7th Capital Trip

We visited the Massachusetts Capitol
June 28, 1979.

Dad and I flew into Boston for this trip as it was built around a business appointment he had with a client in Connecticut.  

My first memory of Boston, as a 15 year old, was I wouldn't want to drive here.  City streets pulsed with traffic as drivers seemingly made up laws as they went.  

Some of the capitol was being refurbished so we weren't able to see the Senate Chamber.  While in Boston we saw the Faneuil Hall Market, and Old North Church.  

Day and Night views of the Rhode Island
statehouse. 

 Many capitol buildings place a statue on top of the dome.  

 Arizona had a weather vane on theirs, which sounded like a good idea until cowboys shot at it to make it spin.

 Most of the time the statue is a woman.  In Rhode Island, the Independent Man, all 14 feet and 500 pounds of him, has looked down on the state since December 18, 1899.

 Providence is capitol of the smallest state in terms of area.  The State of Rhode Island is one of the 13 original colonies.  It's founder was a refugee from religious persecution who wanted a secular government.  He started Providence in 1636 on land purchased from local tribes of Native Americans.

The Connecticut capitol in Hartford.

That same day, we drove 72 miles to Hartford to see the capitol of Connecticut.

Their statue was damaged by a hurricane, but before it could be restored World War II began.  The state donated the bronze statue to be melted down in support of the war.

Early in our capital adventure we learned that each state has something unique.  Connecticut was the first government in the new world to use a constitution.

From Connecticut we drove into the state of New York with our sights on Albany.

New York's capitol in Albany.

 New York is one of 10 states without a dome on its statehouse.  The reason, we learned on tour, was twofold.  One, politicians wanted to save money and two, there was a local story that the ground was too soft.

 The huge staircase on the front of the building has 77 carvings of famous people engraved in it (George Washington, et al), but sculptors had free reign to do their own thing, so most of the faces are unidentified.

Concord is New Hampshire's capital city.

From New York we turned east for a three state swing starting in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire's dome is purely decorative.  There is no rotunda in the actual building and to reach the dome you get on the roof.  

As one of the original states New Hampshire claims it's capitol is the oldest where the legislature was using their original rooms (in 1979 at least).  Delaware's capitol is the oldest and Maryland's the oldest that still has the legislature in the building.

The capitol of Maine.

 This trip was one of the most beautiful drives we enjoyed.  Between the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean were many things this Wisconsin kid had never seen.

 Bangor, Maine is the easternmost capital.  It's also the only state primarily bordered by a foreign country.

 The Secretary of State office was a place we looked for in each capital because it often had interesting things for visitors.  In Maine we were given a special tour.

Montpelier is Vermont's state capitol

From Maine we crossed the finger of New Hampshire to reach Vermont, the last state on the trip.

It's capitol, in the picturesque community of Montpelier seemed like a doll-house in terms of its size and appearance.  That may be why it had been judged excellent for its character and style.

Vermont is not one of the original 13 colonies, but it was first state added to the union.  It's building is one of 13 inlaid with gold.

After our visit we took a gondola up Mt. Mansfield where we walked to its peak.  On the way home, we crossed a bay on Lake Champlain by ferry.  We drove by the American home of the Von Trapps (story told in the Sound of Music) near Stowe, Vermont on our way to Logan airport.

Dad standing by the historic marker noting this
point in South Dakota as the geographic center
of the country (taking into account Alaska and
Hawaii)  8/10/1977 dwm photo

 We didn't know it at the time, but it was our final trip to see the capitals.

 There was a plan for a trip in 1980 over spring break, but I came down with chicken pox.  The timing was practically "perfect" as I missed very little school while having to isolate and quarantine during the week off school.

 Our next trip was visiting colleges to find the right one.  From there, I became busy with school and life, while Dad and my sister began taking regular trips.

 We reached 31 of the 50 state capitals.  I won't say they are on my bucket list, but it would be nice to finish the adventure.

Dad kept this calendar in his office recording which states we visited and when we were there.