A tour of the State Capitol

The 5th graders recently toured the legislative building on the Washington State Capitol campus in Olympia. There are 42 steps up to the entrance symbolizing our state's entrance into the union as the 42nd state. There is also a 42-star flag on display in the state reception room.

This is the Governor's chair, where he sits to sign bills into law. The walls in the office reception area are covered with portraits of former governors, and the walls of this reception room display photographs of different landscapes of Washington taken by Jay Inslee himself.

Looking at the state seal on the floor, and up to the cupola directly above. The masonry dome of this building is 287 feet high and is the largest self-supporting dome in the U.S. and fifth largest in the world, falling in line behind renowned domes like St Peter's Basilica in Rome and St Paul's in London.

It's hard to tell from this picture, but the bronze Tiffany lamp hanging here is said to be large enough to hold a Volkswagon bug in the center.

We visited the chambers of both the house and senate floors and would like to go back when the state legislature is in session!