Tag Archives: State Capitol

California State Capitol

Here are some of my views of the Capitol while I took a stroll around the grounds.

The immigration of thousands of “Forty-niners” in search of gold prompted California’s admission as the 31st state into the Union in 1850, thus creating the need for a state capital. California did not have a permanent seat of government until 1860. Cities vied for the opportunity to house the state capital for the power, prestige, and economic benefit that accompanied it. Four capitol buildings existed in other cities before Sacramento became the permanent site.

Even after Sacramento became the permanent seat of California’s government in 1854, there were several unsuccessful efforts to relocate the Capitol to Oakland (1858-59), San Jose (1875-78, 1893, 1903), Berkeley (1907), and Monterey (1933-41).

I asked a policeman on the grounds why the flags were flying at half-staff and he said he believes whenever a serviceman/woman from the state of California is killed in action they fly the flags at half staff.

The California State Capitol was in part modeled after the United States Capitol, which features a bronze statue of “Freedom” as its crowning ornament. Given the already marked resemblance between the two Capitols’ architecture, the absence of a statue on the California State Capitol was intended to distinguish the two buildings. In addition, the presence of a gold ball, reminiscent of a gold nugget, reminds visitors to the Capitol of California’s Gold Rush heritage.

I did not get a chance to go into the Capitol on this day. Being born and raised in California I was happy to finally visit the grounds.

My “crown” experience yesterday left me traumatized. I find it hard to bear to have my mouth numbed to the extent that my throat feels numbed also. Feeling like I’m choking makes me panic. I wanted to pull that “hold your mouth open device” out of my mouth and run. I didn’t. I persevered and didn’t completely lose it till I got home. I’m regaining my peace on the couch in my flannels with a blankie.

Back to Sacramento…

When I was in Sacramento a few weeks ago I stopped by the Capitol. I was born and raised in Southern California but had never visited the State Capitol. Funny that it took moving out of the state to finally stop by for a visit…

There was a beautiful rose garden next to the Vietnam Memorial.

The young service man sitting at the entrance really hit me hard.

All Gave Some. Some Gave All.

I’ll be sharing my photos of the Capitol building soon.

A Morning at the Capitol ~

Dear and I took a little road trip on Saturday to the state capitol in Olympia, Washington. This was our first visit. We have driven by and seen the capitol just off I-5 on our way to California so many times over the last 20 years. It was good to finally get to see it up close.

The Dome and the Cupola.

The Temple of Justice.

The Temple of Justice was completed in 1920, the first building completed of the Capitol Complex.

Winged Victory Monument

In 1938, the monument was dedicated to the memory of World War I veterans.

Winged Victory includes a twelve-foot tall figure of a winged woman known as Nike, Greek goddess of victory, standing behind four life-sized figures of a soldier, a marine, a sailor, and a red-cross nurse. All of the figures are forward-moving and face a distant horizon. “Victory” or “Nike” stands with her wings outspread and her right hand, grasping an olive branch, extended protectively over the servicemen. She embodies strength, justice, and heavenly sanction for their human mission.

Medal of Honor Memorial

The Medal of Honor Monument
This monument was dedicated on Nov. 7, 1976, to honor those Washington citizens who have received the nation’s highest military decoration, the Congressional Medal of Honor. The 11½-foot tall granite obelisk is affixed with the Seal of the State of Washington and is inscribed with the names of those Washington citizens who were bestowed this supreme honor. The monument is a full scale replica of the national Medal of Honor monument that is in the Medal of Honor Grove in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

We visited too early in the morning for the indoor tour of the Capitol. The next time we go we’ll plan on the tour.

We really enjoyed our nice weather on the weekend. Tuesday night we are going to enjoy a meal with our kids. Our daughter Katie leaves on Wednesday for a trip to see her Marine in North Carolina since he will have a few days off and there are some family events planned on base. Hope your week is going well.

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.