Why did I have to park so far away, you ask? Well, it just so happened to be the last day of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, and they just so happened to be using the lots around the capitol as additional parking for the event.
The city was absolutely crazy-packed with fairgoers. Cecelia, not as keen as I on visiting capitols, wanted to check out the mega-party while I did my own thing. So first I dropped her off a couple blocks away from the fairgrounds (we couldn't actually reach the entrance by car), and then I fought traffic to the capitol, which included having to detour around a stopped train on the road. After giving up on the parking lots closest to the capitol building, I settled on a half-empty one a few blocks away.
With my destination in sight, I hurried toward the building, hoping to catch a tour at the top of the hour. I arrived winded, with a few minutes to spare, only to learn that the next and final tour was on the half hour. So I waited and did a little browsing in the gift shop.
There were about thirty people on the guided tour. Some highlights included the ornate staircases,
the mosaics that appeared to turn and watch you as you moved across the room,
one of the most beautiful libraries I've seen,
and, of course, the legislative chambers, which contained remarkably large double galleries for the public.
The grand finale of the tour took us up 130 steps in a tight spiral staircase to the dome level.
A narrow balcony circled the base of the dome.
And this is the view looking up.
The dome and many other parts of the building were covered in nearly pure gold leaf. The flag is actually suspended on wires twenty feet below the sky-painted ceiling.
After the tour, I explored the grounds outside.
There were some nice statues, like this one of Abraham Lincoln reading to his son, Tad.
But there was also this lewd one of a woman fondling herself.
Allegedly she represents Iowa's "affections" toward the union of states. But to me, and the four other males who were taking her picture, I'm sure there's something else to it.
