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| Connecticut State Legislative Office Building - Hartford, CT |
Our tour of the State Capital actually began at the Connecticut State Legislative Office Building. The two buildings are connected by an underground concourse. Guided tours are one hour long. They begin hourly at 15 minutes past the hour. You can also go on self-guided tours.
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| Lobby - Connecticut State Legislative Office Building |
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| The doors are one of many places you'll find exquisite craftsmanship & attention to detail |
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| Connecticut's state insect? The praying mantis of course! "Mantis" is Greek for prophet or diviner. This praying prophet is a friend to farmers since it feeds on crop-destroying-pests. The praying mantis symbolizes the environment's importance to our survival. On other doors, you'll find the state bird, a wreath of mountain laurel, and other symbols of CT. |
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| Connecticut's seal is everywhere - even on the door hinges! |
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| Here the state seal is on the carpet in the middle of the Senate room. The grape vines bearing fruit represent thriving colonial citizens who were transplanted from England and Massachusetts. There are three to represent Connecticut's original three colonies: New Haven, Saybrook, and Hartford. The motto "Qui Transtulit Sustinet," means "He Who Transplanted Still Sustains." |
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| Members of the State Senate sit in the round. Each desk has a name tag, a place to store things under the desk top, and a wooden box containing voting buttons. Visitors can observe proceedings by sitting in the gallery above. While the Governor speaks from the front of the room, the Lieutenant Governor is seated behind him in the "Wishing Chair." |
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| When it is time to vote, Senate members lift the lid and vote with a YEA or NAY button. |
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| We had great fun posing in the "Wishing Chair." Here's Donna in the Lt. Governor's seat, called the wishing chair, because she is probably wishing she were Governor! |
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| Here I am wishing Republicans and Democrats would work together to balance the budget in a way that benefits both those in need of services, as well as those struggling to pay their taxes. |
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| Here's Linda showing the magnificent carvings on the wishing chair. It was carved from the remnant's of Connecticut's famous "Charter Oak" Tree. |
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| Connecticut's House of Representatives Room |
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| Our tour guide explains the seating arrangement, and points out visitors are welcome to observe from the gallery above and behind the speaker's podium. |
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| Each desk has a name tag that includes the number of the district being represented. "REP. " stands for Representative, not Republican. Republicans sit on the right, Democrats on the left. Party leadership decides where each member will sit. New Representatives are often seated near senior Representatives. |
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| The Genius of Connecticut once graced the gold dome of the Capital Building. Today her replica stands inside the rotunda. In this case, "Genius" does not refer to intelligence, but a protective symbol signifying the people's spirit of innovation |
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| Take a look at those ceilings! |
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| A closer look under the dome |
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| The underground concourse connecting the State Capital and the Legislative Office Building, holds a display of statues, photos and other mementos honoring our states veterans. |
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| Vietnam Memorial statue |
After our tour, we ate lunch in the cafeteria at the State Legislative Office Building. We thought we might run into a Representative of the House or Senate, but it turns out they are only in session from February to May.
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