Visiting the Texas State Capitol

AUSTIN, TEXAS -- One of the places I have been overdue visiting during the nearly five years I have lived in Texas is the state capitol building, which I had the opportunity to do on Tuesday, February 25, along with a group of students from the Fischer Schule Haus charter school in nearby Fischer, Texas. It is one of the last few sites I needed to personally visit for purposes of doing research for my current book project, Ghosthunting San Antonio, Austin, and Texas Hill Country. 

Located in downtown Austin, it contains the chambers of the Texas Legislature and the office of the governor and is the fourth building to house the state government. Originally designed in 1881 by architect Elijah E. Myers, it was constructed from 1882 to 1888 under the direction of civil engineer Reuben Lindsay Walker. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. It is 308 feet tall, making it the sixth tallest state capitol and one of several taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. It includes a large underground extension that was completed in 1993. 

 

 

 

 

MORE TO COME!