Cole and I enjoy the Pennsylvania Capitol.

When you build your state capitol to impress during the American Renaissance, it glimmers. Even though I have no other capitol to compare it to, the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., did not disappoint. You would think I would have visited the Kansas or Nebraska Capitol, considering I lived in the capital a year. Regardless, it's stunning. With a sticker price of $13 million from 1901-1904, you expect the marble, gold and stained glass.

We visited right as a free tour was starting, and joined about 40 people on a tour through the House, Senate and Supreme Court chambers. Each room just as glamorous as the next. You will see what I am talking about as you scan through pictures.

You can view my Pennsylvania Capitol Visit album to see additional photos not included in this post.

The green dome of the Pennsylvania Capitol rises into the cloudy sky.

The lobby view as you walk into the capitol.

The lobby is decorated with marble and paintings around the top.

After a elevator ride up, we got to look down at the main level.

The dome weighs 52 million pounds.

The floor of the capitol is covered with nearly 400 mosaic tiles representing history, animals, industries, occupations and transportation. This one is a happy bat. :)

Squirrel.

We toured the Supreme Court.

Golden rawr.

Cole soaking in some capitol history.

Lincoln's hat box at the National Civil War Museum.

The museum evenly showed both sides and had pieces of every part of Civil War life.

Silly binocular eyes.

A bit of Lawrence history: Quantrill's gun.

After the museum, we walked around the city. The bridges get you across the Susquehanna River.

Us at the river.

Things got a little crazy.

Steps take you right to the water's edge.

The Pennsylvania Bar Association building.

Cole looking across the rivier.

Then we saw a cow.

Okay, so the day was ending and we were looking for a place to eat. We stop by this place, and it was spookville. This huge shopping center was open inside, but none of the stores were open. So it ended up spooky instead of the cute Strawberry Square we were hoping for that night.

That's the story of my first visit to a state capitol building. Now I want to see others! Perhaps Virginia or Maryland will be next. Until then, make sure to check out my other photos in the Pennsylvania Capitol Visit album.