Jackson, MS - Capitol #34

This is the "New Capitol". Like so many states we've been to lately, there is also an "Old Capitol" just down the street and we were able to visit both.

 

We had a personal tour guide for our family since nobody else showed for the 9am tour. This was the first time we'd toured while the legislators were in session and consequently, we could not take pictures in the house or senate chambers.

There was a lot of natural light throughout the capitol even though there were four floors.

We saw greek and roman architecture typical of many state capitols and scagliola (fake marble) that was frequently used as well.

The inner dome is separated from the outer dome and, for some reason, this will never cease to amaze me.

We used the stairs, but we also used the elevators. One is still run by an operator who opens the inner and outer doors separately. The others have been updated mechanically, but still look like they did when the capitol was first built.

Notice the skylights above. The black-looking tiles on the floor are actually a smoky glass that allows the same natural light down to the floor below.

 The old supreme court chamber is now used for Senate committee meetings.

 We took the short 1/2 mile walk to the Old Capitol and passed this old phone booth and cool building on the way.