Learning about Indiana government with capitol tour

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Indiana
Indiana’s capitol building is the fifth in the state’s history.

It may not have been the people’s first choice, but the current Indiana State Capitol building has outlasted its predecessors. Completed in 1888, it became the fifth and final state capitol building for the state.

Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th state 200 years ago. The first capitol building was a small two-story building in southern Indiana. Following failed attempts to build a lasting building – one was condemned as it started falling apart – the state got it right with the present state capitol.

Constructed from mostly Indiana resources, the building includes limestone and oak. The interior was built using the Italian Renaissance style. Statues are styled after Greek gods and goddesses.

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The capitol designers and builders used Indiana limestone and oak as part of the construction.

The capitol’s grounds were immaculate. Several statues highlight significant people or key events involving state history.

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George Washington is among the sculptures located around the capitol grounds.

We enjoy visiting state capitols. The Indiana tour marked our ninth capitol tour. As with most tours, ours started at the rotunda. Looking up, the dome consists of stained glass. The dome consists of two domes – a large one that visitors see and a smaller one atop it.

Indiana
The stained glass dome actually consists of two domes. The large dome is is what is seen from the rotunda. A smaller dome sits atop the main dome. The small dome’s peak is 235 feet above ground.

The capitol consists of two legislative chambers, state supreme court and some executive offices, including the governor and lieutenant governor.

The General Assembly consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House has 100 members, each representing a legislative district. Each representative serves a two-year term.

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The state House of Representatives chamber.

The Indiana state Senate has 50 members. They each serve a four-year term, each representing a larger district than the House members.

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The state Senate has 50 members.

The state Supreme Court has four associate justices, led by the chief justice. Indiana law allows the governor to appoint a court member, but they face a statewide retention vote during the next general election. If approved to stay in office, they serve a 10-year term before they face re-election.

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The state Supreme Court. Most of the furnishings are original to the court.

We viewed the lieutenant governor’s office. Each person serving in the position gets to select items used to decorate the office. Among the items we saw included an Indiana Hoosiers basketball.

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The lieutenant governor’s office.

Our tour guide got a chuckle out of one item we saw during the tour. A working telephone booth. Those things are rare in the United States any more.

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A working phone booth.

Since the state celebrated its bicentennial during 2016, a few exhibits highlighted its history. One display featured postage stamps bearing Indiana history.

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A postage stamp honoring President Lincoln, who lived in Indiana as a youth. It’s one of several stamp replicas on display during the state’s bicentennial celebration.

You can learn a lot about a state’s history on capitol tours. That’s one of the reasons we enjoy them. Also, visiting every state’s capitol building has been added to our traveling bucket list.

We enjoyed our visit in Indianapolis and to the Indiana Capitol. We recommend taking a tour when you visit the area.

For more information on Indiana’s state capitol, visit www.in.gov/idoa/2371.htm, www.visitindy.com or www.visitindiana.com.