Alabama – 

Dome, Cupola & Flagstaff

The dome has not always been white. The outer shell is tern coated metal, which is red, and for the first years it was left unpainted. Since then, the dome has been painted white with different coatings that changed color as they aged, so old photos might show it as anything from red or black to white. The current, white-based elastomeric polymer coating is performing well, so the dome should now retain the white finish.

Montgomery, Alabama was the first capital of the Confederate States of America. In the 1960s, the Confederate flag known as Dixie was once again raised on top of the capitol building in Montgomery, and raised with it was great concern over the legality and morality of the flag's presence in a place of such prominence during a time of racial unrest. In the 1990s, the flag was removed during renovation of the dome, and it was never returned due to a state judge-ordered injunction.

Illinois – 

Observation Deck, Dome, Cupola, & Flagstaff

Observation Deck
The observation deck has four straight balconies, an unusual design around a round drum.

The railing around the bottom of the cupola is for limited access only. Many domed capitols have a deck with railing there, some refer to them as "widow's walks" like the high balconies sailor's wives used. Quite a place for an outstanding view, even without the sea to see.

Dome
The dome is unusually colored – a dullish silver. It is believed to be covered with zinc, and it is the only one this webmaster has found (so far) that is.

Nevada – 

Domed Cupola, Flagstaff

There is a general belief that the dome of the Nevada capitol's cupola is covered in silver. This is not true. It is silver-colored fiberglass. Apparently tour guides will tell you it was originally covered in silver but later re-fitted with fiberglass, which is also untrue. It was originally covered with tin. During a restoration that included retrofitting to protect against earthquakes, the fiberglass dome was intalled.

Nevada cupola images courtesy of the Nevada Commission on Tourism

South Carolina — Dome, Cupola & Flagstaff

Dome
The South Carolina State House dome and cupola are covered with 44,000 pounds of copper.

There is a room in the drum area with a ladder to a platform over the inner dome. This platform is where workers stand to raise and lower the USA and South Carolina flags on top of the cupola.

The main plan for this state house by Major John R. Niernsee did not have a dome at all. A sketch of Niernsee's plan is in the far right border of this page. It shows a square tower which a later architect eliminated in favor of the dome.

The rest of the building follows Niernsee's design almost exactly, partly because his son, Frank McHenry Niernsee, became the architect shortly before the building was completed and returned to his father's plans.

Roof
After the Civil War, the incomplete capitol was roofed with tin in an effort to protect the building inexpensively. The tin was finally replaced with slate between 1900 and 1903.