Texas Capitol Rotunda Floor

Please note that building hours may be extended during the legislative session to accommodate related business.
Texas capitol rotunda floor. The rotunda originally had encaustic tile surrounding a hexagonal glass block floor in the center. The sandstone rotunda walls rise 48 feet 15 m above the floor. Tragically ed wheeler fell approximately 160 feet to his death while painting the inside of the rotunda on december 13 1922. Hours are subject to change.
First floor south wing of the capitol. These paintings line the walls of the rotunda all the way up to the fourth floor of the capitol. The texas capitol has two rotundas for public events. Texans did not install the terrazzo floor currently in the rotunda until 1936 to commemorate the texas centennial.
The capitol extension. The crack in the rotunda floor was caused by someone falling. The rotunda was designed in the neoclassical style and was intended to evoke the design of the pantheon. The texas capitol is widely recognized as one of the nation s most distinguished state capitols.
This is the amazing capitol dome which resembles the nation s capitol in washington. Walter had also designed the capitol s north and south. Closed new year s day easter sunday thanksgiving day. Everything above this the capitol dome was designed in 1854 by thomas u.
Hours the texas capitol is open weekdays from 7 00 a m. As it appears today the u s. The capitol ground floor rotunda is an exhibit space that can be requested under exhibit spaces. And weekends from 9 00 a m.
The texas state capitol is the capitol building and seat of government of the american state of texas located in downtown austin texas the structure houses the offices and chambers of the texas legislature and of the governor of texas designed in 1881 by architect elijah e. Due to a shortage of funds and materials sporadic construction phases and the fire set by the british in 1814 the capitol rotunda was not begun until 1818. We maintain the texas capitol visitors center governors mansion bullock museum state cemetery and their grounds. Capitol rotunda is the result of two distinct building campaigns.
The capitol 1st floor rotunda available from noon to 1pm only and the extension open air rotunda. Myers it was constructed from 1882 to 1888 under the direction of civil engineer reuben lindsay walker. Official website of the texas capitol. Walter the fourth architect of the capitol.
It was placed on the national register of historic places in 1970 and designated a national historic landmark in 1986. A huge sheet metal star measuring 8 feet from point to point surrounded by lettering that spells out texas anchors the top. Capitol first floor rotunda and extension open air rotunda. This popular legend of the capitol is not true.
Dr william thornton who won the competition for the design of the u s.