Italian marble. The representative chamber is lined with French marble, and the Senate has German marble. Around the rotunda is Alaskan marble.

The 42 marble steps up the portico represents Washington's place as the 42nd state in the union. The state seal is round like a coin with the head of George Washington in the center. It's design was lifted directly from a coin and a 2 cent stamp. A bust of Washington on the second floor is the largest I've ever seen.

Most astonishing are the 400 plus Tiffany chandeliers and lamps located throughout the building. They dazzle and adorn rooms like the two hanging in the reception room. Hanging from the rotunda is a 10,000 pound Tiffany chandelier with over 200 lights.