Connecticut State Capitol Tours

Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

The Capitol and Legislative Office Building as seen from Trinity Street.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

The Capitol Dome, covered with gold leaf that is 3/1000 of an inch thick, rises 257 feet above the ground. It is surrounded by blue Carrara marble statues representing Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Law, Music and Science. Plaster Models of the statues grace the entrance to the House of Representatives public Gallery.


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The interior of the dome is hand stenciled and in the center is a chandelier in the shape of an eight-pointed star.


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The Capitol was designed with 26 gothic niches for sculpture and 17 tympana (carved scenes above portals). Below the statues are medallion heads or busts. There are eight empty niches (south facade) along with space for numerous medallion heads and tympana that are available to be filled in the future. The carvings represent important events in American and Connecticut history.


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Ella Grasso was Connecticut's eighty-third governor (1974-80) and the first female governor in both Connecticut and the United States to be elected in her own right.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Tympana (carved scene) of the Charter Oak Tree on the Capitol exterior. Artist: Charles D. Salewski (dates unknown) 1876 Marble This scene was the first piece of sculpture commissioned for the Capitol. It depicts the famous tree that was used by Captain Joseph Wadsworth to hide the Royal Charter of 1662.


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Columns in the north lobby of the Capitol.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

The Genius of Connecticut Artist: Randolph Rogers 1878 Bronze/Plaster On display in the north lobby of the Capitol is the original plaster model used in the casting of the bronze Genius. Randolph Rogers, the artist who designed the bronze "Columbus Doors" on the nation's Capitol, called the piece "The Angel of Resurrection". The use of the word "genius" connotes that she is a protector figure or a symbol of the spirit of the people of Connecticut. The model was made in Rome and the 3.5 ton, 17 feet 10 inches tall figure was cast in Munich, Germany. The statue stood atop the Capitol dome from 1878 until 1938. In 1938 a great hurricane hit the eastern coast of the country. The Genius was damaged and people feared that she would fall from the dome. After a long debate, the statue was removed and placed in the basement. In 1942, the piece was donated to the federal government and melted down as part of the war effort to make ammunition and machine parts. In the statue's right hand (viewer's left) is a wreath of immortalis or dried flowers to symbolize long life. In her other hand is a wreath of Mountain Laurel, the state flower. On her head she wears white oak leaves for strength from our state tree. The statue's outstretched wings are to protect the people of Connecticut. The Genius has "Roman Toes"; her second toe is longer than the big toe. Some people believe that women with such toes will be placed in positions of power or importance. The plaster model was restored in the 1980s. At that time a special internal support system was designed for her wings and arms and she was painted bronze. The roman numerals on the marble base are for 1878 (when the bronze statue was placed on the dome) and 1987 (when the model was given a new base).


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

In the west wing of the Capitol's first floor, battle flags of Connecticut regiments from the Civil War through modern day hang in the oak cases built specifically for the building in 1878. In the center of the hall is a statue of Civil War Governor, William A. Buckingham (1804-1875). Connecticut native, Olin Warner, designed the bronze figure. During the Civil War, Buckingham donated funds to Connecticut troops to aid them in purchasing their uniforms and supplies. As a result of the donations, Connecticut's men were among the first fully prepared for the war. Buckingham later represented Connecticut in the United States Senate (1869-1875). Also on display in the Hall are artifacts from two heroes of the American Revolution: the Marquis De Lafayette's camp bed and Israel Punam's tombstone. It is believed that the saying "sleep tight" originated from having to tighten strings and ropes on early beds such as Lafayette's. Israel Putnam led Connecticut troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill and it is believed that he said "Don't' fire 'til you see the whites of their eyes.".


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The Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon located in the Capitol Hall of Flags is a souvenir of the Spanish-American War. It was made in Connecticut, sold to the Spanish government, and later used by Spanish forces during the war. It was retrieved from the Spanish ship "Vizcaya" following the Battle of Santiago Bay, Cuba. The cannon was restored by the Colt Manufacturing Company and placed on a Gatling gun base.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Statue of Nathan Hale located in the Capitol lobby.

Nathan Hale (1755-1776) Artist: Karl Gerhardt (1853-1940) When the Revolutionary War began, Nathan Hale was a captain in a regiment known as Knowlton’s Rangers or Congress’ Own. He later volunteered his services as a spy for George Washington. Most of Hale’s missions involved traveling from Connecticut to Long Island, New York. On one such mission in September of 1776, the British captured Nathan Hale. It is believed that his betrayer was his cousin Samuel Hale, a Tory. Without the benefit of a trial, Nathan Hale was found guilty of spying and hanged. Before his death, it is believed that he said the words “I ONLY REGRET THAT I HAVE BUT ONE LIFE TO LOSE FOR MY COUNTRY.” Nathan Hale was twenty-one years old when he died. In 1985, Nathan Hale was named Connecticut’s official state hero.


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Located on the second floor, the Hall of the House of Representatives is the largest room in the State Capitol. The Chamber has been restored to its original grandeur. Carved walnut paneling, ornate stenciling, and stained glass windows decorate the hall and State Seals adorn the carpet. The one hundred and fifty-one representatives sit according to political party, democrats to the right and republicans to the left. State Representatives are elected for a two-year term of office and there are no term limits.


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Originally the State Senate met in a chamber on the second floor of the Capitol. The current Senate occupies a room on the third floor that once housed the State Library. The room was converted into the senate by 1913. Mahogany paneling, a red carpet with a large State Seal, ornate stenciling, star shaped stained glass windows and the famous "Charter Oak Chair" decorate the room. The thirty-six senators sit at desks arranged in a circle according to their districts. The Lieutenant Governor presides over the Chamber. State senators are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

There are two explanations for the three grapevines in the center of the shield. One theory is that they represent the first three towns in Connecticut - Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor. Another interpretation is that the vines stand for the three colonies or settlements - New Haven, Saybrook and Connecticut (Hartford), which by 1665 had merged to form the Connecticut of that time. The State Motto written in Latin - "Qui Transtulit Sustinet" - translates to "He who transplanted still sustains".


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

William James McPherson, a Boston interior decorator, designed all of the Capitol's stenciling.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Hand stenciling in the rotunda. One of the flower designs in the second row from the bottom is missing a dark circle in the center.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

The Agriculture Statue.

John Quincy Adams Ward of New York designed the Agriculture statue as one of the figures to surround the Capitol dome. His plaster models are displayed outside the entrances to the House of Representatives Public Gallery. Ward was one of the leading sculptors of the 1870s.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

The Charter Oak Chair stands on the dais in the Senate Chamber. It was carved in 1857 from the fallen oak tree, which in 1687 hid the self-governing charter given to the Connecticut colony by King Charles II in 1662. The Charter was hidden to prevent British officials from returning it to King James II. The top of each post is ornamented with an acorn springing from a coronal of oak leaves, while the posts and arms are entwined with branches of oak with leaves and acorns. The chair is 65 inches tall, 36.5 inches wide, and the seat is 29 inches deep. The back is surmounted by a spread eagle, and the center is a medallion containing the State coat of arms, surrounded by a wreath of oak. A group of flags ornaments the front of the seat. The chair is massive, all the carving being wrought from the solid wood. Over the years, the chair has also become known as “The Wishing Chair” because people believe the Lieutenant Governor (who presides from the chair) sits in it and wishes to become Governor.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

The Legislative Office Building.

The Legislative Office Building was completed in 1988. The building was designed by Russell Gibson von Dohlen of Farmington, CT. The steel, glass, and concrete block structure is covered in rough and polished Texas granite. A copper mansard (sloping) roof covers all but the light filled atrium. The interior is mainly polished Texas granite as well as Italian, Mexican, and Spanish marble. Cherry wood from Indiana and Wisconsin compliments the interior design. There are ten public hearing rooms in the Legislative Office Building. These rooms, found on the first and second floors, are used throughout the year but primarily during the legislative session. Twenty-six joint committees (comprised of Representatives and Senators) hold public hearings to discuss the various bills (proposed laws) subject to debate. The rooms were designed to accommodate groups of different sizes. All the rooms are finished in the same fashion, with a neutral wallcloth covering the area above the cherry wood paneling. The state seal is reproduced in the fabric through an art form called trapunto. It is the only decoration in the hearing .


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Legislative Office Building Hearing Room Door.

Each hearing room has two sets of cherry wood doors, designed and created by Rich Wrigley of Holyoke, Massachusetts. In the top panel is a bronze casting of the state seal. The bronze medallion on the bottom panel is duplicated in marble in the center of the atrium floor. It resembles a motif used throughout the State Capitol. The center panels depict symbols of Connecticut. They are created in marquetry, an ancient craft in which veneers are cut and pieced to form a picture. The woods used in these panels include ebony, holly, rosewood, Australian walnut, anigre, and lacewood.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Garden view of the Legislative Office Building.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

The Legislative Office Building, west side, with tulips. .


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

The Legislative Office Building Atrium with "Eagle" sculpture.

"Eagle" Artist: David von Schlegell (1920-1992) Installed March 1, 1988 The statue “EAGLE” is landing on a twenty-four foot tall granite column. Designed by David von Schlegell, a professor at Yale University, the eagle is made of aluminum, covered in gold leaf, and stands eight feet tall. The eagle symbolizes civic pride, virtue, and strength. The column is the only piece of Connecticut stone found in the Legislative Office Building. The statue is situated so it is aligned with the Capitol dome, connecting the two buildings visually.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Marquis de Lafayette statue facing the Capitol.

Marquis de Lafayette Artist: Paul Wayland Bartlett (1865–1925) The Marquis de Lafayette was a French officer and nobleman who came to the colonies during the Revolutionary War to train the Americans on how to fight the British. On at least two occasions, he met in Connecticut with George Washington to plan the strategy of the Continental Army. After the war, Lafayette was recognized as an honorary Hartford citizen in an event that took place at the Old State House. Lafayette’s statue is located at the corner of Washington Street and Capitol Avenue.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Major General Clarence Ransom Edwards and Andersonville Boy statues located on the Capitol grounds.

Major General Clarence Ransom Edwards Artist: George Holburn Snowborn (1902-1990) 1942 Bronze with granite base Major General Clarence Ransom Edwards (1859-1931) was the commander of the 26th Yankee Division from Connecticut during most of World War I. The 26th Division was one of the most decorated divisions and one of the longest under fire during the war. Edwards himself received a Distinguished Service medal.

The Andersonville Boy Artist: Bela Lyon Pratt (1867-1917) 1907 Bronze with granite base The statue is dedicated to the memory of the Connecticut men who suffered in military prisons during the Civil War. This is a copy of the statue that stands in the National Cemetery in Andersonville, Georgia, the site of the infamous prison in which so many young men died.


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The Statue of Colonel Thomas Knowlton located on the Capitol grounds.

Colonel Thomas Knowlton (1740-1776) Artist: Enoch Smith Woods (1846-1919) 1895 Bronze Conceived as a companion piece to the statue of Nathan Hale which is located in the East Atrium of the Capitol, this statue was commissioned by the General Assembly of 1893. Knowlton was born in West Boxford, Massachusetts and spent his youth in Ashford, Connecticut. Thomas Knowlton served as a scout under the command of Israel Putnam and later obtained the rank of Colonel. The soldiers he led were known as "Knowlton's Rangers" and eventually earned the nickname "Congress's Own". One member of this group, Nathan Hale, would later volunteer his services as the country's first spy. Knowlton commanded nearly 200 Connecticut troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill. The group, known as a fatigue party, were ordered to come equipped with packs, blankets, and a day's rations. When the Continental Army was forced back by the British, Knowlton and Colonel John Stark protected the line of retreat. Thomas Knowlton was fatally wounded at the Battle of Harlem Heights, September 16, 1776..


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Bushnell Park. .


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.

Richard D. Hubbard (1818-1884) Artist: Karl Gerhardt (1853-1915) 1890 Bronze Connecticut born Hubbard entered Yale University in 1835. He graduated and began studying law in 1839. He was elected to Congress in 1867 and was governor of Connecticut from 1877 to 1879. He was known for his abilities as an orator and statesman. He was an individual who did his best to remain non-partisan and think only of the best interests of the state..


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Capitol dome and Corning Fountain viewed from Bushnell Park.


Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.