Bob and I have wanted to visit the Iowa capitol that we can see from our hotel. We were particularly interested in the law library, as we had heard how beautiful that was supposed to be. We decided today was the day to explore that part of Iowa’s capital city.
The current capitol sits atop a hill at the end of Locust Avenue. It was completed in 1886. It is topped by a 23 karat gold covered dome, which was most recently regilded in 1999 for approximately $482,000.
with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources building
in the background.
The public enters on the ground floor (basement) of the capitol and goes through a quick screening process. The information desk had a helpful brochure for self-guided tours.
the first and second floors.
The emblem of the Grand Army of the Republic
is painted on canvas and hung 20’ below the blue sky of the dome.
in their inaugural garb.
The one man is the first spouse
of Iowa’s current and only female governor.
which was officially decommissioned in October 1990.
The State Law Library of Iowa occupies the entire west wing of the second floor and contains over 100,000 volumes. The quote above the door, which is unfortunately way too relevant with the current administration, reads, “Where law ends, tyranny begins.”
to four tiers of law books and court decisions.
After our tour of the capitol, we walked through the East Village, where I stumbled on a Free Little Library to change out a book, and on into downtown to catch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
over the Des Moines River
Peckish Travels 