The Missouri State Capitol is more than just the seat of
government. Inside the Capitol, the Missouri State museum houses impressive
collection of exhibits that highlight Missouri’s history, legends and cultural
achievements. From the exterior, it is a formidable structure.
From almost anywhere is Jefferson City, you can see the
dome. Perched some 400 feet above the river on top of the Capitol dome is a
statue of Ceres. Ceres is the Roman Goddess of grain and agriculture and
therefore was selected as the patron goddess of Missouri, a strong agricultural
state. Her left hand holds a sheaf of grain and she extends her right hand
forward in perpetual blessing over the state.
However, since it is over 100 years old, it is under a
facelift. This facelift has scaffolding covering 3 sides of the exterior and
has closed all the exterior memorials and monuments on the outside of the
Capitol. There was one fountain we could get walk to, the Fountain of the Arts.
Four figures are positioned around the central pillar of this fountain. “Architecture”,
a male, a father of all arts. His hands are resting on a Greek pillar. “Sculptor”,
a male, has a chisel and hammer to free his idea from encumbering rock. “Painting”,
a female, has her palette and brush. “Music”, a female, holds her instrument as
she catches the strains of Aeolian harps in the distance.
Before the guided tour began, we browsed the first
floor. We ventured into History Hall. Actually in 1919, the General Assembly
designated the exhibit gallery as the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Hall. This
hall houses exhibits about Missouri’s cultural history. We found a print from
the Post-Dispatch Sunday Magazine from March 9, 1919. It displays all the
Yankee Combat Divisions patches and when they entered into the war. I had to
take the picture, because it has the 42nd ID.
In the History Hall we also saw the largest
ladies shoe that was never used. Ella Ewing, a LaGrange Missouri native was 8’4”
tall and wore a size 24 shoe. Johanson Brothers Shoe Company had to special make
her shoes. The last pair they made were never worn, as she died before they
were completed. She was ridiculed for her height, but found work as a circus
sideshow.
Missouri Veterans Gallery was opened in 2007, this
gallery honors Missouri’s veterans. Rotating artifacts feature conflicts from
the Seminole War to Operation Enduring Freedom. When we visited, there is a
large brass replica of the USS Missouri. It was built in 1/48 scale, it is 18’
6” long, width of the beam is 27.5” and weighs 550 pounds. The replica was used
by US Navy Electronics Laboratory to test shipboard antenna equipment and
systems.
First designated at the Resources Museum in 1921, this
gallery was joined with the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Hall in 1923 to
form the Missouri State Museum. We found a mode of transportation that earned
an award at the 1868 St Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Fair. It is steered
with your feet and powered by your arms, a little different than our modern day
bicycles. It is a Tricycle velocipede. It was crafted by Edward Stodtmiester, a
German immigrant that settled in Missouri.
When we met our tour guide, she took us to the second floor, where there are over 40 lunettes (half-moon shaped paintings.)
They were
painted between 1920 and 1922 and depict Missouri’s Resources and history. Some
of these lunettes were painted from a “point of view.” This painting style allows
you to see movement in the picture as you look at them from different angles.
These lunettes were very different, I will share just a few.
Some are on large panels in the hallways and other are over doors.
All of them
are amazing!
The third floor house lounge, features wall art painted by
Missouri native, Thomas Hart Benton.
The mural is titled “A Social History of Missouri.” The
mural follows the state’s history around the room. He included the expulsion of the Mormons, Slavery, Prohibition, and the Mob.
It is the most popular piece of art in the Capitol. He went around Missouri and sketched faces before he painted the mural, so all people in the mural are Missourians.
The colors are vibrant and alive. There is symmetry at every
doorway. Can you see the opposing men in pinkish shirts aside all doorways?
Pretty controversial topics, especially considering that Thomas
Hart Benton completed this mural in 1936. It took him just 6 months to paint this. After it was unveiled, the politicians wanted it removed. They found it offensive.
The Hall of Famous Missourians contains a growing collection
of bronze busts of men and women who have made outstanding contributions in
such fields as art, literature, science, entertainment, business and the
military. We found Walt Disney. He was from Chicago? He lived in Missouri for
10 years, as a boy.
Rush Limbaugh, Mark Twain, and one that reminded me of my Dad … Emmets Kelly Sr.
There is a beautiful stained glass ceiling in the Hall of
Famous Missourians, it is the zodiac and it is 2 stories high from the floor.
All of the intricate detail in this building is stunning!
Remember early, I said all the exterior exhibits were
blocked by the reconstruction. Well, we were able to capture a picture of the
Signing of the Treaty through a window from inside the Capitol.
Our guided tour took us to the fourth floor, where the Legislative
Office and the visitor’s galleries of the House Chamber (west wing) and the
Senate Chamber (east wing). Going into the House Chamber, was part of the
guided tour but we had to peek into the Senate Chamber.
From the House Gallery seats, we saw beautiful stained glass
around the upper portion of the chamber.
All materials for the House Gallery are from Missouri, except
the granite columns. The Columns came from New Hampshire, they came on barges
and only brought one extra with them. The first one they pulled off the barge,
dropped into the Missouri River. It is still there today.
I probably missed half of what we saw ... I could go on forever, but will stop now. If you get the chance to see this building, do it ... I can't say that enough!
We tracked down the Capitol Avenue Historic District “Portals
of History” project. The project was to highlight buildings, especially the
entrances, in the Capitol Avenue Historic District through art on electrical
boxes. Local artists and historic preservationist, Mary Ann Hall, created
drawings to represent entrances and some of the different architectural styles.
One example of this project is the Bella Vista Apartments. They
were built in 1928 with prison labor. The building designed by a woman
architect who also designed the Kansas City County Club Plaza with the same
Spanish Revival style.
A Tudor arch door entrance is surrounded by side lights
and decorative terra cotta colored blocks. Mutli-color roof tiles are used on
the building. The interior foyer continues with Spanish décor with painted
tiles and arched openings. This jazz age classic is well preserved.
Some of the homes are in need of restoration, but we think that the revitalization of Capitol Avenue will continue!
We had to go to Central Dairy, our friend Pattye would have
been very disappointed if we did not.
It has been at this spot in Jefferson
City since the early 1930’s.
All I have to say, is I have never seen Abbott’s this busy …
at one point, the line was out the door onto the sidewalk!
Another awesome day of sightseeing with friends!
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