Personal Experience with the State Capitol Building

I was originally unsure of what to expect when I picked the Capitol building, I picked it because I had the vague idea it was close to school, and that it might be somewhat interesting to see, which is partially why I was so surprised to see it for the first time. The first thing I noticed was the distinct difference between the upkeep of the capitol building and the surround streets, there was a lot of litter and potholes in the area adjacent to the building, but the grounds themselves were extremely well maintained.

Grass and Tree in Capitol grounds.

The grass was a perfect shade and length, and weeds were nowhere to be seen, in stark contrast to the sprawl of crabgrass that passes for foliage on the sidewalks. I also noticed the immediate increase in the shade, as large trees are planted throughout the grounds, and help keep tourists a few degrees cooler; a godsend when you have to observe the outside of a building for an hour.

Colorful shrubbery

The shrubs were varied in color and flower, and gave a rather peaceful and calming atmosphere to what would have been a city center. It was quiet there, surprisingly with traffic all around, the most prominent sounds were crickets.

The few individuals I encountered were either the smartly dressed professionals who worked there, or the tourists like me. Next were the statues of the historic governors past, from Talmadge to Carter, with faded copper plating to tell the deeds of their past. I was honestly surprised by the building itself, I had mostly known it for its golden dome; in fact that was all I knew about it before going there.

Better view of the classic pediments

The building is neoclassical and the Greek influences blew me away, from the Corinthian columns on all of the entrances, to the faux terrace on the front entrance and the classic triangular roof shape; it was as if the building had been transported directly from Greece itself. Not to mention the marble like masonry and actual marble infusions near the monuments. There are classical pilasters dotting the walls here and there, and the entire thing reminds me of pictures of the U.S Capitol building.

Greek influences on the front of the building, and a vintage lampost

However, that is not to say that the structure was entirely Greek, there are cannons mounted near each entrance, and various forms of lighting dot the grounds from the vintage lamp posts, and domes from the Carter monument to the industrial flood lamps, and smaller halogens. One thing I did notice in terms of architectural exclusion tough is that the building is pretty much inaccessible by wheelchair, all the major entrances require the ascension of steep stairs, and the one ramp that led from the streets leads to a door inaccessible to the ordinary public. Overall though I would say that I really enjoyed being in the Capitol building, it was a relaxing experience that I did not expect from the heart of Atlanta.

The only wheelchair acessible entrance