A visit to the Washington State Capitol

The Washington State Capitol, a neoclassical gem that rises 287 feet above the surrounding land on top of a knoll overlooking Olympia, Washington, was built in the 1920s. Upon completion in 1928, it was immediately decried as extravagant spending and a waste of money. But most Washingtonians can appreciate the beauty of the marble and sandstone edifice. It is worth a visit to enjoy it's beauty and the dignity it lends to state government that operates within its walls.

Section:Gallery

Sun., Feb. 5, 2017

The Washington State Capitol building sits on a knoll and rises 287 feet above ground level in neoclassical style. It sits on 50 acres, mostly landscaped acres with severarl buildings around it. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The Washington state Capitol building sits above Capitol Lake, part of the Deschutes River, in Olympia and features the classic dome architecture. It houses the governor's office and the Legislature's two chambers. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The Washington State Capitol building, built mostly in the 1920s, in Olympia features neoclassical architecture and houses the governor's office and the Legislature's two chambers. Main building is called the Legislative Building to distinguish is from other structures, such as the Insurance Building at right. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The entrance to the Senate Chamber in the Washington State Capitol. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
There are 49 desks on the floor of the Washington State Senate chamber inside the Capitol building, shown Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The House of Representatives in the Washington state Capitol building, as seen from the gallery. There are 98 representatives in the House, sitting at walnut desks and surrounded by walls of French Escalette marble. The Speaker of the House, chosen leader of the majority party, presides.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The 49 desks in the Washington State Capitol’s Senate Chamber are made of mahogany. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
This is one of the Tiffany and Co. chandeliers in the Washington state Capitol's Senate Chambers, photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
There are 49 senators in the Washington State Senate, sitting at mahogany desks. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor. The chandeliers, like almost all of the original lighting, are from Tiffany. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The state seal is embedded into the floor of the Washington State Capitol rotunda. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
This is one of the four decorative “fire pots” built by Tiffany Studios for the Washington State Capitol rotunda. They replicate the ancient Roman signal lights that called the Roman Senatre into session. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
This is a detail on one of the four decorative “fire pots” built by Tiffany Studios and now adorn the Washington State Capitol rotunda. They replicate the ancient Roman signal lights that called the Roman Senatre into session. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Visitors walk across the floor of the rotunda, under the dome of the Washington State Capitol building in Olympia, Washington Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
There is the elaborate detail found on the giant Tiffany Studios chandelier in the central rotunda in the Washington State Capitol building in Olympia, Washington Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
From the rotunda floor in the center of the Washington state Capitol building in Olympia you can look up into the massive, ornate dome with its five-ton Tiffany chandelier. The building houses the governor's office and the Legislature's two chambers. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
In the north vestibule of the Washington State Capitol building is a statue of Mother Joseph, an early Catholic medical missionary who is credited with building hospitals and schools in the Northwest. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
A tourguide explains the architecture and features of the Washington State Capitol rotunda during a tour Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Although there are elevators spaced around the Washington State Capitol, also called the Legislative Building, aides, pages and journalists are often using the stairs to get around to save time. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The Washington State Capitol building in Olympia is surrounded by park-like grounds and several memorials. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The Washington state Capitol building in Olympia has the words "Legislative Building" just below the pediment with neoclassical architecture and it houses the governor's office and the Legislature's two chambers. The name Legislative Building distinguishes it from several other neoclassical buildings around it.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The Washington state Capitol building in Olympia has neoclassical dome architecture and houses the governor's office and the Legislature's two chambers. Photographed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
These five blade-like stone slabs, set in a circle, are part of the Washington State Capitol’s World War II monument, shown Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017 at the Capitol in Olympia, Washington. The slabs have the names of the Washington state war dead inscribed on them.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The names of Washington state’s war dead are inscribed on five black stone slabs set upright on the state’s World War II memorial, shown Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. One of those names is Cheney Cowles, a scion of the Cowles family, which owns the Spokesman-Review.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Among several monuments on the Washington State Capitol grounds is the World War I memorial, shown Jan. 5, 2017. Jesse Tinsley/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review