Why is harrisburg the capital

Its five-story exterior is faced with handsome Vermont granite, and the roof is composed of green glazed terra cotta tile. The Capitol's centerpiece is a spectacular foot, 52 million-pound dome inspired by Michelangelo's design for St.

Peter's Basilica in Rome. Following its completion, the building was the tallest structure between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for 80 years. While the building has been modernized over time, efforts to blend form and function continue today, and a special Capitol Preservation Committee ensures that as the building evolves, the artistic elements are never lost.

The seat of Pennsylvania's government continues to inspire visitors with its wealth of art, its outstanding architecture, and its strong connection to the vision of the Commonwealth's founder, William Penn, who sought to establish a land that would be governed by just laws and tolerant of all religious faiths. I am thrilled to see that you have a video tour so I can share the link with my students since they are missing their field trip due to the quarantine.

I was also delighted to hear Tammy's voice on the video. Please let her know that she is our absolute favorite tour guide I've been to the Capitol for tours over 20 times! Thank you so much for giving our students to opportunity to see your amazing building and learn about our state's history and Capital. This is a stunningly beautiful building. An amazing piece of architecture. Be sure to check it out. The architecture in the senate and house chambers is incredible.

Worth taking the tour. Very nice Capitol! Huston won the competition. From the beginning, Huston was determined to make his building one of the most brilliant architectural and artistic public governmental seats in America. He modeled the building in the Renaissance Revival style, studying and imitating many of the great buildings in Europe such as the Paris Opera House and St.

Peter's Basilica in Rome. Construction began in and lasted until October of A crowd of more than 50, people came on special Pennsylvania Railroad excursion trains to Harrisburg to hear President Theodore Roosevelt dedicate the building with the words, "It is the handsomest State Capitol I have ever seen. The History of Pennsylvania's Early Capitols. The History of Pennsylvania's Early Capitols From until , Pennsylvania's colonial legislature would meet wherever it could find the space, ranging from local taverns, private residences, and town halls to other meeting places.

The seat of Pennsylvania's government continues to inspire visitors with its wealth of art, its outstanding architecture, and its strong connection to the vision of the Commonwealth's founder, William Penn, who sought to establish a land that would be governed by just laws and tolerant of all religious faiths.

Download Our Free Mobile App! Tour the PA Capitol. Watch Session Live. House Session Senate Session. Home About The Capitol. Reopening Guidelines: Welcome back for guided tours! Harrisburg has a corruption problem. Over the past four decades, 40 state legislators or aides — including three former House speakers and a former Senate president pro tempore — have been convicted of corruption charges. In , former Treasurer Rob McCord pleaded guilty to two counts of extortion ; more recently, Attorney General Kathleen Kane lost her law license and is currently fighting perjury charges for her alleged leaking of secret grand jury documents.

Corruption in Harrisburg is so bad that bronze plaques noting corruption charges now hang from four portraits in the state capitol building. Could we cut out the rotten core of our state government simply by relocating it? In , Dr.