Interior of Kansas Capitol outer dome. After 30 years, the Kansas State Capitol Dome tours were restarted just a few months ago. Visitors take an elevator to the 5th floor, where the tour begins. There are 296 steps from there to the to the top of the outer dome. The pace is relaxed, with stops on three levels, and should be no problem to someone in average condition. The most interesting area is above the inner glass dome, in the 75 feet of enclosed space between the inner and outer domes. In addition to great views, the interior has interesting graffiti. After I photographed the oldest known graffiti (1903), the friendly, young guide pointed out a sticker from when Berry Goldwater visited the Capitol while campaigning for President in 1964, "AuH2O '64." Then he pointed to a name close to the sticker and explained it was his grandfather's name. Sadly that surface is scheduled to be refinished in the near future. Many of the names are located where someone writing them would have had to make a very risky climb. The scariest are on the underside of the dome near the top, with no other surface nearby. During my tour of the dome, a woman froze at the bottom of the last spiral steps near the top and was unable to go all the way. Capitol Dome tours are limited to 30 people, and advance reservations are suggested especially between January and May at (785) 296-3966 or capitol@kshs.org. The rest of the building can be visited from 7:30 Am to 5:30 PM, seven days a week. Photos of the dome exterior.
Photos of the dome's exterior Kansas State Historical Society Capitol website copyright 2006-2008 by Keith Stokes |
