A pretty typical Friday night..

This past Friday, I had the opportunity to take a private tour of the State Capitol Building.
Because I did, that's why..

Under the dome, looking toward the main staircase

Looking up from the floor of the rotunda to the murals and gilding above.
For YEARS when I was younger, the dome was wrapped in scaffolding as they restored and  re-gilded the interior and exterior. It's such a beautiful building now that major restoration work has been finished.
You can walk around the inside of the dome at two different levels - unfortunately, we didn't on this tour.

Crazy detailed ceilings to the side of the rotunda, just inside the east entrance.

North entrance to the building with stairs leading up to the Senate Chambers.

Second level rotunda, looking east toward the Law Library.

West side of the third level - really detailed tiled mosaics.

Looking down from the Senate stairs.

The Governor's public Reception Room.

The Law Library - the entire east end of the building, top to bottom.
Recently ranked as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world!

Love a good spiral stair..

Smelled like...a really old library. Lots of leather.

Stained glass skylight in the Senate Chamber.

The gallery of the Senate Chamber.

The man who designed the Statehouse actually also designed the Marion County Courthouse.
Well..actually, he designed our Courthouse, then the Statehouse..then he left that job prematurely to design the Washington Monument. I guess you could say we made him famous. :)

Kind of a big deal.