Exploring History & Architecture of the NYS Capitol Building

*I am lucky to explore the NYS Capitol building architecture right before the first New York shutdown in March 2020*

Local travel will be the first to take off (pun intended) from people unwilling to embark on immediate international travel because of the uncertainty of itineraries and flights, but also the changing entry restrictions of countries regarding new variants and guidelines.

I’m a firm advocate of maximizing travel with a 9-5 career by taking day trips and weekenders and I hope to embark on more local NYS adventures learning and exploring the interesting history and regions of New York State.

 

NYS Capitol Building Architecture

Inside the NYS Capitol Building, I ascend a staircase to the lobby where there is a stark contrast from modern functionality to an Old World-like feel and I tremble with glee.

Ground breaking for the new NYS Capitol is in 1867 and Thomas Fuller is Architect of the Capitol.

There are so many architectural elements to the grandeur of the NYS Capitol building wrapped in unknown (to many of us) state and European history, but I will summarize a few that give me thrills.

Fun Fact: The NYS Capitol building went through five architects, including Frederick Law Olmstead, the architect behind Central Park and Prospect Park. Click To Tweet

 

NYS Capitol Building Architecture: #Great Western Staircase

Also known as the Million Dollar Staircase, it was completed in 1897 as a celebration of stone carvers’ art and sheer talent. There are seventy-seven stone faces on the staircase including Lincoln, Douglass and Susan B. Anthony.

Since most of the carvers were from Italy, they were given free reign to carve any image once the main seventy-seven were complete on the million dollar staircase. It is carved from Corsehill sandstone with intricate details of flora, fauna, and notable male and American figures.

The million dollar staircase truly cost $1m to erect and in current climes, that cost is…*drum roll*… $27m!!

There are six portraits of women on the second floor of the Great Western Staircase, namely:

• Susan B. Anthony, Suffragette
• Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin author
• Clara Barton, Civil War nurse
• Elmina Spencer, Civil War nurse
• Molly Pitcher, Revolutionary War soldier
• Frances Willard, temperance crusader

As of 2023, the New York State Governor, Kathy Hochul, plans to honour Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a permanent portrait carving on the Great Western Staircase since its completion in 1898.

If you’ve visited a European castle, you get a strong sense of deja vu on the million dollar staircase. I’m no architecture expert but the columns, arches, and carvings transport you to a time you’ve never been in reality… but definitely in fantasy. I promise that you’ll be overcome at the sheer beauty of the million dollar staircase from all angles and the rose sandstone walls and dim lighting add to this fairy-tale ambience…

…but, it is not a historical story without a haunting, now, is it?

Rumour has it that a haunting comes from William Abbot, a watchman, who perishes in a fire that destroys the building in 1911. People swear they feel cold spots and angry key rattling on the staircase from Abbott, but don’t we all have those feelings once we know of an unnatural death in a place?

Travel Tip: The NYS Capitol Building hosts a haunting tour during Hallowe’en for those brave enough to explore. Hear which U.S. presidents frequent the Capitol after their passing and many more Albany and NYS Capitol Building spooky haunting.

 

Oh Heavens! Unique Religious Architecture Around the World

NYS Capitol Building Architecture: #Senate Staircase

The Senate Staircase is completed in 1885 by Leopold Eidlitz, known for designing churches and synagogues. It is restored in 2012 as part of a roof restoration project and is one of three architecturally grand staircases in the NYS Capitol Building.

Present are Moorish and Gothic styles that are prevalent on the other two staircases as Eidlitz was known to add these styles to his work. The staircase is made from Scottish sandstone easy to carve into but becomes hard when exposed to air.

NYS Capitol Building Architecture: #Governor’s Reception Room

Originally created to be open space, it was designed by William de Leftwich Dodge, a Virginian that moved with his family to Europe.

The Governor’s Reception Room was meant to be open space with a 40ft rotunda, ceiling murals, and the floor removed to create open space. Alas, by 1929, the murals are installed but construction on the open space halts because of lack of funds caused by the Great Depression.

The room is characterized by a mural with twenty-five paintings on canvas depicting important events in New York State military history. It is for public functions and press briefings because it has tables and that thick, blue official drape you usually see in most government pressers. Eye level is all modernity but look up and transport yourself with this splendid mural.

Explore New York State on Wonderful Day Trips

NYS Capitol Building Architecture: #Assembly Staircase

After the Million Dollar Staircase, this is my favourite spot in the NYS Capitol Building for obvious reasons. I mean…look at the design and those colours! It is designed with sandstone by Leopold Eidlitz and is just stunning.

From afar, the pattern resembles wall paper, but it is not. Instead, the Assembly Staircase is in Moorish and Gothic motif with appropriate colours associated with this style. Present are pointed arches and skylight, also reminiscent of Moorish style and is similar to the Senate Staircase.

 

A previously removed skylight was re-installed in 2011 with modern details that include New York State plants and animals.

 

These styles are what I expect to see in Spain with its Moor history so imagine my pleasant shock upon discovering the Assembly Staircase. You will love this part of the NYS Capitol Building architecture, I assure you.

 

NYS Capitol Building Architecture: #Senate Lobby

This was restored between 1977 and 1981 and is a meeting place for Senators, their constituents and the press, hence lobbyist. You didn’t know that, did you? Hah! You go to a different age with the ornate gold-brass chandelier fixtures lining the ceiling and dim ambience lighting all through.

In addition, there are stunning steel and brass gates that don’t look out of place at a secret society meeting. They look at home in an 1800s manor but in reality, they were designed and installed in the 1980s to blend organically with the historic and landmark decor of the NYS Capitol building architecture.

 

Do you know how many NYS governors eventually became President? Four.

 

Grover Cleveland (Mayor of Buffalo, NYS Governor, VP, President)

Martin van Buren (NYS Governor, Secretary of State, President)

Theodore Roosevelt (NYS Governor, President)

FDR (NYS Governor, President)

NYS Capitol Building Architecture: #Senate Chamber

A truly stunning room that will leave you speechless, it is designed by H.H. Richardson, a renowned architect of his time, in 1881. The Chamber has the same ornate gold chandelier fixtures, arches and columns that line the Senate Lobby.

The columns are Scottish red granite and the arches are Siena marble.

There are two visitors’ galleries looking through to Senate proceedings and the Chamber is said to be one of the most beautiful rooms in North America. I concur!

H.H. Richardson was so influential that he inspired his own architectural style: Richardsonian Romanesque, which incorporates 11th and 12th century southern French, Spanish and Italian styles.

 

 

NYS Capitol Building Architecture: #Upper Senate Corridor

This is another beautiful corridor at the NYS Capitol Building with original Minton tiles and identical gold-brass chandeliers present in the Senate Lobby and Chamber.

Parts of the Senate Corridor and Lobby are put aside for wedding photography and I see why. Who doesn’t want to take memorable photographs here? It is truly stunning and you need to see this in person because pictures barely do this NYS Capitol building architecture justice.

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NYS Capitol building architecture is truly stunning and if you are an amateur architect and/or historian, you will be in awe of this edifice with its intricate detailing, colours, and architectural elements.

Make sure to keep the NYS Capitol Building tour on a post covid-19 local travel adventure because it is definitely worth the hike upstate. From haunting tours to million dollar staircase historical facts, the NYS Capitol building is a stunning historical edifice to explore solo or as family travel.

Don’t forget to comment and share and see you on the social streets! xx

 

 

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