While much controversy was initially waged over the permanent site for Washington's capital, Olympia managed to rise above all bids for this coveted distinction and remain its only seat of government. Completed in 1927, the grand Legislative House is one of the last great domed capitols built in America. Granite, quarried near the town of Index, is the element of its foundation and the forty-two broad steps that lead up to its entrance - signifying Washington's place in the chronology of American statehoods. This massive, yet classically designed, working monument is faced in sandstone from the Cascade foothills, crowned by a 30 million pound dome that rises 287 feet above the ground, and embellished with Corinthian columns and symbolic ornamental carvings. The elegant "Angels of Mercy" chandelier, designed by Louis Tiffany - one of his last major commissions - is suspended 101 feet from the top of the rotunda. Set on a bluff overlooking the Puget Sound and surrounded by grounds of lush lawns and giant old shade trees, Washington's capitol seems a fitting legacy to its rugged frontier heritage and lofty ideals. Stroll through artfully manicured gardens spotted with statuary and special war memorials, visit the Temple of Justice - the State's Supreme Court Building, and relax among the flora in the Conservatory. The Legislative Building is open daily, with free guided tours; call (360) 586-8687. A Visitor Information Center at 14th and Capitol Way offers information about the Capitol grounds and the surrounding area of Olympia; call (360) 586-3460.
