The Capitol in Austin Texas is our main destination today.
The Capitol is bigger than many. It is Texas, after all.
The five level dome with different designs for each level was interesting.
Here is a picture from the other side of the Capitol.
The Senate and House Chambers are similar in design. They are differentiated by the wood finishes, the paintings, and the decorations.
The Legislature of the State of Texas operates under the biennial system. Regular sessions convene at noon on the second Tuesday in January of odd numbered years. The maximum duration of a regular session is 140 days. There is a provision for the Governor to call a special session, however, it must have a specific agenda and time frame. When I was in college studying Texas government and history, the professor commented that Texans feel safer when the legislature is not meeting. They may be on to something.
Here are three photos of the interior dome. A close up, a medium range and one that captures the ceiling as well.
While the Capitol Building is bigger than many state capitols, the legislature still ran out of space. With limited land and a desire to save the landscaping around the capitol, they went underground. The office complex is huge. There is a skylight that provides a view of the capitol dome.
Our guided tour of the capitol was informative. We learned about the history of six flags over Texas. We were told about the building and the operation of Texas government. We got to see a capitol that was less adorned than many, but still projected an air of authority and history.
We also saw the best door hinges on any capitol so far.
When we entered Texas, we had traveled a little over 1,000 miles in five states. At the Texas border, we saw a sign that said it was 890 miles across the state. We will spend a while getting across Texas. On our way across Texas, we have seen lots of straight roads, mesas, and open land.
We have also seen a lot of energy production. Texas is known for oil production. They should also be known for wind energy. Almost 60 percent of currently installed wind turbines in the US are in Texas.
We have been on the road four days now. We have seen 3 state capitols and visited Houston Texas. We are over 50 percent of the way across the country. It has been a lot of driving each day so far. Tomorrow, we begin visiting national parks. It will be good to have a change of pace for a time.